Corrosion inhibition in reinforced concrete using silica fume immobilized bacterial cells

Abstract

Recently, microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICCP) has been considered a novel method in corrosion prevention of reinforced concrete (RC) at the lab scale. In this investigation, silica fume (SF) based inoculum for the construction industry was developed and possessed a shelf life of 180 days with an effective cell count required to induce MICCP in RC structures. The SF-based inoculum was immobilized in fresh concrete to study the corrosion mitigation potential. The RC specimens were cured for 28 days and subjected to impressed current-induced chloride corrosion. Electrochemical and electromechanical impedance (EMI) techniques were employed separately on RC specimens for corrosion assessment. The results prove that the SF-based carrier can be effectively used for corrosion prevention and that the emerging EMI technique can efficiently monitor the corrosion process.

Keywords:

• corrosion
• reinforced concrete
• bacteria
• electrochemical measurement
• electromechanical impedance (EMI)

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to NBCC (India) Limited under the research project No. NBCC/CGM(R&D)/LOI/2017/157 and Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division, Department of Science & Technology, India, research project No. SEED/TIASN/022/2016(G).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India; National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited.