Biocementation treatment to stabilize the surface of a real slope
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14195/2184-8394_163_2Keywords:
surface erosion, biocement, sandy soilAbstract
The precipitation of calcium carbonate (biocement) by using biological agents such as bacteria or enzyme is promoted during soil treatment by biocementation. A novel application is treating soil surface to improve strength against ravine formation, which is being investigated at IST under a project founded by FCT I.P. (ref. PTDC/ECI-EGC/1086/2021). This treatment was done in a slope excavated on a sandy formation at A13 motorway managed by BRISA. The treatment was done by Rodio Portuguesa and Soletanche-Bachy, who supplied the bacteria. The slope was monitored for more than one year to study the durability of the treatment by measuring the amount of calcium carbonate after several rain periods, and the results are presented in this paper. The results are encouraging and confirm the suitability of the treatment against ravine formation. This is the first Portuguese case-study on biocementation, which is expected to help promoting this technique for soil improvement, as a technique more sustainable than traditional solutions.
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