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Study on effect of bacterial in bagasse ash concrete

Article  in  International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology · January 2017

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 8, Issue 6, June 2017, pp. 45–52, Article ID: IJCIET_08_06_006
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=6
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

STUDY ON EFFECT OF BACTERIAL IN

BAGASSE ASH CONCRETE
P.Sangeetha and R.Vijayalakshmi
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SSN College of Engineering,
Kalavakkam, Chennai.

S. Ramanagopal
Professor & Head, Department of Civil Engineering, SSN College of Engineering,
Kalavakkam, Chennai.

ABSTRACT
This research evaluates the suitability of Bacteria and Sugarcane Bagasse ash as
a partial replacement for cement in concrete. A Sugarcane Bagasse ash was obtained
after passing the residual through 45μm sieve, standard size of ordinary portland
cement (OPC). It was then used to replace OPC by weight in ratio of 0%, 10% and
20%. Total of twenty seven concrete cubes with M25 grade were prepared. The cubes
were casted with 0%, 10% and 20% of bacteria along with the water. The specimens
were cured for 28 days. The RCPT and SEM analysis were carried out to study the
durability of concrete. It was concluded that sugarcane bagasse ash is a low weight
material and 10% and 20% replacement of bagasse ash in the concrete along with
bacteria improves the durability of the concrete. The rapid chloride penetration test
gives the chloride permeability rate as very low for all the bagasse ash bacterial
concrete specimens.
Key words: Bagasse ash, Bacteria, durability, SEM analysis, RCPT
Cite this Article: P.Sangeetha, R.Vijayalakshmi and S. Ramanagopal Study On Effect
Of Bacterial In Bagasse Ash Concrete. International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology, 8(6), 2017, pp. 45–52.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=5

1. INTRODUCTION
Micro - cracks are the major cause to structural failure. One way to circumvent costly manual
maintenance and repair is to incorporate an autonomous self - healing mechanism in concrete.
One such an alternative repair mechanism is currently being studied, by the application of bio
- mineralization of bacteria in concrete. The application of mineral precipitating bacteria in
concrete improves the strength and durability of concrete. The effects of bacterial CaCO3
precipitation on parameters affecting the transport processes and durability of concrete and
mortar were studied. The results indicated the presence of a newly formed layer on the surface

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 P.Sangeetha, R.Vijayalakshmi and S. Ramanagopal

of the mortar specimens, consisting mainly of calcite. Bacterial deposition of a layer of calcite
on the surface of the specimens resulted in a decrease of capillary water uptake and
permeability towards gas (De Muynck, W.et.al, 2007). Bacillus as self-healing agent in
concrete and found the calcium carbonate minerals deposition as new layer on the surface of
concrete (Henk M, Jonkers et al, 2010).Addition of ureolytic bacterium such as Bacillus
sphaericus in concrete is able to precipitate CaCO3 in their micro-environment by conversion
of urea into carbonate. The bacterial degradation of urea promotes microbial deposition of
carbonate as calcium carbonate in calcium rich environments and fills the cracks (Kim Van
Tittelboom et al, 2010).The usage of the bacteria, S. pasteurii improves strength and
durability of normal and fly ash concrete through self-healing effect (Rafat et al, 2011). The
characteristics of microbiological precipitation of calcium carbonate on normal and
lightweight by two types of bacteria, Sporosarcina pasteurii and Bacillus sphaericus and found
that B. sphaericus precipitated denser calcium carbonate crystals than S. pasteurii.(H. K. Kim
et al ,2013). Incorporation of spore forming bacteria of the species Bacillus sphaericus will
not negatively affect the compressive and split tensile strength of the cement concrete (C. C.
Gavimath et al, 2013). Permeation properties of concrete made with fly-ash and silica fume
with the influence of ureolytic bacteria (Sporosarcina pasteurii) improves the permeability of
concrete by improving its pore structure (Navneet Chahal et al, 2013).

2. MATERIALS
The following materials were used in the preparation of the specimen: OPC (Ordinary
Portland Cement) confirming to Indian Standard IS 8112 – 1995 was used. Graded river sand
passing through 1.18 mm sieve with a fineness modulus of 2.85 and specific gravity of 2.48
was used as fine aggregate. A Sugarcane Bagasse ash was obtained after passing the residual
through 45μm sieve. The Bacillus sphaericus bacteria were added in the concrete as self
healing material in the concrete along with the water. Table 1 shows the description of the
specimens and its mix proportion. Figure 1 shows the specimens before testing.

