احمد فهمی

Background: In this research, the potential of the microbially induced carbonate precipitation method for the surface treatment of sand samples of Jabal Kandi dunes, located in the adjacency of Urmia Lake in the northwest of Iran, was considered. Methods: Sporosarsina pasteurii was used as Ureolytic bacteria for the preparation of the microbial solution. Corn steep liquor, containing urea was used as an inexpensive growth media. The effect of the concentration of cementation solution and the number of treatment cycles were considered. Because of the presence of some hydrolyzed urea in the prepared microbial suspension, two methods of treatment, i.e., the mixed and separate addition of microbial solution and cementation solution to the sand surface were investigated. Penetration and erosion resistance of the microbial treated sand (sand-crust) were measured by a handheld penetrometer and a wind tunnel system. Results: The results showed that the penetration and erosion resistance of the treated sand samples via microbial induced carbonate precipitation method was improved significantly. In the method with the separate addition of microbial and cementation solutions to the sand surface, a stable sand-crust was created on top of the sand. Discussion: This study tried to optimize the microbial application of Sporosarsina pasteurii for surface treatment of sand via microbial induced carbonate precipitation. Significant and in field results showed this method can be used on the field scale for the stabilization of sand dunes. The advanced biotechnology application of this bacterium can be used as a safe, environmentally friendly and safe method instead of previous methods.