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Microbial effect on water sorptivity and sulphate ingress by Bacillus megaterium on mortars prepared using Portland Pozzolana cement
Author(s) -
Mutitu D.K.,
Muthengia J.W.,
Mwirichia R.,
Thiong’o J.K.,
Mulwa M.O.,
Genson M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.14976
Subject(s) - pozzolana , sorptivity , portland cement , materials science , mortar , cement , composite material , bacillus megaterium , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , pozzolan , geology , paleontology , engineering , bacteria
Aims To determine the effect of direct embedment of Bacillus megaterium into Portland pozzolana cement mortars on water sorptivity and diffusivity coefficient of sulphate ions. Methods and Results Prisms with a water/cement ratio of 0·5 were prepared by blending Portland Pozzolana cement with the requisite volume of a B. megaterium (microbial) solution whose concentration was 1·0 × 10 7 cells per ml. Mortar prisms of 160 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm were fabricated for this study. Mortars cured for 28 days were exposed to 0·2465 mol l −1 Na 2 SO 4 solution using accelerated ion migration test method for 36‐h session using a 12V DC power source. Sulphate ion concentration was then determined through the ingressed mortar at 10 mm interval. A minimum water sorption gain of 0·61% was observed on the prism prepared with and cured in microbial solution. A maximum of 0·0289 and a minimum of 0·0093 water sorptivity coefficients were exhibited by the control prism and microbial prisms, respectively. The microbial prisms exhibited the lowest apparent diffusion coefficient ( D app ) of 4·5179 × 10 −11 m 2 s −1 . Conclusions Direct incorporation of B. megaterium in mortar preparation, curing or both regimes significantly retarded water sorption and lowered sulphate ion ingress. The inclusion of this bacterial in the mortar further complements the pozzolana pore structure benefits. Significance and Impact of the Study This novel B. megaterium bacteria which can survive and cause biocementation within hydrating cement mortar when not encapsulated would result in a green innovation. Once adopted and applied in real‐life scenario, it would promote construction of durable, safe, resilient and affordable shelter.