Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages: 212-214

212

Geo-polymer Bacterial Concrete Using Microorganism

Ramin Andalib

, Muhd Zaimi Abd Majid

*, Mohd Warid Hussin

, Ali Keyvanfar

, Amirreza Talaiekhozani

, Hasrul

Haidar Ismail

1- Construction Research Center (CRC), Institute for Smart Infrastructure and Innovation Construction (ISIIC), Faculty of Civil

Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai, 81310 Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

2- Department of Civil Engineering, Jami Institute of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.

Received: 5/12/2015 Accepted: 26/12/2015 Published: 30/12/2015

Abstract

The existent research investigates the ability of Bacillus bacteria species to improve the strength of Geo-polymer concrete based

on bio-mineralization mechanism. The appropriate cell concentration of bacteria was introduced in ordinary and Geo-polymer

concrete by way of the mixing water to compare their strength and durability. In this research, it was found that the compressive

strength growth in Geo-polymer bacterial concrete was the highest in comparison to ordinary bacterial concrete at 90

day. For

durability study, the specimens were immersed in 5% H

solution and the result showed that Geo-polymer bacterial concrete

had the least weight and strength losses than ordinary bacterial concrete at different ages. This improvement was due to the

temperature condition of Geo-polymer bacterial concrete to survive more bacteria for purpose of calcite precipitation. The density

and uniformity of concrete were also examined by ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test. The result showed that the density and

uniformity of Geo-polymer structural bacterial concrete were more in comparison to other types of concrete.

Keywords: Geo-polymer Bacterial Concrete; Bacillus Strain; Concrete Strength and Durability; UPV Test

1 Introduction

Geopolymer, as an inorganic polymer member can be

created from Silicon (Si) and Aluminium (AL) of by-product

materials [1]. However the polymerization procedure

contains a rapid chemical reaction under alkaline situation

on Si-AL minerals, the most alkaline activator applied in

Geopolymerisation is a combination of sodium silicate and

sodium hydroxide [2]. The fundamental difference between

ordinary and Geopolymer concrete is the binder which can

be obtained from a certain concentration of alkaline activator

and Ash mixing.

Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), a waste from Palm oil mill

and Fly Ash, a waste from coal-burning power stations

which are cheap and available to create Geopolymer

concrete. Davidovits was the first, introduced the term of

Geopolymer in 1978. The initial research about partially

replacement of ordinary Portland cement concrete by Palm

Oil Fuel Ash started since 1990 in Malaysia.

Malaysia is focusing on good quality agricultural

products such as Palm and it is expected that millions tones

of palm oil waste will be produced annually. Hence a lot of

money will be spent to transport and maintenance the waste

[3]. On the other hand, Fly Ash has been also utilized in

replacing Portland cement partially to create Geopolymer

concrete. The experiment consequences, demonstrated that

Corresponding Author: Muhd Zaimi Abd Majid, Construction Research Center (CRC), Institute for Smart Infrastructure and

Innovation Construction (ISIIC), Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai, 81310 Johor Bahru,

Malaysia, Email: mzaimi@utm.my.

high volume Fly Ash Geopolymer concrete is more durable

than ordinary cement concrete [4].

This study is an attempt to highlight the use of bacteria

in Geopolymer concrete (Palm Oil Fuel Ash mixed with Fly

Ash instead of cement) to achieve a sustainable green

building material. Geopolymer bacterial concrete is a novel

research domain can be used for cementitious materials that

cure themselves automatically by bio-mineralization

mechanism. The concept is to introduce bacteria in concrete,

which aids to precipitate calcite in pores and tiny cavity

areas.

Bacillus species is an ureolytic bacterium can produce

calcite

to decrease concrete pores for enhancing the strength

and durability. Various Bacillus spices of spore-forming

bacteria have been used by researchers in their studies: I.e.

