SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation using crude soybean urease during soil percolation

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Acta Geotechnica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Crude urease-induced mineralization is a promising biological ground improvement technology with the advantages of low-cost and sustainability. Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) based on crude soybean urease (CSU) in effluents at various percolating depths was investigated to evaluate the efficiency of the bio-cementation. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and CaCO3 precipitation distribution of the single EICP-treated soil were measured. Soil enhancement through a single EICP followed by multiple percolations of cementation solution (urea–calcium chloride) was also examined to estimate the reusability of crude soybean urease. Experimental results indicated that the reduced urease activity and high chemical concentration cause the decreased conversion efficiency of the EICP during percolation. At a percolation depth of 50 mm, the activity of 60 g/L CSU decreased by nearly 25%, and the precipitation ratio in the EICP solution (60 g/L CSU with 1.4 mol/L urea–CaCl2) decreases from 80 to 52.6%. The progressive decrease in conversion efficiency of EICP during percolation led to an inhomogeneous distribution of CaCO3 precipitation and a non-effective improvement of UCS. The reusability of crude soybean urease was demonstrated by the uniformly increasing CaCO3 content and improved UCS after multiple percolations of cementation solution at low concentrations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The authors stated that the data listed in the manuscript will be available based on the reasonable request.

References

  1. Ahenkorah I, Rahman MM, Karim MR, Beecham S (2021) Enzyme induced calcium carbonate precipitation and its engineering application: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Constr Build Mater 308:125000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Al Qabany A, Soga K (2013) Effect of chemical treatment used in MICP on engineering properties of cemented soils. Géotechnique 63(4):331–339. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Almajed A, Lateef MA, Moghal AAB, Lemboye K (2021) State-of-the-art review of the applicability and challenges of microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) and enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (EICP) techniques for geotechnical and geoenvironmental applications. Crystals 11(4):370. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11040370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Almajed A, Tirkolaei HK, Kavazanjian E (2018) Baseline investigation on enzyme induced calcium carbonate precipitation. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 144(11):04018081. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001973

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Alwalan M, Almajed A, Lemboye K, Alnuaim A (2023) Direct shear characteristics of enzymatically cemented sands. KSCE J Civ Eng 27(4):1512–1525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-023-0817-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. ASTM D2166 (2016) Standard test method for unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA

  7. ASTM D2487-17 (2018) Standard particle for classification of soils for engineering purposes (Unified Soil Classification System). ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA

  8. ASTM D4972-13 (2013) Standard test method for pH of soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA

  9. Chae SH, Chung H, Nam K (2020) Evaluation of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) methods on different soil types for wind erosion control. Environ Eng Res 26(1):190507. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2019.507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chek A, Crowley R, Ellis TN, Durnin M, Wingender B (2021) Evaluation of factors affecting erodibility improvement for MICP-treated beach sand. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 147(3):4021001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Cheng L, Cord-Ruwisch R (2014) Upscaling effects of soil improvement by microbially induced calcite precipitation by surface percolation. Geomicrobiol J 31(5):396–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2013.836579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cheng L, Shahin MA, Chu J (2019) Soil bio-cementation using a new one-phase low-pH injection method. Acta Geotech 14(3):615–626. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0738-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cui M-J, Lai H-J, Hoang T, Chu J (2020) One-phase-low-pH enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) method for soil improvement. Acta Geotech 16(2):481–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01043-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cui M-J, Zheng J-J, Zhang R-J, Lai H-J, Zhang J (2017) Influence of cementation level on the strength behaviour of bio-cemented sand. Acta Geotech 12(5):971–986. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-017-0574-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Dakhane A, Das S, Hansen H, O’Donnell S, Hanoon F, Rushton A, Perla C, Neithalath N (2018) Crack healing in cementitious mortars using enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation: quantification based on fracture response. J Mater Civ Eng 30(4):04018035. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0002218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Datta R, Anand S, Moulick A, Baraniya D, Pathan SI, Rejsek K, Vranova V, Sharma M, Sharma D, Kelkar A, Formanek P (2017) How enzymes are adsorbed on soil solid phase and factors limiting its activity: a review. Int Agrophysics 31(2):287–302. https://doi.org/10.1515/intag-2016-0049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. DeJong JT, Fritzges MB, Nüsslein K (2006) Microbially induced cementation to control sand response to undrained shear. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 132(11):1381–1392. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)1090-0241(2006)132:11(1381)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. DeJong JT, Mortensen BM, Martinez BC, Nelson DC (2010) Bio-mediated soil improvement. Ecol Eng 36(2):197–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2008.12.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Devrani R, Dubey AA, Ravi K, Sahoo L (2021) Applications of bio-cementation and bio-polymerization for aeolian erosion control. J Arid Environ 187(7):104433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Fattahi SM, Soroush A, Huang N (2020) Biocementation control of sand against wind erosion. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 146(6):04020045. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gao Y, He J, Tang X, Chu J (2019) Calcium carbonate precipitation catalyzed by soybean urease as an improvement method for fine-grained soil. Soils Found 59(5):1631–1637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2019.03.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Gao Y, Meng H, He J, Qi Y, Hang L (2020) Field trial on use of soybean crude extract for carbonate precipitation and wind erosion control of sandy soil. J Cent South Univ 27(11):3320–3333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-020-4549-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ghasemi P, Montoya BM (2020) Field application of the microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation on a coastal sandy slope. In: Geo-Congress 2020

