What is bacterial concrete?

Bacterial concrete is a material that has enough potential to remediate cracks in concrete. It is also known as self-healing concrete. This technique is highly desirable because the mineral precipitation induced as a result of microbial activities is pollution-free and natural. Bacterial concrete is a product that will biologically produce limestone to heal the crack that appears on the surface of concrete structures. Thus we can say, bacterial concrete is a result of the biological reaction of non-reacted limestone and calcium-based nutrients with the help of bacteria to heal the cracks.

Area of application;

Bacterial concrete is used for the refilling of cracks in the building. It also enhances the life span of the building and gives good strength.

The principle of bacteria based self healing concrete is that carbonate precipitating bacteria are added into the concrete during the mixing process. When cracking occurs, the bacteria will be activated to precipitate CaCO3 to in-situ heal concrete cracks.

Bacillus Megaterium bacteria were used in concrete and results shows 24% increase in compressive strength. The deposition of calcium carbonate in concrete by Bacillus Sphaericus improves the durability of concrete.

Therefore, bacterial concrete is a product that will biologically produce limestone to heal cracks that appear on the surface of concrete structures.

These self healing agents can lie dormant with in the concrete for up to 200 years.

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Bacterial concrete is also known as Bio concrete or Self healing concrete, which is invented under the head of Henk Jonkers. It resists the alkalinity and mechanical stress in concrete.

Generally Cohnii and Filla bacteria are used for making this type of concrete.

Application of Bacterial Concrete:-

It is used for increasing concrete durability and life span of the structure by self-healing of cracks in the structure.

Bacterial concrete is a self-healing concrete that automatically repairs cracks and makes the structural member structurally sound again. In bacterial concrete, dormant bacteria, along with lime and calcium-based nutrient (generally calcium lactate), are added into the concrete. When there’s a crack greater in width than the micropores already present, it takes in water. The water germinates the bacteria, which then starts feeding on the calcium lactate, making lime. Lime reacts with water to give calcium hydroxide. Calcium hydroxide slowly reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide to give calcium carbonate (limestone). This limestone permanently repairs the crack.

Bacterial concrete has also shown a higher compressive strength and reduced permeability after action.

Although it isn’t yet a traditional practice to the use bacterial concrete in some specific applications, it can be useful in :

• Freeze-thaw conditios
• When permeability is desired to be reduced
• Enhancement of compressive strength
• Long life buildings
• Seismic zone construction

Bacterial concrete is a construction material that fills up the cracks developed in structures with the help of bacterial reaction in the concrete after hardening.

To read more about types of bacteria, its mechanism and preparation of bacterial concrete, please visit the following link:

https://theconstructor.org/concrete/bacterial-concrete-self-healing-concrete/13751/

The process of self-healing of cracks or self-filling up of cracks with the help of bacterial reaction in the concrete after hardening is known as Self-Healing Concrete.

To read more about bacterial concrete, types of bacteria, their mechanism, and preparation of bacterial concrete click the link below-
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/bacterial-concrete-self-healing-concrete/13751/#Advantages_of_Bacterial_Concrete9