An Investigation of the Bacterial Influence of Acidithiobacillus Thiooxidans on Concrete Composites

¹ Technical University of Kosice, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Vysokoskolska 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovak Republic
² Technical University of Kosice, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Material Engineering, Vysokoskolska 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovak Republic
³ Slovak Academy of Science, Institute of Geotechnics, Watsonova 45, 040 01 Kosice, Slovak Republic

^* Corresponding author: vlasta.harbulakova@gmail.com

Abstract

Vegetation and microorganisms present the biological factors that deteriorate concrete. These problems are very visible in places like sewage, underground and hydraulic structures, chemical plants, industrial structures, liquid-containing structures, agricultural structures or marine environments. The most significant biodeteriogens are the sulphur-oxidising bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (A. thiooxidans) and the sulphatereducing bacteria (Desulfovibrio spp.) that are responsible for the so-called sulphuretum consortium. Microorganisms that produce sulphuric acid accelerate the deterioration of concrete sewer pipes in a process termed Microbially Induced Concrete Corrosion (MIC). The paper considers the assessment of the release of calcium and silicon from concrete composites with and without coal fly ash by sulphur-oxidizing bacteria. The concrete mixture contained coal fly ash as 5 wt. % and wt. 10 % cement replacement. Prepared composites were exposed to an aggressive microbial environment under laboratory conditions for 3 months. The pH values were measured and studied during this time period. A different resistance against MIC was observed for the concrete composites of different compositions. The highest amount of calcium leached-out from the concrete was in the case of the composites where 10 % cement was replaced by fly ash.