<p>Researchers with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have developed a structured model to help in the production of bio-cement, which is an alternative sustainable process for cementation. The new model has the potential to reduce the production of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the future.</p>.<p>The researchers believe that since it is vital to develop alternative sustainable processes to manufacture cement to reduce global Carbon Dioxide emissions, bio-cement can be a major step in this direction</p>.<p>Called ‘Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP), this process is used to make bio-cement using bacteria (Ex: S. pasteurii), while the research was focused to gain a better understanding of the MICP process with a long term aim to scale up manufacturing of Bio-Cement.</p>.<p>The research team was led by Prof G K Suraishkumar, Department of Biotechnology, Dr Nirav Bhatt, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology; and Ms Subasree Sridhar, Research Scholar, IIT-M and their findings were published in the reputed peer-reviewed Biochemical Engineering Journal. </p>.<p>The researchers studied the MICP process using the bacteria, S. pasteurii, and proposed and developed a structured model for the overall ureolysis processes (uptake and breaking of urea using bacteria) to scale up the MICP process, which can be an alternative to manufacturing cement. </p>.<p>“A better understanding of the fundamental microbial processes such as overall ureolysis in the bio-cement formation could help us design and operate bioreactors for bio-cement production in the future to replace conventional cement for some applications,” Prof. Suraishkumar said. </p>.<p>In the short term, the better understanding would help provide optimal conditions for effective self-healing cement applications, and soil consolidation, among other applications, he said, adding that in the long term, the better understanding would help produce conventional cement equivalent through a bio-route.</p>.<p>Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) is the process by which calcium carbonate precipitates are formed by microorganisms, which are used to produce bio-cement. The developed structured model is useful for developing a unified model of neurolysis processes with calcite precipitation and MICP scale-up studies in the future, the institute said.</p>.<p>The key advantages of Bio-Cement over conventionally-manufactured cement include bio-cement synthesis is more energy efficient as it requires temperatures in the range of 30 to 40 °C whereas conventional cement production requires above 900⁰C and it is eco-friendly because it has negligible carbon dioxide emission, whereas conventional cement production is a significant contributor of global carbon dioxide emissions.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Researchers with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have developed a structured model to help in the production of bio-cement, which is an alternative sustainable process for cementation. The new model has the potential to reduce the production of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the future.</p>.<p>The researchers believe that since it is vital to develop alternative sustainable processes to manufacture cement to reduce global Carbon Dioxide emissions, bio-cement can be a major step in this direction</p>.<p>Called ‘Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP), this process is used to make bio-cement using bacteria (Ex: S. pasteurii), while the research was focused to gain a better understanding of the MICP process with a long term aim to scale up manufacturing of Bio-Cement.</p>.<p>The research team was led by Prof G K Suraishkumar, Department of Biotechnology, Dr Nirav Bhatt, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology; and Ms Subasree Sridhar, Research Scholar, IIT-M and their findings were published in the reputed peer-reviewed Biochemical Engineering Journal. </p>.<p>The researchers studied the MICP process using the bacteria, S. pasteurii, and proposed and developed a structured model for the overall ureolysis processes (uptake and breaking of urea using bacteria) to scale up the MICP process, which can be an alternative to manufacturing cement. </p>.<p>“A better understanding of the fundamental microbial processes such as overall ureolysis in the bio-cement formation could help us design and operate bioreactors for bio-cement production in the future to replace conventional cement for some applications,” Prof. Suraishkumar said. </p>.<p>In the short term, the better understanding would help provide optimal conditions for effective self-healing cement applications, and soil consolidation, among other applications, he said, adding that in the long term, the better understanding would help produce conventional cement equivalent through a bio-route.</p>.<p>Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) is the process by which calcium carbonate precipitates are formed by microorganisms, which are used to produce bio-cement. The developed structured model is useful for developing a unified model of neurolysis processes with calcite precipitation and MICP scale-up studies in the future, the institute said.</p>.<p>The key advantages of Bio-Cement over conventionally-manufactured cement include bio-cement synthesis is more energy efficient as it requires temperatures in the range of 30 to 40 °C whereas conventional cement production requires above 900⁰C and it is eco-friendly because it has negligible carbon dioxide emission, whereas conventional cement production is a significant contributor of global carbon dioxide emissions.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>