• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.515-520
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• 2009

This study investigated the influence of oxyanions (nitrate, carbonate, phosphate) on the attachment of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) to Al-Fe bimetallic oxide-coated sand using column experiments. Results showed that bacterial attachment to the coated sand was independent of nitrate concentration. Bacterial mass recovery remained constant (10.9${\pm}$0.2%) with varying nitrate concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 mM). In case of carbonate, mass recovery increased from 25.6% to 39.0% with increasing carbonate concentration from 0.1 mM to 1 mM, and mass recovery also increased from 50.9% to 78.9% at the same concentration condition in case of phosphate. This phenomenon could be attributed to the hindrance effect of carbonate and phosphate to bacterial attachment to the coated sand. Meanwhile, with increasing carbonate/phosphate concentration from 1 mM to 10 mM, mass recovery decreased from 39.0% to 23.8% and from 78.9% to 52.6%, respectively. This phenomenon could be ascribed to the enhancement effect of free carbonate/phosphate ions present in solution phase due to increasing carbonate/phosphate concentration, which increase ionic strength and thus enhance bacterial attachment to the coated sand. In our experimental conditions, the effect of phosphate to bacterial attachment to the coated sand was the greatest among phosphate, carbonate, and nitrate.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.364-372
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• 2016

Sand tubules, made up of sand grains cemented by microbe-induced calcium carbonate precipitation, have been found in China's Ningxia Province. Sand tubules grow like a tree's roots about 40-60 cm below the surface. The properties of sand tubules and their bacterial community were examined. X-Ray diffraction analysis revealed that the sand tubules were associated with crystalline calcite. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the crystalline solid had a lamellar structure and lacked the presence of cells, suggesting that no bacteria acted as nucleation sites, nor that the crystalline solid was formed by the aggregation of bacteria. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed 11 of the 12 detectable bands were uncultured bacteria by BLAST analysis in the GenBank database, and the rest were closely related to Paenibacillus sp. (100% identity). By cultivation techniques, the only strain isolated from the sand tubule was suggested to be related to Paenibacillus sp.; no archaea were found. Furthermore, Paenibacillus sp. was demonstrated to induce calcium carbonate precipitation in vitro.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 2014

This study categorizes the distributed sand around coastal area of Jeju volcanic Island into three groups according to their components, and arranges their characteristics. In the case of basic physical properties, the silicate sand has slightly greater specific gravity than general sand, and the carbonate sand with widespread distribution has a lower specific gravity. In the gross, the carbonate sand has poor particle classifying and low uniformity coefficient because carbonate minerals of relatively large grain size are mixed. The relation between compressive strength and components shows conflicting tendency that silicate and carbonate components have positive correlation and negative correlation with compressive strength, respectively. Based on the components ratio of one to one, the sand having low carbonate component ratio is expected to be able to utilize in construction fine aggregate. To compare between square root (ACI 308) and cube root (KCI 2012) of compressive strength at computation of elastic modulus, it is considered to non-dimensional elastic modulus.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2022

Soybean-urease induced carbonate precipitation (EICP), as an alternative to microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), was employed for soil improvement. Meanwhile, soluble calcium produced from industrial waste carbide slag powder (CSP) via the acid dissolution method was used for the EICP process. The ratio of CSP to the acetic acid solution was optimized to obtain a desirable calcium concentration with an appropriate pH. The calcium solution was then used for the sand columns test, and the engineering properties of the EICP-treated sand, including unconfined compressive strength, permeability, and calcium carbonate content, were evaluated. Results showed that the properties of the biocemented sand using the CSP derived calcium solution were comparable to those using the reagent grade CaCl₂. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that spherical vaterite crystals were mainly formed when the CSP-derived calcium solution was used. In contrast, spherical calcite crystals were primarily formed as the reagent grade CaCl₂ was used. This study highlighted that it was effective and sustainable to use soluble calcium produced from CSP for the EICP process.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2012

This paper presents an environment-friendly sand cementation method by precipitating calcium carbonate using plant extracts. The plant extracts contain urease like $Sporosarcina$ $pasteurii$, which can decompose urea into carbonate ion and ammonium ion. It can cause cementation within sand particles where carbonate ions decomposed from urea combine with calcium ions dissolved from calcium chloride or calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonate. Plant extracts, urea and calcium chloride or calcium hydroxide were blended and then mixed with Nakdong River sand. The mixed sand was compacted into a cylindrical specimen and cured for 3 days at room temperature ($18^{\circ}C$). Unconfined compression test, SEM and XRD analyses were carried out to evaluate three levels of urea concentration and two different calcium sources. As urea concentration increased, the unconfined compressive strength increased up to 10 times those without plant extracts because calcium carbonate precipitated more, regardless of calcium source. It was also found that the strength of specimen using calcium chloride was higher than that of specimen using calcium hydroxide.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.429-438
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• 2019

