A low production rate for calcium carbonate with microbial solidification technology at low temperatures often restricts its application. For this reason, adding urea to the medium and the domestication of Bacillus megaterium at low temperature were proposed to produce more calcium carbonate based on an analysis of growth characteristics, urease activity, and the production rates for calcium carbonate under different conditions. Sand solidification tests were conducted to demonstrate improvements caused by the methods. The results showed that the higher the temperature, the faster the growth of Bacillus megaterium and the stronger the urease activity. Growth was fastest and urease activity strongest at a pH of 8. Adding urea to the medium and the domestication of B. megaterium at low temperature can both improve the production rate, effectively increasing calcium carbonate precipitation at low temperature. Combining the two methods resulted in greater improvement of the production rate for calcium carbonate. The two methods were also found to improve the effect of sand solidification. Therefore, our study provides a solid foundation for the actual engineering application of bio-cementation technology at low temperature.
Keywords: Bacillus megaterium; Bacteria domestication; Low temperature; Precipitation rate; Sand solidification.