Title:
Effect of Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation Technique on Properties of Recycled Clay Brick Aggregates
Author(s):
Fang Liu, Mingxing Du, Jie Wang, Wenyan Zhang, Jianping Zhu, and Chunhua Feng
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
157-168
Keywords:
microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP); mineralization activity; recycled brick aggregate (RBA); recycled mortar
DOI:
10.14359/51749412
Date:
5/1/2026
Abstract:
This study employed a mixed microbial culture (MB) comprising Bacillus subtilis (BS), Bacillus polymyxa (PM), and nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB) in equal proportions. The mixed microbial culture was used to enhance recycled brick aggregate (RBA) through the microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) method, thus investigating the effects of this enhancement on both the aggregate and recycled mortar properties. Results indicate that the mineralization activity of the mixed culture significantly exceeded that of individual strains, achieving an 84.64% mineralization rate after 14 days. MICP-enhanced RBA demonstrated markedly improved performance. The compressive strength of the reinforced recycled mortar increased by 32.62% at 3 days and 22.6% at 28 days, with the 28-day compressive strength approaching that of cement mortar using natural aggregates. The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) properties were significantly improved, with their width reduced from 30 to 35 μm to 20 to 25 μm. This study provides experimental evidence for RBA reinforcement technology while offering technical support for the resource use of RBAs.
Related References:
1. Wang, T.; Wang, Q. S.; Cui, S. A.; Yi, H. H.; Su, T.; and Tan, Z. Y., “Effects of Nanomaterials Reinforced Aggregate on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete,” Medžiagotyra, V. 29, No. 3, 2023, pp. 347-355. doi: 10.5755/j02.ms.32715
2. Xing, W. Q.; Tam, V. W. Y.; Le, K. N.; Hao, J. L.; and Wang, J., “Life Cycle Assessment of Recycled Aggregate Concrete on its Environmental Impacts: A Critical Review,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 317, 2022, p. 125950. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125950
3. Zhang, Y., “Current Status of Construction Waste Resource Utilization Standards,” Comprehensive Utilization of Resources, V. 28, No. 9, 2020, pp. 141-144.
4. Alyaseen, A.; Poddar, A.; Kumar, N.; Haydar, K.; Khan, A.; Sihag, P.; Lee, D.; Kumar, R.; and Singh, T., “Influence of Silica Fume and Bacillus Subtilis Combination on Concrete Made with Recycled Concrete Aggregate: Experimental Investigation, Economic Analysis, and Machine Learning Modeling,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, V. 19, 2023, p. e02638. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e02638
5. Ullah, S.; Qureshi, M. I.; Joyklad, P.; Suparp, S.; Hussain, Q.; Chaiyasarn, K.; and Yooprasertchai, E., “Effect of Partial Replacement of E-Waste as a Fine Aggregate on Compressive Behavior of Concrete Specimens Having Different Geometry with and without CFRP Confinement,” Journal of Building Engineering, V. 50, 2022, p. 104151. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104151
6. Islam, R.; Nazifa, T. H.; Yuniarto, A.; Shanawaz Uddin, A. S. M.; Salmiati, S.; and Shahid, S., “An Empirical Study of Construction and Demolition Waste Generation and Implication of Recycling,” Waste Management, V. 95, 2019, pp. 10-21. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.05.049
7. Wu, L.; Sun, Z.; and Cao, Y., “Modification of Recycled Aggregate and Conservation and Application of Recycled Aggregate Concrete: A Review,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 431, 2024, p. 136567. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136567
8. Bao, J.; Li, S.; and Zhang, P., “Water Absorption of Recycled Aggregate Concrete After Repeated Axial Compressive Loading,” Jianzhu Cailiao Xuebao, V. 24, 2021, pp. 71-76.
