Optimizing compressive strength of sand treated with MICP using response surface methodology

Abstract In the present study, optimization of microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) to produce biosandstone regarding compressive strength is shown. For production, quartz sand was treated sequentially with ureolytic microorganism Sporosarcina pasteurii (ATCC 11859) and a reagent containing urea chloride. Response surface methodology (RSM) applied investigate influence concentration, chloride concentration volume cell suspension on produced biosandstone. A central composite design (CCD) employed, resulting experimental data quadratic model. The statistical significance model verified by (R 2 = 0.9305). Optimized values for were 1492 mM 1391 mM. during treatment 7.47 mL determined as optimum. Specimen under these conditions achieved 1877 ± 240 kPa. This an improvement 144% over specimen that commonly used in literature (1000 urea/1000 CaCl ). protocol allows more efficient production future research MICP.