Table 1 Specimen Description and Mix proportion

Bagasse
Specimen Bacteria Cement Ash Sand Gravel Water Bacteria
Sl.No Ash
Identification % kg kg kg kg litre litre
%
1 S0%B 0 0 7.70 0 11.55 23.10 2.76 0

2 S10%B 0 10 7.70 0 11.55 23.10 2.76 0.28

3 S20%B 0 20 7.70 0 11.55 23.10 2.76 0.56
4 10%A0%B 10 0 6.93 0.77 11.55 23.10 3.11 0
5 10%A10%B 10 10 6.93 0.77 11.55 23.10 3.11 0.28
6 10%A20%B 10 20 6.93 0.77 11.55 23.10 3.11 0.56
7 20%A0%B 20 0 6.16 1.54 12.98 25.99 2.76 0
8 20%A10%B 20 10 6.16 1.54 12.98 25.99 2.76 0.28
9 20%A20%B 20 20 6.16 1.54 12.98 25.99 2.76 0.56

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 Study On Effect of Bacterial in Bagasse Ash Concrete

Figure 1 Specimens before curing

3. TEST METHODS
3.1. Rapid Chloride Permeability Test
A permeable concrete is more susceptible to ion penetration (which can lead to corrosion of
metals—usually steel reinforcement), to stresses that are induced by the expansion of water as
it freezes, and to chemical attack (leaching, efflorescence, sulphate attack). If properly cured,
most concretes become significantly less permeable with time. Therefore, it is important to
specify the age at which the permeability is measured. There is no universally accepted
standard test method for measuring the permeation properties of concrete. Permeation
procedures may be categorized by their respective transport mechanisms as given below.
1. Water absorption
2. Water permeability (flow)
3. Ionic flow (Rapid Chloride Permeability Test).

The RCPT method is the fastest method of those mentioned and is often used for
specification and quality control purposes. The digital LED display indicates the voltage
available across the concrete specimen under test as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 RCPT set up

The diffusion cell consists of two chambers. NaCl solution concentration 2.4M and NaOH
solution concentration 0.3 M are prepared. NaCl solution concentration 2.4M is filled in one
chamber and in another chamber 0.3 M NaOH solution is taken. The chloride ions were
forced to migrate through the centrally placed vacuum saturated concrete specimen under an

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 P.Sangeetha, R.Vijayalakshmi and S. Ramanagopal

impressed DC voltage of 60 Volts. Figure 3 shows the top view of Rapid Chloride
Permeability Test Setup.
The procedure of this test method for measuring the resistance of concrete to chloride ion
penetration has no bias because the value of this resistance can be defined only in terms of a
test method. The method relies on the results from a test in which electrical current passes
through a concrete sample during a six-hour exposure period. The interpretation is that the
larger the Coulomb number or the charge transferred during the test, the greater the
permeability of the sample. The more permeable the concrete, the higher the coulombs; the
less permeable the concrete, the lower the coulombs. This method has shown good correlation
with chloride tests. The following formula, based on the trapezoidal rule can be used to
calculate the average current flowing through one cell.
Q = 900(I0+2I30+2I60+2I90+2I120+…+2I300+2I330+I360)
Where, Q = current flowing through one cell (coulombs)
I0= Current reading in amperes immediately after voltage is applied, and
It = Current reading in amperes at t minutes after voltage is applied
The table 2 shows the rating of chloride permeability according to ASTM C 1202-97.

Table 2 Chloride permeability rating of concrete as per code

Charge passing in Chloride permeability
coulombs rating

> 4000 High

2001 - 4000 Moderate
1001 - 2000 Low
100 - 1000 Very low
< 100 Negligible

Figure 3 RCPT Apparatus

3.2. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is a powerful instrument which permits the
characterization of heterogeneous materials and surfaces. Samples were completely dried at
room temperature, and then examined at accelerating voltages ranging from 30 to 35 kV by a
SEM (Zeiss EVO50). The concrete samples treated with and without bacteria were analyzed
using this technique and SEM pictures are shown. The SEM analysis revealed the presence of
distinct calcite crystals in the concrete samples. The high calcium amounts in all the bacterial

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 Study On Effect of Bacterial in Bagasse Ash Concrete

samples confirmed that calcite was present in the form of calcium carbonate. Scanning
electron microscope is used to examine the control concrete and Bagasse ash concrete with or
without bacteria. Figure 4 shows the Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis set up used in
the study.

