First-Order Assessment of the Influence of Three EPS and Calcite-Producing Microbes Isolated from a Cemented Sand Site on Soil Shear Strength

Subsurface geotechnical data from a cemented tailings sand site in eastern India indicated that the cementation was at least partially biogenic. Three strains of aerobic soil-residing bacteria from this site exhibited capabilities of producing extracellular polymeric substance, calcite and struvite when grown in minimal mineral salt media. These strains grew easily under a variety of physical, chemical and nutritional conditions. Drained triaxial testing of loose sand samples indicated that they became stronger upon hosting these strains. No details on EPS and calcite production of these isolates and the effects of these products on soil behavior were found in the literature.