Reaction principles, deposition and failure mechanisms and theories of biomineralization: progress and challenges

The biomineralization is an integral part of geological evolution and carbon-nitrogen cycle, and it has brought new opportunities and challenges in the geotechnical, water conservancy and environmental fields. The inspired bio-geotechnical technology represented by the MICP process has become one of the most innovative technological topics in the environmental geotechnical engineering. In the last two decades, the bio-geotechnical technology has made significant progress from the proof-of-concept phase to the technology demonstration in the relevant environments. In order to promote more comprehensive and in-depth basic understanding and researches on this topic, a systematic review of the MICP technology is performed, focusing on the following three parts: biochemical principles of urease-producing bacteria-induced biomineralization, precipitation patterns and failure mechanisms of bio-cemented soil, and theories of biomineralization reaction under the multi-physics coupling effects of bio-chemo-hydro-mechanical model. Furthermore, the current problems and challenges of bio-geotechnical technology are summarized, and the potential research hot spots and application prospects are discussed.