Figure 4 Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis Set up

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The presence of crystalline calcite associated with bacteria indicated that bacteria served as
nucleation sites during mineralization process. The RCPT values for different specimens were
plotted and shown in the figure 5. From the graph it was observed that the RCPT values
increases from 0 to 10 % bacteria sample and get decreases from 10 to 20 % bagasse ash
concrete sample. Figure 6 and 7 shows the SEM images of concrete without and with bagasse
ash along with bacteria. From the images it was clearly observed there were calcite
precipitations because of the presence of bacteria in the bagasse ash concrete.
1200
RCPT Values in Coulombs

1000
800
600
400
200
0

Specimen ID

Figure 5 RCPT values for tested specimens

Table 3 gives the chloride permeability rating of the specimen.

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 P.Sangeetha, R.Vijayalakshmi and S. Ramanagopal

Table 3 RCPT Values and chloride permeability rating of concrete

RCPT Chloride
Specimen Values
Sl.No permeability
Number
coulombs rating
1 S0%B 972 Very low
2 S10%B 1025 Low
3 S20%B 948 Very low
4 10%A0%B 549 Very low
5 10%A10%B 599 Very low
6 10%A20%B 535 Very low
7 20%A0%B 296 Very low
8 20%A10%B 337 Very low
9 20%A20%B 279 Very low

S10%B

S20%B

Figure 6 SEM images of bacterial cement paste without bagasse ash

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 Study On Effect of Bacterial in Bagasse Ash Concrete

Figure 7 SEM image of bacterial cement paste with bagasse ash

The spherical particles in the SEM images show the presence of calcite. The calcite
produced by the bacteria is responsible for filling the pores in the cement- bagasse ash
composite. Thus increases the strength and durability of the concrete.

5. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper the performance of concrete prepared with bagasse ash and bacteria were
studied. The main conclusions are presented as follows.
1. There is significant reduction in chloride ion penetration in Bagasse Ash replaced concrete
than the control concrete.
2. Chloride ion penetration was very low in 20 % of cement replaced by ash concrete and the
charges passed were 296, 337 and 279 Coulombs.

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 P.Sangeetha, R.Vijayalakshmi and S. Ramanagopal

3. Concrete – immobilised spores of such bacteria may be able to seal cracks by biomineral
formation after being revived by water and growth nutrients entering freshly formed cracks,
hence the application of bacteria will improve the strength and durability of bagasse ash
cement paste concrete.

REFERENCES
[1] W De Muynck, N De Belie & W Verstraete, “Improvement of Concrete Durability with
the aid of Bacteria”, Proceedings of the First International Conference on Self Healing
Materials, 18-20 April 2007, Netherlands .
[2] Henk M Jonkers, Arjan Thijssen, Gerard Muyzer, “Application of bacteria as self-healing
agent for the development of sustainable concrete”, Ecological Engineering 2010; 36:230-
235.
[3] Kim Van Tittelboom, Nele De Belie, William De Muynck. Use of Bacteria to repair
cracks in concrete. Cement and Concrete Research 2010; 40:157 – 166.
[4] Rafat Siddique and Navneet Kaur Chahal, “Effect of Ureolytic Bacteria on concrete
properties”, Construction and Building materials 2011; 25:3791-3801.
[5] H K Kim, S J Park, J I Han, H K Lee, “Microbially mediated calcium carbonate
precipitation on normal and lightweight concrete, Construction and building materials
2013; 38:1072-1083.
[6] K Sampath Kumar, U M Praveen, A Prathyusha, V Akhila, P Sasidhar, A Comprehensive
Study On Partial Replacement of Cement with Sugarcane Bagasse Ash, Rice Husk Ash &
Stone Dust, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 7(3), 2016, pp.
163–172.
[7] Gavimath, Mali, Hooli, Mallpur, Patil, Gaddi, Ternikar & Ravishankere, “Potential
application of bacteria to improve the strength of cement concrete”, International Journal
of Advanced Biotechnology and Research 2013; 3:541-544.
[8] Navneet Chahal and Rafat Siddique, “Permeation properties of concrete made with fly ash
and silica fume: Influence of ureolytic bacteria”, Construction and building materials
2013; 49:161-174.

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