MICP Technology

Crystal Growth of CaCO₃ in Self-Healing Concrete

Exploring Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) — where Bacillus bacteria trigger biochemical reactions that produce calcite crystals, autonomously sealing cracks and restoring structural integrity.

🦠 Bacillus Bacteria
💎 Calcite Crystals
💧 H₂O + O₂ Activation
Bacteria + Ca²⁺ + CO₃²⁻ → CaCO₃ ↓
micp-simulation.lab
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Ready to Start
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Live Parameters
pH Level 7.0
Ca²⁺ Conc. 0%
Bacteria 0%
S (IAP/Ksp) 1.0
CaCO₃ 0%
MICP Process

The Self-Healing Mechanism

Watch how CaCO₃ crystals autonomously seal concrete cracks through microbiological precipitation.

Stress

Load causes internal stress concentration (Kt)

Crack

Microcrack initiation at ITZ & propagation

H₂O + O₂

Moisture penetration & CO₂ dissolution

Activation

Bacillus bacteria awaken & metabolize

Nucleation

CaCO₃ heterogeneous nucleation (S>1)

Sealed

Crystal growth fills crack completely

Interactive Guide

Understanding the MICP Process

Step through each stage of self-healing concrete with narration and detailed notes.

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to MICP Technology

Self-healing concrete overview

Scientific Notes
Key Terms
Voice:

Key Scientific Parameters

S = IAP / Ksp
Supersaturation Ratio
S > 1 → CaCO₃ precipitates
Ksp ≈ 3.3 × 10-9
Calcite Solubility Product (25°C)
Threshold for precipitation
pH 12.5 - 13.5
Optimal Concrete pH
Stabilizes CO₃²⁻ ions

Environmentally Friendly

MICP uses natural biological processes, reducing synthetic repair materials and lowering carbon footprint.

Cost Effective

Autonomous repair eliminates expensive manual interventions, reducing maintenance costs by up to 60%.

Extended Lifespan

Self-healing extends concrete structure lifespan by 50+ years, improving infrastructure resilience.

About

This research project explores the fascinating intersection of microbiology and civil engineering, investigating how bacterial processes can be harnessed to create self-healing concrete structures.

The study focuses on Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) — a sustainable approach to autonomous crack repair that could revolutionize infrastructure maintenance and extend the lifespan of concrete structures by decades.

Materials Science Microbiology Crystal Growth Sustainable Construction
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The Catholic University of America
Washington, D.C.
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