Bacillus pasteurii [5-20], Bacillus sphaericus [21-29],

Bacillus cohnii [30- 32], Bacillus pseudofirmus [30- 32],

Bacillus subtilis [33-36], Bacillus Megaterium [37], and

Bacillus alkalinitrilicus [38]. Bacillus pasteurii has been

also reclassified as Sporosarcina pasteurii [19].This

research actually investigates the ability of Bacillus bacteria

species to improve the strength and durability of Geo-

polymer concrete based on calcification and

Geopolymerization processes.

Journal weblink: http://www.jett.dormaj.com

J. Environ. Treat. Tech.

ISSN: 2309-1185

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages: 212-214

213

2 Experimental work

2.1 Material

Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), Fly Ash, and Ordinary

Portland Cement (OPC), were obtained from Palm oil mill,

coal-burning power station, and the local market of Malaysia

respectively. The chemical composition of the POFA, Fly

Ash, and OPC are shown in Table 1. A combination of

Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Silicate solutions were used

to react with the Aluminium and the Silica in the POFA.

Fine sand and 10mm aggregates were also used in saturated

surface dry condition. The mixtures were designed for the

compressive strength of Fcu=25 MPa. The Geo-polymer

concrete mix was based on the different ratio of materials to

optimize the best mixture. The appropriate components of

ordinary and Geopolymer concrete with optimum

percentage of Palm Oil Fuel Ash mixed with Fly Ash are

shown at Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.

2.2 Microorganism isolation and identification

Soil microorganism isolation is a significant initial stage

of many biological researches. In this research, soil samples

were taken from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to isolate

bacteria. Soil samples were suspended in 10 ml nutrient

broth to place in a water bath with 100ºC temperature for 10

min. Before transferring samples to agar plate serial dilution

were done. Subsequently agar plates containing medium

culture were incubated at 30 ºC for 24 hours to obtain pure

colonies with dilution streaking repetition. In this study,

peptone 5.0 g/L, yeast Extract 3.0 g/L, and distilled water

were used to create nutrient broth medium culture since

peptone 5.0 g/L, yeast Extract 3.0 g/L, agar 12.0 g/L, and

distilled water were applied in medium to produce nutrient

solid agar. Calcium lactate (80 gram/liter) and urea (20

gram/liter) as calcium and nitrogen origins were also

introduced to medium for bio-mineralization mechanism.

Table1: The chemical composition of the POFA, Fly Ash, and OPC (mass %)

SiO2

AL2O3

Fe2O3

CaO

MgO

Na2O

K2O

P2O5

LOI

POFA

53.5

1.9

1.1

8.3

4.1

1.3

6.5

2.4

Fly Ash

46.7

35.9

5.0

3.92

0.84

0.58

0.5

0.383

1.00

OPC

43.1

5.0

2.6

46.0

1.1

0.2

0.5

0.2

1.3

Table2: Geo-polymer concrete mix with different ratio of ingredients to achieve 25 MPa strength

POFA

Fly Ash

POFA

NaOH

Sand

Aggregate

water

Plasticizer

Liquid

(PFA+POFA)

Achieved

Strength (MPa)

30:70

50:50

70:30%

100:0%

290

206.67

123.33

206.67

290

413.33

119.05

47.62

530

1233.32

33.33

6.67

0.403

25.20

20.15

15.10

12.80

Table3: Appropriate components of Geo-polymer and OPC concrete based on 25 MPa strength

Material

POFA-Fly Ash (30:70) Geo-polymer Concrete

Mass Kg/m

OPC Concrete Mass Kg/m

Cement

429.31

Water

33.33

193.19

10mm Aggregates

1233.32

965.95

Fine Sand

530

792.08

Fly Ash

290

POFA

123.33

Sodium Hydroxide Solution

47.62

Sodium Silicate Solution

119.05

Super Plasticizer

6.67

Table 4: Colony morphology, cell morphology, Gram stain reaction, and general tests to identify the genus of bacteria

Bacteria

Genus

Colony Morphology (from agar plates)

Cell

Morphology

Gram

reaction

(+/-)

Use

Glucose

Use

Endospore

(Y/N)

Shape

Elevation

Edge

Color

Surface

Bacillus

circular

flat

entire

cream

smooth

Bacillus-rod

aerobe

No gas

Yes

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages: 212-214

212

The colony morphology, cell morphology, Gram stain

reaction, motility and other general microbiology tests were

the significant evidences to identify the bacteria strain.