9. Wang, J. G.; Zhang, J. X.; Cao, D. D.; Dang, H. X.; and Ding, B., “Comparison of Recycled Aggregate Treatment Methods on the Performance for Recycled Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 234, 2020, p. 117366. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117366
10. Ouyang, J. Z.; Liu, K. W.; Sun, D. S.; Xu, W.; Wang, A.; and Ma, R., “A Focus on Ca2+ Supply in Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation and its Effect on Recycled Aggregate,” Journal of Building Engineering, V. 51, 2022, p. 104334. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104334
11. Feng, C.; Cui, B. W.; Ge, H. D.; Huang, Y. H.; Zhang, W. Y.; and Zhu, J. P., “Reinforcement of Recycled Aggregate by Microbial-Induced Mineralization and Deposition of Calcium Carbonate—Influencing Factors, Mechanism and Effect of Reinforcement,” Crystals, V. 11, No. 8, 2021, p. 887.
12. Feng, C. H.; Cui, B. W.; Wang, J.; Guo, H.; Zhang, W. Y.; and Zhu, J. P., “Changing the Soaking Method of Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Technology to Improve the Reinforcement Effect of Recycled Concrete Aggregates,” Journal of Building Engineering, V. 68, 2023, p. 106128. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106128
13. Feng, C. H.; Cui, B. W.; Huang, Y. H.; Guo, H.; Zhang, W. Y.; and Zhu, J. P., “Enhancement Technologies of Recycled Aggregate-Enhancement Mechanism, Influencing Factors, Improvement Effects, Technical Difficulties, Life Cycle Assessment,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 317, 2022, p. 126168. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.126168
14. Feng, C. H.; Ye, Z. H.; Wang, J.; Wang, L. W.; Guo, H.; Zhang, W. Y.; and Zhu, J., “Effect of Cement Slurry Impregnation-Carbonation Strengthening on the Properties of Low-Quality Recycled Concrete Aggregate,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, V. 20, 2024, p. e02914. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e02914
15. Tang, C. S.; Yin, L.; Jiang, N.; Zhu, C.; Zeng, H.; Li, H.; and Shi, B., “Factors Affecting the Performance of Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) Treated Soil: A Review,” Environmental Earth Sciences, V. 79, No. 5, 2020, p. 94. doi: 10.1007/s12665-020-8840-9
16. Awasthi, A., and Goyal, S., “Recycled Aggregate from C&D Waste Modified by Dry Processing and Used as a Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregate in Concrete,” Journal of Materials Science and Surface Engineering, V. 5, 2017, pp. 671-678.
17. Forero, J. A.; de Brito, J.; Evangelista, L.; and Pereira, C., “Improvement of the Quality of Recycled Concrete Aggregate Subjected to Chemical Treatments: A Review,” Materials, V. 15, No. 8, 2022, p. 2740. doi: 10.3390/ma15082740
18. Ho, H. L.; Huang, R.; Lin, W. T.; and Cheng, A., “Pore-Structures and Durability of Concrete Containing Pre-Coated Fine Recycled Mixed Aggregates Using Pozzolan and Polyvinyl Alcohol Materials,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 160, 2018, pp. 278-292. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.11.063
19. Liu, K.; Ouyang, J.; Sun, D.; Jiang, N.; Wang, A.; Huang, N.; and Liang, P., “Enhancement Mechanism of Different Recycled Fine Aggregates by Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation,” Journal of Cleaner Production, V. 379, 2022, p. 134783. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134783
20. Singh, L. P.; Bisht, V.; Aswathy, M. S.; Chaurasia, L.; and Gupta, S., “Studies on Performance Enhancement of Recycled Aggregate by Incorporating Bio and Nano Materials,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 181, 2018, pp. 217-226. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.05.248
21. Wilcox, S. M.; Mulligan, C. N.; and Neculita, C. M., “Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation as a Bioremediation Technique for Mining Waste,” Toxics, V. 12, No. 2, 2024, pp. 107.
