Application of Biogeotechnice for Dust Control of Sand

Dust is an environmental hazard due to soil loss and air and water pollution. There are a number of biological and chemical methods for the stabilization of exposed soil surfaces by aggregation of fine particles and reduction of the rate of aggregate loss. These conventional soil improvement techniques – including both mechanical and chemical stabilization methods – have potential drawbacks such as high cost, high energy consumption and sometimes negative environmental influences. However, the rapid development of biotechnology has provided opportunities for innovation in soil improvement methods. In recent years, a promising approach, the so-called microbial geo-technology, has been attempted. Using the microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) process, calcium carbonate can be generated and used to increase the shear strength of soil. Thus, the study of the use of biocement for dust control and wind erosion was carried out using a wind tunnel. The surface of sand on the model tests was sprayed using biocement solution of different concentrations. The model was put in the wind tunnel and the change in the soil mass of the soil model after subjecting to a horizontal wind. Similar tests on soil treated using calcium chloride solution and water were also carried out for comparison. The test data show that the rate of mass losses for bio-treated sand with a calcium carbonate to sand ratio of 0.1% (w/w) decreased by 85% 14 days after treatment.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biogeotechnics ، Dust ، Sand