Characterization and applicability of novel alkali-tolerant carbonatogenic bacteria as environment-friendly bioconsolidants for management of concrete structures and soil erosion

Cracking and erosion are critical factors that reduce the mechanical properties and stability of concrete structures and soil, respectively. They are recognized worldwide as severe disasters causing the collapse of many structures including stone heritage and dams, and landslides. Therefore, it is essential to propose effective and environment-friendly management methods to prevent them. Carbonatogenesis has recently received considerable attention as a reliable biological process for remediating cracks in calcareous structures, stabilizing loose soils, and sequestering CO₂ in the environment. Isolating and characterizing carbonatogenic bacteria with excellent performance is crucial for applying this process to the field of environmental and civil engineering. The aim of this study was to isolate new CaCO₃-precipitating bacteria and investigate various properties for their use as bioconsolidants. Furthermore, the possibility of restoring damaged structures and stabilizing loose sandy soil using isolated strain was investigated. Strain LC13 with urease and CaCO₃-precipitating activity was isolated from limestone cave soil in Korea and identified as Arthrobacter sulfureus by phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Although cell growth was observed after an adaptation period at pH 11, strain LC13 grew well at pH 7-11, indicating alkali tolerance. The optimal conditions for CaCO₃ precipitation were 1.0% yeast extract, 2.5% urea, 0.35% NaHCO₃, and 400 mM CaCl₂, with an initial pH of 6.5 at 30 °C. Under optimized conditions, maximal CaCO₃ (22.92 ± 0.14 g/l) precipitated after 3 days, which was 10.8-fold higher than the value in a urea-CaCl₂ medium. CaCO₃ precipitation by strain LC13 was associated with an increased pH due to ureolysis and protein deamination. Using an optimized medium as a cementation solution, strain LC13 completely remediated 340-760 μm wide cracks over 3 days, and also restored the spalling of concrete surfaces. Furthermore, the sand treated with LC13 solidified with a surface strength of 14.9 kPa. Instrumental analysis confirmed that the crystals precipitated were a mixture of CaCO₃ polymorphs composed of rhombohedral calcite and spherical vaterite. These results suggest that A. sulfureus LC13 may be useful for implementing sustainable biorestoration and environmental management technologies such as the in situ remediation of structural cracks and in situ prevention of soil erosion.