  24. Hamdan NM (2015) Applications of enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) for soil improvement. Dissertation, Arizona State University

  25. ISO (1984) Water quality: determination of calcium content: EDTA titrimetric method. ISO 6058:1984. Geneva: ISO

  26. Jesionowski T, Zdarta J, Krajewska B (2014) Enzyme immobilization by adsorption: a review. Adsorption 20(5–6):801–821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-014-9623-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Karimian A, Hassanlourad M, Karimi GR (2021) Insight into the properties of surface percolated biocemented sand. Geomicrobiol J 38(2):138–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2020.181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Lajevardi SH, Shafiei H (2023) Investigating the biological treatment effect on fine-grained soil resistance against wind erosion: an experimental case study. Aeolian Res 60:1008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2022.100841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Laska J, Włodarczyk J, Zaborska W (1999) Polyaniline as a support for urease immobilization. J Mol Catal B Enzym 6(6):549–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1381-1177(99)00013-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Liu Y, Gao Y, He J, Zhou Y, Geng W (2023) An experimental investigation of wind erosion resistance of desert sand cemented by soybean-urease induced carbonate precipitation. Geoderma 429:116231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ma X, Zhao C, Zhu J (2021) Aggravated risk of soil erosion with global warming—a global meta-analysis. CATENA 200:105129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.105129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Maleki M, Ebrahimi S, Asadzadeh F, Tabrizi ME (2016) Performance of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation on wind erosion control of sandy soil. Int J Environ Sci Technol 13(3):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-015-0921-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Meng H, Shu S, Gao Y, Yan B, He J (2021) Multiple-phase enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) method for soil improvement. Eng Geol 294:106374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Naeimi M, Chu J, Khosroshahi M, Zenouzi L (2023) Soil stabilization for dunes fixation using microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation. Geoderma 429:116183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Nasir SS, Torkashvand AM, Khakipour N (2021) An experimental investigation of bacteria-producing calcareous cement in wind erosion prevention. Int J Environ Sci Technol 19(3):2107–2118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03207-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Rani AS, Das MLM, Satyanarayana S (2000) Preparation and characterization of amyloglucosidase adsorbed on activated charcoal. J Mol Catal B Enzym 10(5):471–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1381-1177(99)00116-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Salifu E, MacLachlan E, Iyer KR, Knapp CW, Tarantino A (2016) Application of microbially induced calcite precipitation in erosion mitigation and stabilization of sandy soil foreshore slopes: a preliminary investigation. Eng Geol 201:96–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.12.027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Shafii I, Shidlovskaya A, Briaud J-L (2019) Investigation into the effect of enzymes on the erodibility of a low-plasticity silt and a silty sand by EFA testing. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 145(3):04019001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gt.1943-5606.0002019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Shu S, Yan B, Ge B, Li S, Meng H (2022) Factors affecting soybean crude urease extraction and biocementation via enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) for soil improvement. Energies 15(15):5566. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Simatupang M, Okamura M (2017) Liquefaction resistance of sand remediated with carbonate precipitation at different degrees of saturation during curing. Soils Found 57(4):619–631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2017.04.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Song JY, Sim Y, Jang J, Hong W-T, Yun TS (2019) Near-surface soil stabilization by enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation for fugitive dust suppression. Acta Geotech 15:1967–1980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-019-00881-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Tang Y, Lian J, Xu G, Yan Y, Xu H (2017) Effect of cementation on calcium carbonate precipitation of loose sand resulting from microbial treatment. Trans Tian** Univ 23(6):547–554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-017-0084-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Tian K, Wu Y, Zhang H, Li D, Nie K, Zhang S (2018) Increasing wind erosion resistance of aeolian sandy soil by microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation. Land Degrad Dev 29(12):4271–4281. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Whiffin VS, van Paassen LA, Harkes MP (2007) Microbial carbonate precipitation as a soil improvement technique. Geomicrobiol J 24(5):417–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490450701436505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Woolley M A, van Paassen L, Kavazanjian E (2020) Impact on surface hydraulic conductivity of EICP treatment for fugitive dust mitigation. In: Geo-Congress 2020 GSP 320, pp 132–140

  46. Wu L, Miao L, Sun X, Wang H (2021) Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation combined with polyvinyl alcohol to solidify aeolian sand. J Mater Civ Eng 33(12):04021373. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0004009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Wu M, Gao Y, He J, Liu Y (2020) Laboratory study on use of soybean urease-induced calcium carbonate precipitation with xanthan gum for stabilization of desert sand against wind erosion. Chin J Geotech Eng 42(10):1914–1921

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work described herein was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 51978244, 51979088) and the Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (No. kycx22_0624).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1, **kang Road, Nan**g, 210098, Jiangsu, China

    Yang Liu, Yufeng Gao, Yundong Zhou & Hao Meng

  2. College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1, **kang Road, Nan**g, 210098, Jiangsu, China

    Yang Liu, Yufeng Gao, Yundong Zhou & Hao Meng

  3. Civil Engineering Institute, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, 010051, China

    Chi Li

Authors
  1. Yang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yufeng Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yundong Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hao Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chi Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yufeng Gao.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, Y., Gao, Y., Zhou, Y. et al. Evaluation of enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation using crude soybean urease during soil percolation. Acta Geotech. 19, 1571–1580 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-02040-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-02040-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation