The use Immobilized Bacteria-Alginate-Chitin for crack remediation

Abstract

Cracks in concrete allow water and chemicals to enter, a process that may lead eventually to the unwanted damage of the concrete structure. However, this material is that it easily cracks due to its low tensile strength. The potential of self-healing of calcium carbonate precipitating bacteria. The possible application of bacteria to extend the lifetime of concrete is studied. The goal of this project is to incorporate dormant but viable bacteria in the concrete matrix. The research is the healing of cracks in concrete by bacteria immobilization using alginate-chitin. Bacteria were mixed into the gel and both were a concrete mixture. However, as the bacteria-gel matrix showed capable of producing calcium carbonate at pH 7-11, and could precipitate calcium carbonate 0.054 g. Concrete that mixed with bacteria-alginate-chitin 6.3%, showed compressive strength 18.75 Mpa and water absorption 1.6%, after immersion in water for 28 days.