• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.39-47
• /
• 2021

Recently, the enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) technique has been considered as one of the alternatives to the cement-based soil reinforcing method. However, the problem with the emission of ammonium ion has not been solved. In this study, an experimental study on the EICP without releasing an environmental contaminant (Ze-EICP) is performed using calcium-exchanged zeolite. The results show that the Ze-EICP using calcium-exchanged zeolite reduced the amount of ammonium ions by 96.96% and precipitated almost the same amount of calcium carbonate, compared to the EICP using calcium chloride. In addition, the Ze-EICP shows higher strength improvement rate than the EICP due to densification of zeolite and cementation of calcium carbonate.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2020

This study presents the experimental results of ground improvement efficiency induced by enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) in soils. First, the optimal mixture ratio of EICP solution was determined by comparing the amount of induced carbonate depending on the different ratio among urea, CaCl₂, and urease. Next, we evaluated the shear stiffness and strength of EICP-treated sandy soil by performing shear wave velocity measurement and triaxial shear test. Furthermore, induced carbonate in treated soil was visually investigated by X-ray CT and SEM analysis. The results showed that the maximum shear stiffness evolved 19~30 times after 6 hours of reaction time compared with non-treated sands. Also, the cohesion and the friction angle tended to increase and decrease, respectively, as the amount of induced carbonate increased.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 2019

The efficiency of suppressing fine dust was evaluated by conducting indoor and field experiments for the ground treated with EICP solution, which is an eco-friendly ground improvement method. In laboratory experiments, the EICP solution was prepared with inexpensive materials for the field applicability, and the optimal mixing ratio and optimal spraying volume of EICP solution were calculated. The optimum amount of calcium carbonate was shown when the ratio of urea/calcium chloride and white powder were 1.5 and 15 g/L, respectively. The optimum spraying amount of the EICP solution was $7L/m^2$ determined by fine dust suppression and cone tip resistance experiments. The spraying of water and EICP solution was conducted at the test-bed where dump trucks pass for the effect of suppressing fine dust of each method. The effective fine dust suppression method can be chosen depending on the situation of the site.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.39 no.8
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the sulfate removal capacity of the enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) technique through the chemical precipitation of sulfate with calcium ions. The optimal EICP recipe was obtained to retain the excess calcium cations in the solution for the generation of a sufficient amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) mineral. The effect of gypsum precipitation on the EICP-treated sand specimen was investigated by measuring the shear wave velocity and by visual inspection via scanning electron microscopy. The EICP solution using soybean crude urease, as an alternative to laboratory-grade purified urease, exhibited a lower sulfate removal efficiency at a similar CaCO₃ production rate compared with the optimal EICP recipe because of soybean impurities.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.79-90
• /
• 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
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2017

This study presents the experimental results of $CaCO_3$ formation in sand by the Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) method. Concentration of $CaCO_3$ with elapsed reaction time is calibrated by standardized procedure by measuring $CO_2$ pressure, and it increases with time towards asymptotic value. Jumunjin sand saturated with EICP solution shows that both shear wave velocity and electrical conductivity sharply increase as the reaction starts to approach to the constant values after 50 hours of reaction time. Urease concentration of 0.5 g/L exhibits 224% higher final shear wave velocity than that of 0.1 g/L. The nucleation models hint that carbonate tends to precipitate not only at grain contacts but also at grain surfaces. Regardless of urease concentration, electrical conductivity and shear wave velocity follow the unique path. The scanning electron microscopic images and X-ray computed tomographic images validate the spatial configuration of produced $CaCO_3$ in soils.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.165-174
• /
• 2020

The enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) method has been investigated to improve the hydro-mechanical properties of natural soil deposits. This study was conducted to explore the stiffness evolution during various stress scenarios. First, the optimal concentration of urea, CaCl₂, and urease for the maximum efficiency of calcite precipitation was identified. The results show that the optimal recipe is 0.5 g/L and 0.9 g/L of urease for 0.5 M CaCl₂ and 1 M CaCl₂ solutions with a urea-CaCl₂ molar ratio of 1.5. The shear stiffness of EICP-treated sands remains constant up to debonding stresses, and further loading induces the reduction of S-wave velocity. It was also found that the debonding stress at which stiffness loss occurs depends on the void ratio, not on cementation solution. Repeated loading-unloading deteriorates the bonding quality, thereby reducing the debonding stress. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray images reveal that higher concentrations of CaCl₂ solution facilitate heterogeneous nucleation to form larger CaCO₃ nodules and 11-12 % of CaCO₃ forms at the interparticle contact as the main contributor to the evolution of shear stiffness.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.281-289
• /
• 2022

Bio-CaCO₃ is a blowout environment-friendly materials for soil improvement and sealing of rock fissures. To evaluate the chemical characteristics, shape, size and productivity of soybean urease induced CaCO₃ precipitates (SUICP), experimental studies were conducted via EDS, XRD, FT-IR, TGA, BET, and SEM. Also, the conversion rate of SUICP reaction at different time were determined and analyzed. The Bio-CaCO₃ product obtained by SUICP is comprehensively judged as calcite based on the results of EDS, XRD and FT-IR. The SUICP calcite precipitates are detected as spherical or ellipsoidal particles 3-6 ㎛ in diameter with nanoscale pores on their surface, and this morphology is novel. The median secondary particle size d₅₀ is 39-88 ㎛, indicating the agglomeration of the primary calcite particles. The Bio-calcite decomposes at 650-780℃, representing a medium thermal stability. The conversion rate of SUICP reaction can reach 80% in 24h, which is much more efficient than microbially induced CaCO₃ precipitation. These results reveal the knowledges of SUICP, and further direct its engineering applications. Moreover, we show an economic channel to obtain porous spherical calcite.