These experiments were included an easy to read table that

enables to rapidly identify an unknown isolated bacteria on

the basis of Bergey manual of systematic bacteriology

(Table4).

2.3 Mix proportioning and test specimens

The appropriate cell concentrations of microorganism

(30*10

cells) were introduced to ordinary and Geo-polymer

concrete by way of the mixing water per ml for the current

experimental research. The 100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm

cubes were cast and vibrated to compact in a vibration

machine and all cubes were cured in ambient conditions at

room temperature 26± 4°C after demolding. The

compressive strength of the cubes was determined at

different ages for different types of concrete. To study the

durability of Geo-polymer bacterial concrete against

aggressive agents (acidic conditions), the specimens were

immersed in a 5% solution of sulfuric acid to compare with

other types of concrete at different ages. Ultrasonic pulse

velocity (UPV) test was also applied to clearly describe

concrete quality in terms of density, uniformity,

homogeneity. This is on the basis of the fundamental rule

that the velocity of an ultrasonic pulse through any substance

place trust in the density of the material.

3 Result and Discussion

The major aim of this research was to survey the

microorganism effect on the Geo-polymer concrete strength

and durability. Fig.1 (b, c, d, e) demonstrate the compressive

strength of different types of concrete without and with

appropriate concentration of microorganisms (30*10

) at

different ages (14, 28, 45, and 90 days). The maximum

strength growth was achieved at 90

day in Geo-polymer

concrete. It was found that the addition of microorganism

had a positive effect on the compressive strength of Geo-

polymer concrete. Fig.2 (a, b) also demonstrate the weight

and strength losses of different types of concrete in acidic

conditions. The durability study proved that the Geo-

polymer bacterial concrete had less weight and strength

losses than the other types of concrete in 5% H

solution.

Eventually Fig.3 shows the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV)

test result in different type of concrete. In a comparative

manner, higher velocity was achieved since concrete quality

was high in terms of density and uniformity.

Fig.1 The microorganism effect on the compressive strength of Geo-polymer and OPC concrete without and with appropriate concentration of bacteria

Compressive Strength (MPa)

After 14 Days

(b)

24.5

25.5

26.5

Compressive Strength (MPa)

After 28 Days

( c )

23.5

24.5

25.5

26.5

27.5

28.5

Compressive Strength (MPa)

After 45 Days

(d)

Compressive Strength MPa)

After 90 Days

( e )

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 4, Pages: 212-214

213

Fig 2: Weight (a) and strength (b) losses of Geo-polymer and OPC concrete without and with appropriate concentration of bacteria in acidic conditions (Immersion in

5% H

)

Fig 3: Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) test result in Geo-polymer and OPC

concrete without and with appropriate concentration of bacteria

4 Conclusions

In this research, we found proof that Bacillus bacteria

had a favorable outcome on the compressive strength and

durability of Geo-polymer concrete. The highest strength

growth was obtained in Geo-polymer bacterial concrete with

30* 10

concentration of microorganism. This improvement

was due to Geo-polymer concrete temperature conditions to

survive more microorganisms to produce more calcite. The

durability study also proved with evidence that the Geo-

polymer bacterial concrete had less weight and strength

losses than the ordinary and Geo-polymer concrete without

microorganisms in 5% H

solution. Lastly ultrasonic

pulse velocity (UPV) test result verified that the density and

uniformity of Geo-polymer bacterial concrete were more

than other types of concrete in this research. This

improvement was due to filler substance of biology within

the concrete pores as a result of microbiologically induced

mineral precipitation and Geo-polymer concrete materials

component size.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Ministry of Science, Technology

and Innovation of Malaysia (MOSTI) - science fund - Vote.

No 4S042) and the Institute for Smart Infrastructures and

Innovative Construction (ISIIC) in Universiti Teknologi

Malaysia (Vote. No 00522) for financial support.

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