Comparison between MICP-Based Bio-Cementation Versus Traditional Portland Cementation for Oil-Contaminated Soil Stabilisation

Abstract

In recent years, oil spills and leakages have often occurred during oil exploration, transportation, handling, usage, and processing, causing serious global environmental problems. Microbially-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an emerging green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable technology that has proven to be a promising alternative for soil stabilisation. This paper provides a comparison between the mechanical performance of oil-polluted sand treated with biocement and traditional Portland cement. A series of laboratory tests, including permeability, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and triaxial consolidated undrained (CU) tests, was conducted. Even though oil contamination deteriorates the bonding strength of treated soil for both biocement and Portland cement soils, the biocement-treated oil-contaminated sand was found to achieve higher strength (up to four times) than cement-treated soil in the presence of similar content of cementing agent. After eight treatment cycles, the UCS value of oil-contaminated sand treated with biocement reached 1 MPa, demonstrating a high potential for oil-contaminated soil stabilisation in regions of oil spills and leakages.