Bio-Concrete for Sustainable Infrastructure: A Review of Bacterial Crack Sealing Technologies and Recent Advancements
Deepak Mlahan Mlahan
Paper Contents
Abstract
Concrete is widely recognized for its high compressive strength but is inherently susceptible to cracking, compromising durability and increasing maintenance costs. Recent advances in self-healing concretecommonly referred to as bio-concreteutilize bacteria that precipitate calcium carbonate to seal micro-cracks autonomously. This paper reviews the mechanisms, bacterial strains, and performance of bio-concrete, integrating both foundational research (Jonkers, 2010; De Muynck et al., 2010) and recent studies (Zhu et al., 2021; Mohan et al., 2023). Emphasis is placed on microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP), strength enhancement, durability under acidic conditions, and structural behavior in reinforced concrete applications. The review also outlines recent developments in encapsulation techniques and identifies ongoing challenges and research gaps, especially regarding field performance, standardization, and bacterial viability. The findings affirm that bio-concrete offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution for long-term infrastructure resilience.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Deepak Mlahan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.