Abstract：Loose particles could be cemented by the microbial induced calcite into a bio-sandstone with a certain mechanical strength. This technique could be used to repair the surface defects in the cementitious materials and in the treatment of foundations. In order to determine whether other carbonate minerals induced by microbe have the similar properties as the calcite, loose particles were cemented by microbially induced magnesium carbonate. The samples with bacteria and without bacteria are compared, and it is shown that the microbially induced magnesium carbonate could also have the same cementation function while adopting the same molding process and the injection time. In addition, the microstructure of the microbially induced white precipitate, the bio-sandstone was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and. was shown to be the magnesite with the morphology of needles. The mechanical test shows that the microbial induced magnesium carbonate cementation of unconsolidated sand particles in the form of sand column (bio-sandstone) has a certain compressive strength.
2013, Vol. 31 
