Electrokinetic Stabilization of Soft Soil Using Carbonate-Producing Bacteria

The carbonate (CO 3 −2 ) produced by Sporosarcina pasteurii was injected electrokinetically to enhance the mechanical properties of soft clay soils. In this method the Ca2+ was injected into the anode chamber and moved towards the cathode by electromigration and electroosmotic flow. Then the released CO 3 −2 from a blend of bacteria and urea was injected into the cathode chamber. The CO 3 −2 ions were moved from the cathode to the anode under electromigration mechanism. The CaCO3 was precipitated in the presence of calcium in porous medium of the soil, and consequently increased the shear strength of the soil. The polarity reversal was applied to have a homogeneous distribution of CaCO3.