Influence of Bacteria on the Strength of Materials

Fazilatkhon Turakhodjaeva

, Shirinkhon Turakhujaeva

, Furkat Jurakulov

Ilyosjon Siddiqov

and Muattar Milieva

Arifov Institute of Ion-plasma and Laser Technologies of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Jizzakh State Pedagogical University, Jizzakh, Uzbekistan

Fergana State University, Fergana, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Bioconcrete, Bacterial Calcite, Self-Healing Materials.

Abstract: This article explores the innovative field of bioconcrete, where bacteria, specifically Bacillus pasteurii, are

employed to enhance the strength and durability of concrete structures. The key mechanism involves the

bacteria's ability to produce urease, catalyzing the hydrolysis of urea into carbonate and ammonia. The

resulting carbonate ions react with calcium ions in the concrete, forming calcium carbonate (calcite), which

fills cracks and pores in the structure. This process not only contributes to increased strength but also provides

bioconcrete with remarkable self-healing properties.

1 INTRODUCTION

In world practice, many parts of mechanical

engineering are made of aluminum and its alloys.

This, in turn, is the reason for the increasing demand

for aluminum alloys in the world and various studies

to improve their properties (Ahmed et al., 2021).

Many studies have been conducted on the mechanical

properties of aluminum-lithium alloys. Including

Chinese scientists Wang Ya., Vru Ya., Liu M., studies

were conducted on the technology of obtaining a

material with the necessary strength, forging and high

elasticity, using alloying elements.At the same time,

they proposed a method of rolling during the

collection (Metwally et al., 2021). From the work of

the above-mentioned researchers, it can be seen that

when a lithium element is applied to aluminum as a

leaching element, its mechanical properties improve.

The evolution of construction materials has been a

constant endeavor to meet the ever-growing demands

for structures that are not only robust and durable but

also sustainable and environmentally conscious. In

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4879-7252

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6866-9494

this pursuit, the integration of biological agents,

specifically bacteria, into concrete formulations has

emerged as a groundbreaking approach, giving rise to

a novel class of materials known as bioconcrete This

introduction delves into the innovative realm of

bioconcrete, exploring the transformative potential of

harnessing the biological prowess of Sporosarcina

pasteurii, a urease-producing bacterium, to enhance

the strength, durability, and resilience of concrete

structures (Metwally et al., 2021).

The Challenge of Traditional Concrete:Traditional

concrete, while a cornerstone of construction, has

inherent limitations, including susceptibility to

cracking and reduced ability to withstand

environmental stressors. The quest for materials that

not only address these shortcomings but also

contribute to sustainable construction practices has

fueled the exploration of alternative solutions

(Alateah, 2023).

Enter Bioconcrete:Bioconcrete represents a

paradigm shift in materials science, where living

organisms become integral components of the

Turakhodjaeva, F., Turakhujaeva, S., Jurakulov, F., Siddiqov, I. and Milieva, M.

Inﬂuence of Bacteria on the Strength of Materials.

DOI: 10.5220/0014247200004738

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Research of Agricultural and Food Technologies (I-CRAFT 2024), pages 229-233

ISBN: 978-989-758-773-3; ISSN: 3051-7710

229

construction matrix (Seifan et al., 2016). At the

forefront of this innovation is Sporosarcina pasteurii,

a bacterium renowned for its ability to produce urease,

an enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of urea. This

biological process results in the precipitation of calcite

within the concrete, imparting unique qualities to the

material.

Urease-Induced Calcite Precipitation:The crux of

bioconcrete lies in the bacteria-induced calcite

precipitation mechanism (Nasser et al., 2022)As

Sporosarcina pasteurii is introduced into the concrete

mix, it initiates a cascade of reactions leading to the

formation of calcium carbonate. This calcite not only

reinforces the concrete matrix but also exhibits

remarkable self-healing properties, addressing the

age-old challenge of cracks and structural

degradation.

The Promise of Bioconcrete:The potential benefits

of bioconcrete extend beyond enhanced strength and

durability. The self-healing nature of this material

offers the prospect of reduced maintenance

requirements, thereby contributing to sustainable

construction practices by minimizing resource

consumption and waste (Tursunbayev et al., 2023).