22. Feng, Z.; Zhao, Y.; and Zeng, W., Lu, Z.; and Shah, S. P., “Using Microbial Carbonate Precipitation to Improve the Properties of Recycled Fine Aggregate and Mortar,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 230, 2020, p. 116949. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116949
23. Mi, T. W.; Peng, L. G.; Yu, K. Q.; and Zhao, Y. X., “Enhancement Strategies for Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete Using MICP and EICP Treatments,” Journal of Building Engineering, V. 79, 2023, p. 107909. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.107909
24. Li, J. H.; Wang, T.; Du, C. Y.; Wang, C. X.; Cao, F.; and Su, T., “Multi-Faceted Assessment of Microbial-Reinforced Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete,” Chemical Engineering Journal, V. 497, 2024, p. 154481. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.154481
25. Dejong, J. T.; Soga, K.; Kavazanjian, E.; Burns, S.; Van Paassen, A.; Al Qabany, A.; Aydilek, A.; Bang, S. S.; Burbank, M.; Caslake, L. F.; Chen, C. Y.; Cheng, X.; Chu, J.; Ciurli, S.; Esnault-Filet, A.; Fauriel, S.; Hamdan, N.; Hata, T.; Inagaki, Y.; Jefferis, S.; Kuo, M.; Laloui, L.; Larrahondo, J.; Manning, D. A. C.; Martinez, B.; Montoya, B. M.; Nelson, D. C.; Palomino, A.; Renforth, P.; Santamarina, J. C.; Seagren, E. A.; Tanyu, B.; Tsesarsky, M.; and Weaver, T., “Biogeochemical Processes and Geotechnical Applications: Progress, Opportunities and Challenges,” Geotechnique, V. 63, No. 4, 2013, pp. 287-301.
26. De Muynck, W.; Verbeken, K.; De Belie, N.; and Verstraete, W., “Influence of Urea and Calcium Dosage on the Effectiveness of Bacterially Induced Carbonate Precipitation on Limestone,” Ecological Engineering, V. 36, No. 2, 2010, pp. 99-111.
27. Park, S. J.; Park, Y. M.; Chun, W. Y.; Kim, W. J.; and Ghim, S., “Calcite-Forming Bacteria for Compressive Strength Improvement in Mortar,” Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, V. 20, No. 4, 2010, pp. 782-788.
28. Manzur, T.; Rahman, F.; Afroz, S.; Huq, R. S.; and Efaz, I. H., “Potential of a Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation Process for Durability Enhancement of Masonry Aggregate Concrete,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, V. 29, No. 5, 2017, p. 04016290. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001799
29. Achal, V.; Mukherjee, A.; and Reddy, M. S.,, “Effect of Calcifying Bacteria on Permeation Properties of Concrete Structures,” Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, V. 38, No. 9, 2011, pp. 1229-1234.
30. Ai, Y. Z., “Research on Grading Method of Recycled Coarse Aggregate and Strength Prediction of Recycled Concrete Prepared By It,” Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China, 2023.
31. García-González, J.; Rodríguez-Robles, D.; Wang, J. Y.; and De Belie, N., “Quality Improvement of Mixed and Ceramic Recycled Aggregates by Biodeposition of Calcium Carbonate,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 154, 2017, pp. 1015-1023. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.08.039
32. Park, S.-S.; Le, T.-T.; Nong, Z.; Moon, H.-D.; and Lee, D.-E., “Chemically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation for Improving Strength of Sand,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, V. 32, No. 9, 2020, p. 04020238. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003318
33. Constantinides, G., and Ulm, F. J., “The Nanogranular Nature of C-S-H,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, V. 55, No. 1, 2007, pp. 64-90.
34. Wu, C. R.; Zhu, Y. G.; Zhang, X.-T.; and Kou, S. C., “Improving the Properties of Recycled Concrete Aggregate with Bio-Deposition Approach,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 94, 2018, pp. 248-254. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.09.012