An Experimental Study to Improve the Nutrients and the Mechanical Properties of Copper Tailings Sand in China’s Arid Zone by Biomineralization of Locally Isolated Urease-Producing Bacteria

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology is an environmentally friendly technique that can contribute to tailings consolidation and ecosystem restoration. Our study found local MICP bacteria, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, could remediate copper pollution at different slope positions (K1, K2, K3) in arid areas. We analyzed the effect of treatment on slag from macro- microscopic levels with a dissolution test, soil physical chemical tests, wind tunnel testing experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated L. effectively remodeled structure, thereby preventing diffusion tailing caused by erosion. This structural remodeling resulted significant increase strength (maximum strength: 2707 KPa) increased content CaCO3. Furthermore, it led reduction total salinity (36.4–43.6%), pH (4.1–4.4%), improvement nutritional status (total potassium (16–31.4%) available phosphorus (2.1–2.3 times) (p < 0.05). There was also 15% urease catalase activity K1, 7% invertase K3 0.05), carbon nitrogen microbial biomass