Application of microbially induced carbonate precipitation to form bio-cemented artificial sandstone

It is difficult to collect and characterise well-preserved samples of weakly-cemented granular rocks as conventional sampling techniques often result in destruction the cementation. An alternative approach prepare synthetic geomaterials match required specifications. This paper introduces microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) a method reliably deliver artificially cemented specimens with customised properties, closely resembling those soft sandstones. The are generated from materials two highly different particle size distributions (PSDs) access range achievable combinations strengths porosities. MICP parameters kept constant across all obtain similar calcium characteristics (size individual crystals, type, etc.), while injected volume varied achieve cementation levels. Although uniform very coarse sands has been considered achieve, results show that both fine sand present high degrees uniformity good degree repeatability. unconfined compressive (UCSs) (less than 3000 kPa) porosities (0.25–0.4) artificial fall same values reported for natural rocks. strength gain was greater sand, void latter significantly larger compared crystals’ size, resulting on less effective locations, away contacts between particles. obtained this work within ranges literature rocks, demonstrating technique able realistic properties may be used produce full by varying grain sizes, possibly width PSD.