TechConnect Innovator Spotlights:

Innovator Spotlight

Printed Organic Sensors, using polymer inks with piezoelectric, pyroelectric or electrostrictive properties, on Large Area Flexible Surfaces (320mm x 380mm )

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

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