Crystalline Analysis of Geomicrobially-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in Sands Using a Surface Percolation Treatment Technique
Abstract
Ottawa 50/70 sand specimens and natural beach sand samples were treated using bioaugmented geomicrobies via a surface percolation technique. Testing was conducted on these specimens to determine how resultant calcium carbonate precipitation changed as a function of temperature, depth from the surface, and in the presence of magnesium. Specifically, x-ray Diffraction (XRD), a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to determine and quantify the presence of calcium carbonate and its associated phase. Results showed a direct relationship between temperature and precipitated calcium carbonate. In addition, as an unintended consequence associated with the treatment, ammonium chloride was produced. This ammonium chloride appears to mostly have formed upon the specimens' surfaces, and its quantity appears to be inversely proportional to the quantity of precipitated calcium carbonate. This result has important implications in upscaling in the sense that the results imply that there may be some benefits associated with reducing ammonium chloride precipitation during the microbial reaction. The addition of magnesium led to inconclusive results in the sense that very little calcification was observed during this portion of the study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1171767
Entities
People
- Justin E. Mulloney
Organizations
- University of North Florida