Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Microbial Self-Healing Concrete: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms, Application, and Future Directions. |
| Authors: |
Li, Lixin, Zhao, Xuan, Sheng, Tao, Ni, Yaozu, Shen, Bin, Zhao, Xinyue |
| Source: |
Journal of Environmental Engineering; Aug2026, Vol. 152 Issue 8, p1-12, 12p |
| Subject Terms: |
Calcium carbonate, Biomineralization, Environmental infrastructure, Climate change mitigation, Circular economy, Structural reliability |
| Abstract: |
Microbial self-healing concrete presents a sustainable strategy to enhance infrastructure durability while addressing critical environmental challenges. This review examines the role of bacteria, fungi, and microalgae in autonomously repairing cracks through calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation. Particular emphasis is placed on mitigating ammonia emissions from urea-based processes and integrating waste-derived nutrients (e.g., corn steep liquor, tofu wastewater) to minimize reliance on synthetic additives. Implementation strategies, including direct mixing, dropping, vascular networks, and microencapsulation, are evaluated for their effectiveness across diverse environmental conditions, supported by field-scale evidence of crack healing and reduced permeability. Furthermore, the review highlights the potential of photosynthetic microbes to reduce CO2 emissions, directly supporting climate change mitigation and circular economy goals. Finally, critical barriers—including high initial costs and long-term stability—are assessed alongside future research priorities, such as screening extremophilic strains and optimizing nutrient cycles. Ultimately, this work offers actionable insights for integrating bioconcrete into sustainable infrastructure management, balancing structural resilience with ecological responsibility. Practical Applications: Microbial self-healing concrete represents a transformative leap in civil engineering, shifting infrastructure maintenance from reactive repairs to autonomous resilience. By harnessing microbial biomineralization, this technology enables structures to self-repair microcracks, thereby significantly mitigating reinforcement corrosion and extending service life. For the construction industry, the integration of waste-derived nutrients (e.g., industrial byproducts) offers a dual benefit: eliminating the need for expensive synthetic chemicals while valorizing waste streams. Field implementations in subway tunnels, marine locks, and retaining walls have demonstrated the capability of microbial self-healing concrete to reduce water permeability and gas leakage in real-world environments. For engineers and policymakers, adopting this technology means not only reducing long-term maintenance budgets but also actively contributing to carbon neutrality goals by lowering the life-cycle environmental footprint of cementitious infrastructure. This review further provides a strategic road map for integrating standardized life-cycle assessments and economic analyses, offering practitioners actionable insights to optimize the cost-efficiency and sustainability of next-generation resilient infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Complementary Index |