Utilization of Bio-Mineral Carbonation for Enhancing CO2 Sequestration and Mechanical Properties in Cementitious Materials

Microorganisms can perform mineral carbonation in various metabolic pathways, and this process can be utilized in the field of construction materials. The present study investigated the role of bio-mediated mineral carbonation in carbon sequestration performance and mechanical properties of cementitious materials. Bacterial-mediated ureolysis and CO2 hydration metabolism were selected as the main mechanisms for the mineral carbonation, and a microorganism, generating both urease and carbonic anhydrase, was incorporated into cementitious materials in the form of a bacterial culture solution. Four paste specimens were cured in water or carbonation conditions for 28 days, and a compressive strength test and a mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis were performed to investigate the changes in mechanical properties and microstructures. The obtained results showed that the pore size of the specimens incorporating bacteria was reduced by the precipitation of CaCO3 through the mineral carbonation process, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the paste specimens, regardless of the curing conditions. In addition, in the case of the paste specimens cured in carbonation conditions, more amorphous CaCO3 was observed and a larger amount of CaCO3 in the specimens incorporating the bacteria was measured than in the specimens without bacteria. This is attributed to promotion of the inflow and diffusion of CO2 via mineral carbonation through bacterial CO2 hydration metabolism.

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