Corrosion prevention of reinforced concrete with microbial calcite precipitation

Abstract

Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) on concrete or mortar is an important area of research to enhance the durability of construction materials. The effectiveness of MICP in reducing reinforcement corrosion is investigated. Reinforced concrete (RC) specimens were treated with the bacterial strain Bacillus sp. CT-5, isolated from the cement sample, and subjected to accelerated corrosion. The results showed that bacterial-treated RC specimens reduced the corrosion rate four times more than the control specimens. A considerable reduction in mass loss and increase in pullout strength is observed with MICP-treated specimens. Corn steep liquor, an industrial pollutant, was used as a nutrient source to grow the bacterial cells for MICP in cementitious structures. This is a step toward the development of microbial concrete that provides a greener and more ecofriendly option.