Bacteria for Concrete Surface Treatment

Abstract

Bacterial induced calcium carbonate deposition, i.e., biodeposition is a widespread natural process, occurring under different conditions in the biosphere. For the moment, biodeposition has been investigated extensively both in natural processes and under laboratory conditions. Biodeposition has led to the exploration in the field of construction materials and has been studied in detail with numerous applications in civil engineering. Various mechanisms of bacterial induced deposition have been proposed. Biodeposition can be influenced by the environmental physicochemical conditions, and it is correlated with both the metabolic activity and the cell surface structures of bacteria. Surface treatment of concrete materials and structures by means of biodeposition, i.e., a bacterially deposited carbonate layer presents a promising novel biotechnology for the enhancement or improvement of durability of concrete materials and structures. Biodeposition make bacterial concrete, a novel most important metabolic byproduct, can remediate concrete structures. This chapter reviews the main mechanisms of the process and literature on biodeposition carbonates as surface treatment agents for the decrease in permeability of concrete materials and structures, bacterial induced carbonates as a binder material, i.e., biocementation, have been added to concrete for the improvement of compressive strength and the remediation of concrete surface cracks. The chapter suggests potential applications of biodeposition as an ecological and novel alternative to traditional techniques in subsurface remediation of concrete structures and accordingly enhancement in their service life.