Microbial geo-technology in ground improvement techniques: a comprehensive review
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Microbial geo‑technology in ground improvement techniques: a comprehensive review K. M. N. Saquib Wani1 · B. A. Mir1 Received: 21 April 2020 / Accepted: 29 June 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Microbial geo-technology is an innovative eco-friendly technique that uses microbes to improve and strengthen weak or marginal soils. Bio-mediated ground improvement techniques have gained a lot of attention amongst researchers since the past decade. In this review article, an attempt has been made to investigate the different factors that affect the process of biological improvement overall including the type of microbes, quantity of microbes used, cementation solution molarity, pH of the system, treatment method, temperature, degree of saturation, density of soil, nutrient availability, etc. Enhancement in different properties of the treated soil as reported by other researchers was explored and investigated, and proper conclusions were drafted keeping all the factors into consideration. Identification of potential applications and challenges which could be faced in the in situ application of the technique was worked upon, and suggestions were provided. Finally, the limitations and future scope of microbial geo-technology were highlighted. Keywords Microbial geo-technology · Bio-mediated · Ground improvement technique · Biological improvement
Introduction As urbanization has made inroads in almost every nook and corner of the world, the pressure on infrastructure has increased manifolds. Earlier good construction sites were used for infrastructural development, and no heed was paid to the unutilized weak deposits of soils. However, since the world has grown more concerned about the present environmental aspects and sustainable solutions, researchers and engineers face a tremendous task of utilizing waste, weak and marginal soil sites. This can only be done when the site is first stabilized or improved by any mechanical or chemical means [1–21]. The combination of different fields like engineering, biology and chemistry has paved way to a new innovative solution for improving weak/marginal soils. Soil which was earlier considered as an inert construction material now establishes itself as a living ecosystem. Microbes proving
as potential accelerators of cementation in soils were first studied during the initial years of the twenty-first century [22, 23]. Although many researchers have provided reviews on microbially induced calcite precipitation techniques and their applications in geotechnical fields [24–28], the current comprehensive review article is focused mainly on factors that affect the process of biological improvement, e.g. type of microbes, quantity of microbes used, cementation solution molarity, pH of the system, treatment method, temperature, degree of saturation, density of soil, nutrient availability, etc. One of the most important aspects of this article is to provide an insight on the different aspects of microbial geo-technology in comparison with other GI
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