Development and Performance Evaluation of Microbially-formed Bio- Bricks incorporating Recycled Glass and Rocksand for Sustainable Energy-Efficient Construction

Development and Performance Evaluation of Microbially-formed Bio- Bricks incorporating Recycled Glass and Rocksand for Sustainable Energy-Efficient Construction | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Development and Performance Evaluation of Microbially-formed Bio- Bricks incorporating Recycled Glass and Rocksand for Sustainable Energy-Efficient Construction Khooshal Surnam, Mahendra Gooroochurn, Hudaa Neetoo This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9203565/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract To address the environmental impact of traditional brick production and support sustainable construction practices, this study investigates the development of bio-bricks using Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). The ureolytic bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii was exploited to precipitate calcium carbonate, binding particles of locally extracted & produced rocksand and recycled glass obtained from waste glass streams within moulds designed to optimise fluid interaction. Various rocksand to recycled glass aggregate compositions (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) were tested to compare their mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties. A delayed onset of MICP was observed, and this was attributed to suboptimal temperature and media conditions for the growth of S.pasteurii . Bio-bricks displayed compressive strengths ranging from 0.397 to 1.62 MPa and thermal conductivity values between 0.2174 and 0.4168 W/mK. Compressive strengths of bio-bricks were inferior to those of commercial bricks, but their thermal performance was superior, indicating their suitability for non-load-bearing, thermally insulating applications. Water absorption ranged from 19.46% to 34.28%, indicating incomplete cementation. Scanning Electron Microscopy and calcium carbonate content mapping revealed heterogeneous crystal distribution, influenced by aggregate type and reactor flow dynamics. Efficient MICP could be achieved via controlled temperature (~ 30°C) and appropriate fluid flow, with samples in proximity to the pump exhibiting a more uniform calcium carbonate precipitation compared to those further away, highlighting the importance of reactor dynamics for uniform bio-brick formation. Simulation results confirmed improved indoor thermal comfort and reduced energy demand when using the bio-bricks in construction. This study highlights the potential of MICP-treated materials as eco-friendly building alternatives aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 27 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 26 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 26 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 23 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9203565","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":613732169,"identity":"17ee7c52-d96f-4e0b-9aac-546f24951052","order_by":0,"name":"Khooshal Surnam","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Mauritius","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Khooshal","middleName":"","lastName":"Surnam","suffix":""},{"id":613732170,"identity":"18ca031e-02d4-4fa4-a83d-579e07c38cab","order_by":1,"name":"Mahendra Gooroochurn","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAz0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFADCRBRQbqWMyRrYWwjQqFuA/vFBx/32Mjxz+4x+1w477CcbgPzww+MOYdxajE7wFNsOONZmrHEnTPGs2duO2xsdoDNWIJxG14tadI8Bw4nbpDIMWbm3XY4cdsBBjMGErTMAWlh/0ZAC/sxJC0NIC08BGw5zMNsOOMA0C830oqZeY6lGwNFiiUSt6Xj1nK8/eGDDweAITYjeTMzT421HFBk44eP26xxamFg5jFAFwHiBNwagID9AV7pUTAKRsEoGAUMAN66UF1xagUdAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"University of Mauritius","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mahendra","middleName":"","lastName":"Gooroochurn","suffix":""},{"id":613732171,"identity":"774f6692-ab52-4db7-bd79-ff8f8a82cb83","order_by":2,"name":"Hudaa Neetoo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Mauritius","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hudaa","middleName":"","lastName":"Neetoo","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-23 17:54:54","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9203565/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9203565/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105905120,"identity":"6cc20b4c-82ef-48bf-a95e-e75bab70b04e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-01 10:11:28","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1165975,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DevelopmentandPerformanceEvaluationofMicrobiallyformedBioBricksincorporatingRecycledGlassandRocksandforSustainabl.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9203565/v1_covered_b287912a-e07d-4945-8f0d-3ebbb745b1f8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Development and Performance Evaluation of Microbially-formed Bio- Bricks incorporating Recycled Glass and Rocksand for Sustainable Energy-Efficient Construction","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-building-pathology-and-rehabilitation","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bpar","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation](http://link.springer.com/journal/41024)","snPcode":"41024","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/41024/3","title":"Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9203565/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9203565/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eTo address the environmental impact of traditional brick production and support sustainable construction practices, this study investigates the development of bio-bricks using Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). The ureolytic bacterium \u003cem\u003eSporosarcina pasteurii\u003c/em\u003e was exploited to precipitate calcium carbonate, binding particles of locally extracted \u0026amp; produced rocksand and recycled glass obtained from waste glass streams within moulds designed to optimise fluid interaction. Various rocksand to recycled glass aggregate compositions (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) were tested to compare their mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties. A delayed onset of MICP was observed, and this was attributed to suboptimal temperature and media conditions for the growth of \u003cem\u003eS.pasteurii\u003c/em\u003e. Bio-bricks displayed compressive strengths ranging from 0.397 to 1.62 MPa and thermal conductivity values between 0.2174 and 0.4168 W/mK. Compressive strengths of bio-bricks were inferior to those of commercial bricks, but their thermal performance was superior, indicating their suitability for non-load-bearing, thermally insulating applications. Water absorption ranged from 19.46% to 34.28%, indicating incomplete cementation. Scanning Electron Microscopy and calcium carbonate content mapping revealed heterogeneous crystal distribution, influenced by aggregate type and reactor flow dynamics. Efficient MICP could be achieved via controlled temperature (~\u0026thinsp;30\u0026deg;C) and appropriate fluid flow, with samples in proximity to the pump exhibiting a more uniform calcium carbonate precipitation compared to those further away, highlighting the importance of reactor dynamics for uniform bio-brick formation. Simulation results confirmed improved indoor thermal comfort and reduced energy demand when using the bio-bricks in construction. 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