NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY RAIPUR

BIO-CONCRETE
SELF HEALING CONCRETE

SUBMITTED TO : PRESENTED BY :
DR. SHIRISH DEO SIR RAHUL DHAKER
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
 INTRODUCTION
• Crack formation is a typical phenomenon related to durability.
• Percolation of cracks may lead to leakage problems, causing
deterioration of the concrete matrix or corrosion of embedded
steel reinforcement.
• A environmental friendly solution is preferred i.e. biological
concrete over other alternatives like epoxy resins which is non degradable.
• In recent years a bacteria-based self-healing concrete is being
developed in order to extend the service life.
• A two component healing agent is added to the concrete mixture. The agent consists of
bacteria and an organic mineral precursor compound.
 WHAT IS BIO-CONCRETE ?
• It is a special type of concrete invented by a group of
microbiology researchers .
• Bio concrete is also called as BACTERIAL CONCRETE or Self healing
concrete.
• Spore forming alkali philic bacteria genus Bacillus, supplied with a calcium
based nutrient are incorporated in to the concrete suspended in mixing water.
• This bacteria based self healing agent is believed to remain hibernated within the concrete
for up to 200 years . When cracks appear in a concrete structure and water starts to seep in
through, the spores of the bacteria starts microbial activities on contact with the water and
oxygen.
• Its specially made to increase the lifespan or the durability of concrete structure by the self
healing action of that concrete.
BACTERIAS USED
• Most of the bacteria belongs to genus bacillus are fulfilling the required criteria
discussed above. some of the list of bacteria are,
B.Cohnii B. Filla B. Pasteurii

• The suitable chemical precursor found to be most suitable is

“calcium lactate” Ca(C3H5O2)2
MECHANISM
• When the concrete is mixed with bacteria (bacillus type), the bacteria go into a dormant
state, a lot like seeds. All the bacteria need is exposure to the air to activate their functions

• The water is deliberately forced into the crack and the precursor is activated.
• Cracks less than 0.2 mm can be auto fill by concrete.
• In bio-concrete, if water is in the contact with the concrete though the cracks the bacteria
get activated from its stage of dormancy and through its metabolic activities forms calcite
which further in calcium carbonate which acts as a healing material .
• When the crack is fill completely by the bacteria it again went to the stage of dormancy
again- Again if in future if cracks get widen and the foreign particles tends to enter through
the cracks the bacteria get activated and thus heel the cracks. Thus acting as a long lasting
healing agent.
• The following reactions carried out during the process-:
Due to the autogenous property of concrete reaction of environmental carbondioxide
with calcium hydroxide present in concrete
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O
• The bacterial action of self healing is preferred due to the active metabolic conversion of
calcium nutrients by the bacteria present in concrete:

Ca(C 3H5O2)2 + 7O2 → CaCO3 + 5CO2 + 5H2O

CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O
• This process does not only produce calcium carbonate directly due to microbial
metabolic process but also indirectly due to autogeneous healing.

• In the process of precipitating calcite crystals the soluble nutrients are converted to
insoluble CaCO3. The CaCO3 solidifies on the cracked surface, thereby sealing it up.
HOW THE HEALING AGENTS ARE APPLIED
1) BY DIRECT APPLICATION
• The bacteria and the chemical precursor(calcium lactate) are added directly while
making the concrete. Here when the crack occurs in the concrete bacterial spores broke
and bacteria comes to life and feed on the calcium lactate and limestone is produced which
fill the cracks.
2) ENCAPSULATION BY LWA
a) The part of the coarse aggregate is replaced by the lightweight aggregate(LWA) , the bacteria
and its food, calcium lactate, are placed inside treated clay pellets .
b) After impregnation the clay particles with 6% healing agent and the concrete is made .
Minor cracks about 0.5mm width can be treated by using bacterial concrete
• Among theses two methods encapsulation method is commonly used, even though
it’s costlier than direct application.
Bacillus bacteria are harmless to human life and hence it can be used effectively.
PREPARATION OF BACTERIAL SOLUTION
• Primarily 12.5g of Nutrient broth (media) is added to a 500ml conical flask
containing distilled water.

• It is then covered with a thick cotton plug and is made air tight with paper and
rubber band.

• It is then sterilized using a cooker for about 10-20 minutes. Now the solution is free
from any contaminants and the solution is clear orange in colour before the addition
of the bacteria.
• It is then mixed with specific bacterial concentration (cell/ml) of water.

• An increase in bacterial cell concentrations above 1x105 cells/ml of mixing water

reduces the strength of cement mortar cube specimens due to disruption of cement
mortar matrix integrity with the presence of organic matter in the form of biomass
• Strength increased by 20-25 % .
APPLICATIONS

MARINE STRUCTURES BASE WALLS

FLOORING TUNNEL LININGS

ADVANTAGES
• Increases the service life of the structure than expected life.
• Improvement in compressive strength of concrete.
• Reduction in permeability of concrete.
-permeability can be investigated by carbonation test.Carbonation is related to nature and
connectivity of pores, with larger pores giving rise to higher carbonation depths.
• Better resistance towards freeze and thaw action.
• Reduction in corrosion of reinforced concrete.
- Oxygen is an essential element in the process of corrosion of steel and when the bacterial
activity has consumed it all it increases the durability of steel reinforced concrete.
• Reduces maintainance cost.
DISADVANTAGES
• If the volume of self healing agents (bacteria and calcium lactate) mixed becomes
greater than 20%, the strength of the concrete is reduced.
• Preparation of self healing concrete needs the requirement of bacteria and calcium
lactate. Preparation of calcium lactate from milk is costlier. Hence preparation of self
healing concrete costs double than conventional concrete.
CONCLUSION

• Due to its eco-friendly nature, self-healing abilities and increase in durability,

bacterial concrete is found to be more advantageous than that of the conventional
concrete.
• These specific bacteria may have the potential to resist the high internal concrete pH
values (12-13 for Portland cement-based concrete), and remain viable for a long
time as well, as spore viability for up to 200 years is documented.
• Although the exact nature of the produced minerals still needs to be clarified.