A laboratory investigation of suppression of dust from wind erosion using biocementation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Dust events are among the serious environmental challenges in some countries. Sustainable solutions can be applied to tackle this problem by considering soil as a living ecosystem. Biocementation based on the production of carbonates by heterotrophic bacteria is one of the favorable methods for suppressing the dust from wind erosion, because this type of bacteria produces calcium carbonate (main product) as well as water and carbon dioxide (by-products). In the present research, bacterial species of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was sampled for analysis. First, bacteria were cultivated to reach a predetermined concentration. Next, bacterial cells and nutrients in the form of solution were sprayed on the soil surface. Then, samples were tested in a closed-circuit wind tunnel. Three main groups of samples were tested: (1) without sand bombardment and undisturbed soil surface, (2) with sand bombardment and undisturbed soil surface, and (3) without sand bombardment and with disturbed soil surface. The results show that the implemented method for soil stabilization is efficient. Moreover, based on the results of the second group of tests, curing duration, amount of water, temperature-water interaction, and water-bacterial cells interaction were found to be of considerable significance. (C) 2019 Sharif University of Technology. All rights reserved.