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2026 Vol.27, Issue 11 Preview Page
Influence of Precipitation Kinetics on Pore Morphology Evolution during Biocementation

바이오시멘테이션 공법에서 침전 반응속도가 간극 구조 변화에 미치는 영향

Junghoon Kim1
,
Daehyun Kim2*
김 정훈1
,
김 대현2*
1Postdoc, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Suwon
2Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Suwon
*Corresponding Author
1 November 2026. pp. 49-55
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Abstract

Biocementation has emerged as a sustainable alternative to carbon-intensive cement-based ground improvement, but its reliable application requires understanding how precipitation reshapes the pore structure in treated soils. This study investigated the influence of precipitation kinetics on pore morphology evolution during biocementation. X-ray computed tomography images of biocement-treated Itterbeck sand directly revealed a cementation-induced porosity reduction of approximately 19 %, and a grain map representing the untreated pore structure was generated by removing the precipitated CaCO3 from these images. Using this grain map as the initial condition, image-based precipitation simulations were performed for fast, moderate, and slow kinetics, represented by maximum precipitate diameters of 10, 50, and 100 μm. Tortuosity and specific surface area were evaluated at each stage. Porosity decreased linearly with CaCO3 content under all conditions, whereas tortuosity increased most steeply under fast kinetics, as numerous fine precipitates fragmented flow paths. In addition, the normalized specific surface area increased under fast kinetics as fine precipitates roughened the pore walls, but decreased under slow kinetics as fewer, larger crystals smoothed them. These results demonstrate that precipitation kinetics govern the spatial configuration of precipitates, providing a basis for tailoring the permeability and strength of biocemented soils through reaction rate control.

Keywords
Biocementation
Precipitation kinetics
Pore morphology
Tortuosity
Specific surface area

바이오시멘테이션은 탄소 배출이 많은 시멘트계 지반개량을 대체할 수 있는 친환경 기법으로 주목받고 있으나, 이를 신뢰성 있게 적용하기 위해서는 광물 침전이 처리된 흙의 간극 구조를 어떻게 변화시키는지에 대한 이해가 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 바이오시멘테이션 과정에서 광물 침전의 반응속도가 간극 형상의 변화에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 바이오시멘테이션 처리된 이터벡(Itterbeck) 모래의 X선 컴퓨터 단층촬영(X-ray computed tomography, XCT) 영상으로부터 고결에 의해 간극률이 약 19 % 감소하였음을 확인하였으며, 영상에서 침전된 탄산칼슘(CaCO3)을 제거하여 처리 전 간극 구조를 나타내는 흙 입자 분포 영상을 생성하였다. 이 영상을 초기 조건으로 하여 최대 침전물 직경 10, 50, 100 μm로 대표되는 빠른, 중간, 느린 반응속도 조건에 대해 영상 기반 광물 침전 시뮬레이션을 수행하고, 각 단계에서 굴곡도와 비표면적을 평가하였다. 그 결과, 간극률은 모든 조건에서 CaCO3 함량 증가에 따라 선형적으로 감소한 반면, 굴곡도는 다수의 미세 침전물이 유동 경로를 분절시킨 빠른 반응 조건에서 가장 급격히 증가하였다. 또한 빠른 반응 조건에서 형성된 다수의 미세 침전물은 간극 벽면을 거칠게 하여 정규화 비표면적을 증가시킨 반면, 느린 반응 조건에서 형성된 소수의 큰 결정은 간극 표면을 매끄럽게 하여 정규화 비표면적을 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 동일한 침전량에서도 반응속도에 따라 침전물의 공간적 배치가 달라질 수 있음을 보여주며, 반응속도 제어를 통해 바이오시멘테이션 처리 지반의 투수성과 강도를 조절할 수 있는 근거를 제공한다.

키워드
바이오시멘테이션
침전 반응속도
간극 형상
굴곡도
비표면적
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Geo-Environmental Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반환경공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geo-Environmental Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반환경공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 27
  • No :11
  • Pages :49-55
  • Received Date : 2026-10-07
  • Revised Date : 2026-10-09
  • Accepted Date : 2026-10-19
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.14481/jkges.2026.27.11.49
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