Scope of Exploration:While the concept of

bioconcrete holds immense promise, challenges such

as bacterial survival in the harsh concrete

environment, cost implications, and scalability need

careful consideration (Sarkar et al., 2023, Keyvanfar

et al., 2015). This introduction sets the stage for a

comprehensive exploration into the experimental

investigation, materials and methods employed,

results obtained, and the implications of integrating

bioconcrete into mainstream construction practices.

As we venture into this frontier of bio-augmented

construction materials, the fusion of biology and

concrete opens a realm of possibilities that could

redefine the very essence of building materials

(Chahal et al., 2012). The following sections will

delve into the intricacies of the experimental journey,

shedding light on the tangible outcomes and insights

gained from the integration of Sporosarcina pasteurii

into the concrete matrix.In recent years, researchers

have been exploring the potential use of bacteria to

enhance the strength and durability of concrete

through a process known as bioconcrete or bacterial

concrete (Turakhodjaeva, 2020) The most commonly

studied bacterium for this purpose is Sporosarcina

pasteurii. Here's how it works:

Sporosarcina pasteurii is capable of producing

urease enzyme (Schwantes-Cezario, 2019), which

catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbonate and

ammonia. The carbonate ions react with calcium ions

in the concrete to form calcium carbonate (calcite), a

mineral that can fill in cracks and pores in the concrete

(Chahal, 2012). When cracks form in the concrete, the

bacteria present in the concrete can proliferate and

produce calcite, effectively healing the cracks (Wiktor

and Jonkers, 2011). The formation of calcite in the

concrete matrix contributes to improved strength and

durability by filling in voids and reinforcing the

structure (Maddalena et al., 2021, Khaliq et al., 2016,

Tursunbaev et al., 2023). Moreover, The self-healing

capability of bioconcrete can help extend the service

life of structures and reduce the need for frequent

repairs.While bioconcrete shows promise, challenges

include ensuring the survival and activity of bacteria

in the harsh environment of concrete, as well as

addressing concerns related to cost and scalability

(Turakhodjaeva, 2019, Sarkar et al., 2022, Sarvar et

al., 2024, Vijay et al., 2017).

2 MATERIALS AND METHODS

To incorporate bacteria into concrete for

strengthening purposes, several steps are involved:

Isolation of bacterial strains: The bacteria are

isolated from the components of concrete, in

particular from cement and sand.

Mixing: The bacteria are added to the concrete

mix during the mixing process.

Activation: Urea for the bacteria is added to

activate them, providing the necessary conditions for

urease production. Curing: After casting, the concrete

is cured to allow the bacteria to proliferate and

facilitate calcite precipitation.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The research group of the U.A.Arifov Institute of Ion

Plasma and Laser Technologies at the Academy of

Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan selected

bacteria of the genus S. pasteuri, S. ureae and B.

thuringiensis for the study of this current work. After

isolation of the bacterium from the appropriate

sources, namely from cement and sand, the stage of

isolation of culture cells on nutrient agarized media

was performed.

For this purpose, the cultures were grown on a

liquid nutrient medium consisting of 8 g/l of nutrient

broth (5 g / l of peptone and 3 g/ l of meat extract) at

pH 7. 10 g/l MnSO

·H

O was added to each nutrient

medium to enhance the sporulation of cultivated

crops. All liquid nutrient media were sterilized in an

autoclave for 20 minutes at 120 °C at a pressure of 1.0

I-CRAFT 2024 - 4th International Conference on Research of Agricultural and Food Technologies

230

atm. In order to determine a promising type of

microorganisms, the available ability to produce

calcite crystals suspension of natural bacterial cell

samples in sterile saline solution (9 g/l NaCl). In this

case, the solution was diluted accordingly and sown

on an agar containing 3 g/l of nutrient broth, 20 g/l of

urea, 2.12 g/l NaHCO

, 10 g/l NH4Cl. Crystal

formation was observed on the 7th and 14th days.

Figure 1 shows the result of the crystals formed after

volatilization of the saline solution (9 g/l NaCl),

seeing through 1K of the digital microscope.

Figure 1: Calcite crystals formed after the volatilization of

NaCl.

As a result, it was determined that the apparent

crystals were formed from the culture cells of a

bacterium of the genus Sporosarcina.

Results in figure 2 (A, B) suggested that the

incorporated bacteria can heal the internal micro-

cracks through the bio-precipitation of CaCO

Figure 2: SEM photographs of control (A) showing micro-

cracks after half-failure loading and bacterial mortar

samples of B. pasteurii 0.2% (B) during the healing process

showing the initiation of CaCO

crystals precipitation.

Arrows refer to the micro-cracks.

The authors of this article measured the concrete

composition of traditional cementing and compared it

with a destructive control method, namely on a

hydraulic press.

It was found that the traditional method of

cementing concrete products withstands 5.62 GPa,

after which the present authors came to the

conclusion of improving the strength of concrete

products by a harmless and low-cost method. In this

direction, a biological method for strengthening

concrete structures was chosen, namely, a

bacteriological method for improving the quality of

cementing.

Figure 3: Relative mechanical pressing of concrete samples.

The number of viable microorganisms was

determined by seeding a dilute suspension of cells

onto a plate with nutrient agar and urea. The number

of heat-resistant spores was calculated by sowing

after heating at 65 °C for 15 and 45 minutes. Based

on the data of the table 1, it was found that the

biological method of increasing the cementation of

concrete products can withstand 8.9 HPa.

Table 1: The results of experiment data that increasing of

concrete structure strength.

Suspension

concentration

(ml)

Degree of

strength

(HPa)

Change in

relation to

the concrete

sample (%)

0 5.62 0

15 5.7 1.4

30 7.3 23.0

60 8.9 36.8

75 7.8 27.9

Thus, it was determined that of all the families

of bacteria, it is Sporosarcina expresses its ability to

produce calcium carbonate precipitate by the explicit

manifestation of crystal formation. These crystals are

a confirmatory agent for improving the mechanical

properties of construction objects, namely concrete,

which is caused by maintaining a compressive force

of 8.9 HPa. In the future, other types of bacteria can

Inﬂuence of Bacteria on the Strength of Materials

231

also be considered, capable of forming calcite crystals

with subsequent formation of a calcium carbonate

precipitate in order to develop a bacterial suspension

on existing cracks.

In the realm of construction materials, the

integration of bacteria into concrete, known as

bioconcrete, represents a transformative leap towards

enhancing strength, durability, and sustainability. The

focal point of this investigation was the utilization of

Sporosarcina pasteurii, a urease-producing

bacterium, to induce calcite precipitation within the

concrete matrix, thereby imparting unique properties

to the material.The experimental results presented a

compelling case for the efficacy of bioconcrete in

augmenting the performance of traditional concrete.

The compressive strength of the experimental groups

surpassed that of the control group, indicating a

tangible improvement in the material's ability to

withstand external forces. The microscopic analysis

corroborated these findings, revealing the presence of

calcite formations that contributed to enhanced

durability. One of the most promising aspects of

bioconcrete is its self-healing capability.

The ability of Sporosarcina pasteurii to proliferate

and facilitate calcite precipitation in response to

structural damage showcased a remarkable potential

for reducing maintenance requirements. This self-

healing property not only contributes to the longevity

of structures but also aligns with the growing

emphasis on sustainable and resilient construction

practices.While the results are encouraging,

challenges in the practical application of bioconcrete

should not be overlooked. Issues related to the

survival and activity of bacteria in the concrete

environment, cost considerations, and scalability

pose hurdles that require careful consideration in

future research and development efforts.

4 CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the integration of Sporosarcina

pasteurii into concrete exhibits great promise for

revolutionizing the construction industry. The

demonstrated improvements in strength, durability,

and self-healing properties open avenues for the

development of more sustainable and resilient

structures. As the field of bioconcrete continues to

evolve, ongoing research efforts will be essential to

address challenges, optimize formulations, and

facilitate the widespread adoption of this innovative

construction material. The journey from the

laboratory to practical implementation marks a

paradigm shift in our approach to building materials,

offering a glimpse into a future where construction is

not merely static but a dynamic, self-sustaining entity.

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