Basics of Construction Microbial Biotechnology - Biotechnologies and Biomimetics for Civil Engineering - page 48

and probably to protect atmosphere in fixation response to a radiation dispersal
devise attack (Cordesman 2002 ; Parra et al. 2009 ).
Another way of environmental protection from the polluted sites can be con-
struction of permeable, reactive, biogeochemical barriers, which will precipitate
heavy metals and degrade toxic chemicals due to microbial activity inside the
barrier (Kavamura and Esposito 2010 ; Gibert et al. 2013 ).

2.7 Conclusions

Construction biotechnology includes microbial production of construction mate-
rials and microbially-mediated construction processes. Microbial cements, poly-
saccharides, and construction bioplastics can be made using biotechnologies.
Microbial cement could be produced with lower cost than conventional cement.
Biodegradability of the bioplastic constructions after their demolishing reduces the
cost of construction wastes disposal. Microbial polysaccharides are used to modify
the cement properties and soil bioclogging. Construction biotechnologies are based
on the activity of urease-producing, acidogenic, halophilic, alkaliphilic, denitri-
fying, iron- and sulfate-reducing bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, and microscopic
fungi. The bio-related materials and processes can be used for the particles
aggregation, soil grouting and clogging, cementation of the particles, desaturation
of soil, encapsulation of soft clay, and coating of the solid surfaces. The bio-
technologically produced materials and construction biotechnologies have a lot of
advantages in comparison with the conventional construction materials and pro-
cesses so the practical implementations of the construction biotechnologies could
give significant economic and environmental benefits.

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