Innovator Spotlight

TechConnect World Innovation Conference
May 14 - 17, 2017, Washington DC

Arizona Technology Enterprises (ASU)
Soil Strengthening and Cementation


TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

This technology uses environmentally friendly agricultural urease to create microbial induced carbonate precipitation to cement loose soils and improve the strength of the soil to facilitate construction in a much cheaper method with less harmful by products and prevent soil erosion.

Primary Application Area: Water, Waste, Environmental

Technology Development Status: Proven Manufacturability

 

FIGURES OF MERIT

Value Proposition: Potential Applications

Civil Engineering
Offshore Construction
Mining
Erosion Control
Dust Prevention
Benefits and Advantages

Improvement in granular soils. Increase the strength of foundations in sands and silts.
Cost-effective. Save costs on pumping and injection equipment, site setup, cleanup and labors.
Multiple usages of grouting. Non-disruptive alternative to chemical grouting, micro-fine cement grouting, compaction grouting and deep soil mixing
Environment Friendly. Facilitate removal of harmful by-products that can reverse the precipitation reaction.
Durability – Stronger bonds between soil particles and carbonate precipitates means longer lasting cementation of superior structural integrity.
Eco-friendly – Basic neutralization of toxic ammonium salts reduces chances for contaminate runoff.
Innovative – Handles finer grain soils than possible with MICP.
Lower Cost – Deriving agricultural urease is considerably less expensive than the bioprocess that produces microbial urease, and removing ammonium by base treatment is much more economic than water flushing.
Versatility – Uses including foundation support, slope stabilization, road subgrade improvement, tunneling, erosion control, groundwater control, and earthquake hazard mitigation. A non-disruptive alternative to chemical grouting, micro-fine cement grouting, compaction grouting, and deep soil mixing.

 

SHOWCASE SUMMARY

National Innovation Awardee

Organization Type: Academic/Gov Lab

Website: http://www.azte.com

 

GOVT/EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES

Vetted Programs/Awards: This technology area and professor was recently selected to lead an $18.5M Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics as and Engineering Research Center Award from the National Science Foundation.

https://asunow.asu.edu/content/national-science-foundation-awards-asu-world-changing-technology-center