Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) researchers have developed a structured model to help in the production of bio-cement, which is an alternative sustainable process for cementation.
- Bio-Cement has the potential to reduce the production of carbondioxide (CO 2) in the future.
- ‘Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) process is used to make bio-cement using bacteria.
- The research was focused to gain a better understanding of the MICP process with a long-term aim to scale up the manufacturing of Bio-Cement.
- Cement manufacturing is among the largest CO 2-producing industries.
- The researchers studied the MICP process using the bacteria, S. pasteurii, and proposed and developed a structured model for the overall ureolysis processes (uptake and breaking of urea using bacteria) to scale up the MICP process.
- Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) is the process by which calcium carbonate precipitates are formed by microorganisms, which are used to produce bio-cement.
- The developed structured model is useful for developing a unified model of ureolysis processes with calcite precipitation and MICP scale-up studies in the future.
Bio-cement Vs Conventional cement
- Bio-cement synthesis is more energy efficient as it requires temperatures in the range of 30° to 40°C whereas conventional cement production requires above 900⁰C.
- Bio-cement is also eco-friendly with negligible carbondioxide emissions.
- Bio-cement production can also be potentially more economical since production is faster.
- Industrial wastes such as lactose mother liquor (LML) and corn steep liquor (CSL) can also be used as raw materials for the bacteria.
- Research on bio-cement has shown that it has comparable shear strength, durability, reduced water absorption capacity, and permeability to the conventional cement.
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