Abstract
Enzymatically induced carbonate precipitation holds significant promise in geotechnical engineering. The concentrations of urease enzyme and cementing solution play vital roles in precipitation behaviours under distinct injection strategies. In situ microscale experiments, conducted in S-shaped microchips, were aimed at exploring precipitation distribution characteristics and micro-clogging effects due to biological precipitation. In the one-phase continuous injection methods, elevated urease concentrations correlated with increased amorphous calcium carbonate formation and more heterogeneous distributions. Conversely, lower cementing solution concentrations produced larger, fewer crystals and more uniform distributions. Higher urease improved efficiency but increased cost, while lower cementing solution concentrations displayed efficient performance. Permeability reduction exhibited a power-law relationship with the precipitation area fraction. In the two-phase staged injection method, elevated urease concentrations fostered more regularly shaped crystals. Higher calcium ion concentrations could inhibit ureolysis rate, reducing precipitates. Higher urease concentrations proved beneficial in improving efficiencies. Permeability exhibited a marginal decrease initially, followed by a significant decline as the precipitation area fraction increased. The results offer microscale insights into concentration effects, aiding the understanding of upscaling mechanisms and numerical simulations.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.