%0 Journal Article %T An Investigation on Biological Treatment of Sandy Soil %J AUT Journal of Civil Engineering %I Amirkabir University of Technology %Z 2588-2899 %A Khaleghi, M . %A Rowshanzamir, M . A. %D 2017 %\ 05/01/2017 %V 1 %N 1 %P 93-100 %! An Investigation on Biological Treatment of Sandy Soil %K Soil improvement %K Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation %K Ureolytic bacteria %R 10.22060/ceej.2017.12225.5152 %X ABSTRACT: Due to environmental problems of desert expansion as well as dust storms, looking for moreefficient and comprehensive methods to stabilize dune sands seems to be an essential necessity. MicrobialinducedCaCO3 precipitation (MICP) is an innovative technique that harnesses bacterial activities to modifythe physical and mechanical properties of soils. This method produces calcium carbonate precipitation inthe soil pores by fracturing urea in the presence of calcium ions. An important factor in achieving uniformcalcite deposition (and hence consistent enhancement of geotechnical properties) throughout the treated soilmass is the protocol adopted to inject the reagents of ureolytic bacteria, urea, and calcium. In this study, anurease microorganism was prepared in the laboratory and injected into cylindrical dune sand samples. Afterrequired and appropriate curing time, the samples were subjected to unconfined compression and fallingheadpermeability tests. The test results showed a significant strength improvement and the reduction ofpermeability of the treated samples in comparison with those of untreated soil. The research results verified thecapability of the biological treatment of dune sand which may be regarded as a potential technique to controldesert expansion and dust storms. %U https://ajce.aut.ac.ir/article_1037_2759a8f95fafb24bed0a22290e537a7b.pdf