Bacteria-based self-healing concrete− A life cycle assessment perspective

Ismael Justo Reinoso; Noemi Arena; Bianca Reeksting; Susanne Gebhard; Kevin Paine

doi:10.1016/j.dibe.2023.100244

Bacteria-based self-healing concrete− A life cycle assessment perspective

Ismael Justo Reinoso, Noemi Arena, Bianca Reeksting, Susanne Gebhard, Kevin Paine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

A life cycle assessment (LCA) was utilised to evaluate the environmental impact of bacteria-based self-healing concretes (BBSHCs), where non-ureolytic bacterial endospores are encapsulated in porous calcium silicate granules. Findings reveal that 1 m ³ of BBSHC has an overall 85% higher environmental impact than equivalent conventional concrete, primarily due to calcium nitrate and polyvinyl acetate. Furthermore, BBSHC has a 36% larger embodied carbon footprint (120 kg CO ₂ eq) and a 51% larger water footprint (260 L). However, by selectively incorporating BBSHC in specific areas of reinforced concrete structures, leveraging its inherent self-healing properties to deliberately allow wider crack widths, and consequently, reduce the amount of non-structural steel needed to control early-age cracking, sustainability improvements ranging from 12% to 50% can be achieved depending on the impact category. In this regard, a BBSHC-structure can potentially save up to 51 kg CO ₂ eq per m ³.

Original language	English
Article number	100244
Number of pages	14
Journal	Developments in the Built Environment
Volume	16
Early online date	4 Oct 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2023.100244
Publication status	Published - 31 Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgments:
This work has received funding from EPSRC through the Resilient Materials for Life (RM4L) (EP/P02081X/1) and the Engineering Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations (eMICP) (EP/S013997/1) projects.

Data availability:
Data will be made available on request.

Keywords

Bacteria
Bio-concrete
Concrete structure
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP)
Self-healing concrete

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Building and Construction
Computer Science Applications
Architecture
Civil and Structural Engineering
Materials Science (miscellaneous)
Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.dibe.2023.100244Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Bacteria-based self-healing concrete− A life cycle assessment perspective",

abstract = "A life cycle assessment (LCA) was utilised to evaluate the environmental impact of bacteria-based self-healing concretes (BBSHCs), where non-ureolytic bacterial endospores are encapsulated in porous calcium silicate granules. Findings reveal that 1 m 3 of BBSHC has an overall 85% higher environmental impact than equivalent conventional concrete, primarily due to calcium nitrate and polyvinyl acetate. Furthermore, BBSHC has a 36% larger embodied carbon footprint (120 kg CO 2 eq) and a 51% larger water footprint (260 L). However, by selectively incorporating BBSHC in specific areas of reinforced concrete structures, leveraging its inherent self-healing properties to deliberately allow wider crack widths, and consequently, reduce the amount of non-structural steel needed to control early-age cracking, sustainability improvements ranging from 12% to 50% can be achieved depending on the impact category. In this regard, a BBSHC-structure can potentially save up to 51 kg CO 2 eq per m 3.",

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note = "Acknowledgments: This work has received funding from EPSRC through the Resilient Materials for Life (RM4L) (EP/P02081X/1) and the Engineering Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations (eMICP) (EP/S013997/1) projects. Data availability: Data will be made available on request. ",

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AU - Gebhard, Susanne

AU - Paine, Kevin

N1 - Acknowledgments: This work has received funding from EPSRC through the Resilient Materials for Life (RM4L) (EP/P02081X/1) and the Engineering Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations (eMICP) (EP/S013997/1) projects. Data availability: Data will be made available on request.

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AB - A life cycle assessment (LCA) was utilised to evaluate the environmental impact of bacteria-based self-healing concretes (BBSHCs), where non-ureolytic bacterial endospores are encapsulated in porous calcium silicate granules. Findings reveal that 1 m 3 of BBSHC has an overall 85% higher environmental impact than equivalent conventional concrete, primarily due to calcium nitrate and polyvinyl acetate. Furthermore, BBSHC has a 36% larger embodied carbon footprint (120 kg CO 2 eq) and a 51% larger water footprint (260 L). However, by selectively incorporating BBSHC in specific areas of reinforced concrete structures, leveraging its inherent self-healing properties to deliberately allow wider crack widths, and consequently, reduce the amount of non-structural steel needed to control early-age cracking, sustainability improvements ranging from 12% to 50% can be achieved depending on the impact category. In this regard, a BBSHC-structure can potentially save up to 51 kg CO 2 eq per m 3.

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Bacteria-based self-healing concrete− A life cycle assessment perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

A New Paradigm for Engineering Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations

RM4L - Resilient Materials for Life

Cite this

Bacteria-based self-healing concrete− A life cycle assessment perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

A New Paradigm for Engineering Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations

RM4L - Resilient Materials for Life

Cite this