A study on the heavy metal remediation and mechanical properties
A study on the heavy metal remediation and mechanical properties
Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) technology has been extensively investigated for heavy metal immobilization in recent years. This study investigates the use of EICP method with various ureases for contaminated humus soil through particle-scale, solution-based, and macro-scale experiments. The morphology, size, and distribution of CaCO3 crystal induced by three different ureases are compared in a microfluidic chip experiment. Sword bean urease (SWU) is recommended as the optimal urease, as low concentration of organic molecules in SWU may provide heterogeneous nucleation sites and promote crystal growth. In liquid batch tests and artificially contaminated sand remediation experiments, the mechanisms of heavy metal immobilization using EICP with SWU are revealed as biomineralization, as well as adsorption and complexation by organic matter and CaCO3. The humus soil remediation experiment results further demonstrate that EICP method not only immobilizes the heavy metal but also improves the strength and the water retention capacity of humus soil. These findings suggest that EICP method has great potential for contaminated humus soil remediation and reutilization.
Yi Bian; Y. Chen; Liangtong Zhan; Yufeng Gao
2025 International Conference on Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (ICBBG2025)
General session: Bio-mediated methods for environmental protection and restoration
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICBBG2025-189
Contact Information
- Secretary General - Dr A M McNamara
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +44 20 7040 8154
- City, University of London
- Northampton Square
- London EC1V 0HB. United Kingdom