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Title:

Application of Novel Biological Technique in Dust Suppression

Accession Number:

01122300

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Transportation Research Board Business Office

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Abstract:

A novel concept of using microbial metabolic byproduct, calcium carbonate, has been developed for the control of fugitive dusts. This microbial dust suppression is based on the calcite precipitation induced as a result of enzymatic activity of soil microorganism, Sporosarcina pasteurii, in which calcite matrices formed promote aggregation of dust particles. In principle, microbial calcite precipitation takes place as a result of the enzyme urease that hydrolyzes urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide and subsequently the ammonia causes an increase of pH in surroundings to induce CaCO3 precipitation. This type of mineral cementation has shown a great potential to aggregate loose soil particles, preventing surface erosion and furthermore plugging the permeable channels on the soil surface. The ultimate goal of this research is to apply bio-based dust suppressant in the field. However, prior to field application, it is imperative to employ biological and geotechnical laboratory tests to evaluate its potential as a dust suppressant. This paper reports our preliminary findings from the biological and geotechnical laboratory studies. Sand samples were treated with three different biological treatment methods, i.e., (1) microorganism (bacteria) only, (2) urease (enzyme) only, and (3) a mixture of bacteria and enzyme. In the first and third methods, three different bacterial concentrations were applied. The effectiveness of dust suppression was evaluated by measuring the strength change of the treated sand surface and the percent weight loss of sand through wind erosion.

Monograph Accession #:

01120148

Report/Paper Numbers:

09-0831

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Bang, Sookie S
Bang, Sangchul
Frutiger, Sabine
Nehl, Leah M
Comes, Beth L

Pagination:

13p

Publication Date:

2009

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2009-1-11 to 2009-1-15
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

DVD

Features:

Figures; Photos; References (21) ; Tables (1)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Enzymes

Subject Areas:

Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-0831

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Jan 30 2009 5:04PM