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2026 Vol.42, Issue 1 Preview Page
Evaluation of Soil Improvement Performance by Multiphase Mineralization Through Conversion of EICP Ammonium Byproducts to Struvite

EICP 암모늄 부산물의 스트루바이트 전환을 통한 복합 광물화 기반 지반개량 성능 평가

Junghoon Kim1
,
Daehyun Kim2
,
Tae Sup Yun3*
김 정훈1
,
김 대현2
,
윤 태섭3*
1Member, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei Univ.
2Member, Assistant Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Univ of Suwon
3Member, Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei Univ.
1정회원, 연세대학교 건설환경공학과 박사과정
2정회원, 수원대학교 건설환경공학과 조교수
3정회원, 연세대학교 건설환경공학과 정교수
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2026. pp. 151-165
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Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of the multiphase mineralization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) from EICP byproducts for soil improvement. To precipitate both crystals into sand pores, an EICP solution formulation with pre-added magnesium ions was proposed. It was verified that the addition of magnesium ions did not affect CaCO3 precipitation or ammonium ion generation. After completion of the EICP reaction, the EICP solution containing magnesium and ammonium ions was mixed with an equal volume of phosphate solution over a range of pH values for struvite precipitation. As the pH of the phosphate solution increased, a larger fraction of ammonium ions was converted to struvite, while most of the previously precipitated CaCO3 was retained. To evaluate the affinity between CaCO3 and struvite crystals, glass slide experiments were conducted, and an unconfined compression test was performed to assess the effect of struvite precipitation on the strength of EICP-treated soils. The results indicated that struvite crystals did not adhere to CaCO3 surfaces, and the unconfined compressive strength increased by approximately 20% relative to that of specimens treated by EICP alone.

Keywords
Adhesion
Ammonium ion
Calcium carbonate
Strength
Struvite precipitation
Urea hydrolysis

바이오시멘테이션 공법은 탄산칼슘 침전을 통해 지반개량 효과를 제공할 수 있으나, 요소 가수분해 과정에서 발생하는 암모늄 이온은 해당 공법의 적용성을 제한하는 요인으로 작용한다. 이에 본 연구는 EICP로 탄산칼슘을 형성한 지반에서 암모늄 부산물을 스트루바이트(MgNH4PO4·6H2O)로 추가 침전시키는 복합 광물화 공정(즉, 탄산칼슘-스트루바이트 공존)을 제안하고, 그에 따른 지반개량 성능을 실험적으로 평가하였다. 탄산칼슘 생성 효율 및 암모늄 부산물의 스트루바이트 전환율을 최대로 하는 최적 공정을 결정하기 위해 본 연구에서는 EICP 용액에 마그네슘 이온을 선제적으로 투입하였으며, 용액 실험 결과 마그네슘 이온의 첨가는 탄산칼슘 침전 및 암모늄 이온 생성에 유의미한 영향을 미치지 않았다. EICP 반응 종료 후 마그네슘 이온 및 암모늄 이온을 포함한 EICP 용액과 서로 다른 pH 조건으로 조정한 인산염 용액을 1:1 부피비로 혼합하여 스트루바이트 침전을 유도하였다. 인산염 용액의 pH가 증가할수록 암모늄 이온의 스트루바이트 전환율이 증가하였으며 기존에 형성된 탄산칼슘은 대부분 유지되었다. 탄산칼슘과 스트루바이트 결정 간 접촉 특성을 평가하기 위해 유리 슬라이드 실험을 실시하였으며, 일축압축시험을 통해 스트루바이트 침전이 EICP 처리된 지반의 강도에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 시험 결과 스트루바이트 결정은 탄산칼슘 표면에 직접 부착되지 않는 양상을 보였으며 복합 광물화 시편의 일축압축강도는 EICP 단독 처리한 시료에 비해 약 20% 증가하였다. 이러한 결과는 EICP 암모늄 부산물의 스트루바이트 침전이 암모늄 이온 농도를 저감함과 더불어 EICP 처리 지반의 추가적인 강도 개선에 기여할 수 있음을 시사한다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 42
  • No :1
  • Pages :151-165
  • Received Date : 2026-02-02
  • Revised Date : 2026-02-11
  • Accepted Date : 2026-02-13
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2026.42.1.151
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