Experimental study on improvement of weathered Pisha sandstone soil in Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River Basin based on microbially induced carbonate precipitation technology

Authors

Yan-xing WANG, College of Science, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, China
Chi LI, College of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, ChinaFollow
Xiao-dong GE, Inner Mongolia No.3 Geological and Mineral Exploration and Development Co., Ltd, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010011, China
Li-ping GAO, College of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, China

Abstract

Pisha sandstone is a kind of special rock widely distributed in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River, which is composed of sand shale and argillaceous sandstone. Due to the low diagenetic degree, the poor cementation between sand grains, the low structural strength, and containing a large number of clay minerals, its anti-weathering ability is weak. Pisha sandstone becomes sand when encountering wind and becomes mud when encountering water, which is an important source of "sediment delivery into the Yellow River". Based on microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology, the weathered Pisha sandstone soil was improved and reinforced. Aiming to obtain good strength of improved soil samples and combine with the analysis of physical properties and pore structure, the optimal scheme design of improvement for the soils containing many fine-grained soils was carried out. Under 12 working conditions, the artificial control with crystal forms, crystal morphology, and crystal size were carried out through three experimental control factors: the concentration of the bacterial solution, the dosage ratio of bacterial solution to calcium source solution, and the molar ratio of calcium to urea. The results show that when the urea consumption was 0.4 mol, using the test scheme that the bacterial solution concentration OD₆₀₀ was 1.2, the ratio of bacterial solution to calcium source solution was 1:20, and the ratio of calcium to urea was 1:1, it is found that the calcium carbonate crystal induced by microorganisms was deposited in the form of "20−30 μm calcite-vaterite aggregates". These aggregates were filled in the pores of the weathered Pisha sandstone soil to increase the soil compactness, and therefore the sample porosity was reduced by 62.4%, enhancing the corrosion resistance. The improved soil also showed good strength characteristics with 1 MPa of unconfined compressive strength. Due to the filling and cementation of this calcium carbonate crystal, the strength remained 43.6% after being saturated with water, which solved the problem of the soil collapsing in water. The research results expand the application of MICP technology in the reinforcement of mixed soil with a large amount of fine-grained soil and provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the engineering application of the improvement of weathered Pisha sandstone soil.

Graphic Abstract

Recommended Citation

WANG, Yan-xing; LI, Chi; GE, Xiao-dong; and GAO, Li-ping (2022) "Experimental study on improvement of weathered Pisha sandstone soil in Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River Basin based on microbially induced carbonate precipitation technology," Rock and Soil Mechanics: Vol. 43: Iss. 3, Article 2.
DOI: 10.16285/j.rsm.2021.6010
Available at: https://rocksoilmech.researchcommons.org/journal/vol43/iss3/2