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an innovative soil improvement approach utilizing metabolic activity of microbes to hydrolyze urea. In this paper, the shear response and the erodibility of MICP-treated sand under axial compression and submerged impinging jet were evaluated at a low confining stress range. Loose, poorly graded silica sand was used in testing. Specimens were cemented at low confining stresses until target shear wave velocities were achieved. Results indicated that the erodibility parameters of cemented specimens showed an increase in the critical shear stress by up to three orders of magnitude, while the erodibility coefficient decreased by up to four orders of magnitude. Such a trend was observed to be dependent on the level of cementation. The treated sand showed dilative behavior while the untreated sands showed contractive behavior. The shear modulus as a function of strain level, based on monitored shear wave velocity, indicated mineral debonding may commence at 0.05% axial strain. The peak strength was enhanced in terms of emerging cohesion parameter based on utilizing the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2013

The carbonate sands of the Sabkha layer in the Middle East have very low shear strength. Therefore, instant settlement and time-dependent secondary settlement occur when inner voids are exposed, as in the case of particle crushing. We analyzed settlement of the Sabkha layer under a large-scale foundation by hydrotesting, and compared the field test results with the results of laboratory tests. With ongoing particle crushing, we observed the following stress-strain behaviors: strain-hardening (Sabkha GL-1.5 m), strain-perfect (Sabkha GL-7.0 m), and strain-softening (Sabkha GL-7.5 m). General shear failure occurred most frequently in dense sand and firm ground. Although the stress-strain behavior of Sabkha layer carbonate sand that of strain-softening, the particle crushing strength was low compared with the strain-hardening and strain-perfect behaviors. The stress-strain behaviors differ between carbonate sand and quartz sand. If the relative density of quartz sand is increased, the shear strength is also increased. Continuous secondary compression settlement occurred during the hydrotests, after the dissipation of porewater pressure. Particle crushing strength is relatively low in the Sabkha layer and its stress-strain behavior is strain-softening or strain-perfect. The particle crushing effect is dominant factor affecting foundation settlement in the Sabkha layer.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.103-114
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• 2007

Sands distributed in Jeju island's coastal areas, Korea, can be classified as silicate sand derived from volcanic rock, carbonate sand derived from shells, and mixed sands containing both silicate and carbonate sands. These three types of sands typically exist in Jeju coastal areas. Samples of silicate, carbonate and mixed sands were obtained from Samyang beach, Gimnyeong beach, and Jeju harbor area, respectively. Compression tests were conducted to assess the compression characteristics of these sands. As a result of these tests, each sand showed different behaviors. For Samyang beach sand, it appeared that initial compression is a larger than the other two sands. For Cimnyeong and Jeju harbor sands, however, the additional compression occurred after initial compression. This could result from the crushing, shattering, and rearrangement of sand particles. In addition, settlement behavior of Jeju harbor ground according to the construction stages was analyzed using the measured data. It showed that in addition to the initial elastic compression, a considerable additional compression occurred with time. The settlements of Jeju harbor ground were predicted by using the elastic settlement calculation methods (empirical methods) and the compression test method. The empirical methods, which did not consider the crushing, shattering, and rearrangement of particles could show smaller result than that occurring actually.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-38
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• 2014

The composition of carbonate sands from a sabkha at Ruwais in the UAE differs from that of silica sand, and these sands are crushed easily under low compression pressures. Accordingly, particle crushing of carbonate sand occurs under high pressure, which results in additional settlement and reduces the shear strength. In this study, consolidation and triaxial tests were conducted to analyze the characteristics of carbonate sands following particle crushing. The unusual shear strength graphs of the carbonate sands result from the degree of particle pre-crushing. For the range at p' > p in the p (p')-q diagram, negative (-) excess porewater pressures occur if the axial pressure causes particle crushing that induces exposure of the inner voids. In addition, the q value decreased after particle crushing. In conclusion, the unusual characteristics of the carbonate sands were induced by particle crushing. The triaxial tests revealed that the degree of particle pre-crushing influenced the excess porewater pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

In this study, the objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of calcium carbonate powder, produced by the microbial reactions, on the strength of soft ground (sand). To analyze the cementation effects of calcium carbonate powder produced by microbial reactions on the strength of the sand, six different types of specimens (untreated, calcium carbonate, cement, carbonate+cement (1:9, 3:7, 5:5)) were made. The specimen were tested after curing (7 and 28 days). Uniaxial compressive strengths were measured on $D5cm{\times}H10cm$ specimens. Based on the test results, as both the weight ratio and the curing period increase, calcium carbonate, cement, and calcium carbonate+cement specimens showed an increase in the strength. In addition, compared with the strength of the specimen with cement, the strengths of the specimens with mixing ratios of 1:9, 3:7, and 5:5 (carbonate : cement) were found to be 93.5~95.8%, 825.%, 65.2~70.6%.