MICP soil improvement applied to Chilean soils

Abstract

Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is an innovative technique for soil improvement, which takes advantage of bacterial metabolism process to precipitate Calcium Carbonate in order to cement soil particles. MICP allows to increase the stiffness and strength and decreases the permeability. In this paper, an experimental laboratory study of the MICP application in two Chilean soils is presented: Maicillo from the Valparaíso Region and expansive Clay from the Metropolitan Region. The addition of bacteria in remolded samples results in an increase in the stiffness and strength, and a decrease in swelling in the clay.