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2026 Vol.42, Issue 1 Preview Page
Evaluation of Enzyme-Induced Struvite Crystallization and Ground Improvement Feasibility

효소 유도 스트루바이트 결정화 과정 및 지반개량 적용 가능성 평가

Junghoon Kim1
,
Daehyun Kim2
,
Tae Sup Yun3*
김 정훈1
,
김 대현2
,
윤 태섭3*
1Member, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Eng., Yonsei Univ.
2Member, Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Eng., The Univ of Suwon
3Member, Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Eng., Yonsei Univ.
1정회원, 연세대학교 건설환경공학과 박사과정
2정회원, 수원대학교 건설환경에너지공학부 조교수
3정회원, 연세대학교 건설환경공학과 정교수
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2026. pp. 91-104
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Abstract

Ammonium ions generated as byproducts of biocementation via urea hydrolysis may impact the environment. In this study, the process by which ammonium ions produced during free-urease-mediated urea hydrolysis are crystallized into struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) was evaluated, and the feasibility for ground improvement was verified through laboratory experiments. A series of solution tests were conducted at a fixed urease concentration while the urea concentration and initial acidity were varied. The resulting amounts of struvite precipitation were then compared. The shear and bulk stiffness of sand specimens treated using the selected recipe were evaluated by monitoring shear and compressional wave velocities throughout the reaction period. In addition, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was measured. The results indicated that the maximum shear modulus increased approximately twofold after one day of reaction, whereas the bulk modulus decreased due to desaturation associated with CO2 gas generation. Furthermore, during the UCS tests, struvite precipitation induced the formation of aggregated soil clusters by binding sand particles, although the UCS could not be determined. This behavior suggests that the technique has potential for applications such as dust suppression.

Keywords
Ammonium ion
Cementation
Stiffness
Struvite precipitation
Urea hydrolysis

요소 가수분해 기반 바이오시멘테이션 공법은 탄산칼슘 침전을 통해 흙 입자 간 결합을 강화하고 공극을 채움으로써 지반의 강도 증진 및 투수성 저감 효과를 만들 수 있다. 하지만 반응 부산물로 생성된 암모늄 이온은 외부로 유출될 경우 부영양화 및 수질 저하 등 환경적 문제를 초래할 수 있어, 공법의 적용성 확대를 제한하는 요인으로 작용한다. 본 연구에서는 효소 기반 요소 가수분해 과정에서 발생하는 암모늄 이온을 스트루바이트(MgNH4PO4·6H2O)로 결정화하는 과정을 평가하고 이를 지반 내에 적용했을 때의 개량 가능성을 실내 실험을 통해 확인하였다. 먼저, 고정된 효소 농도 조건에서 요소 농도 및 초기 pH를 달리하며 일련의 용액 실험을 수행하였고, 용액 별 침전물 내 질소함량을 측정하여 스트루바이트 생성효율을 비교하였다. 다음으로, 선정된 혼합비 용액으로 처리한 시편의 강성도 및 강도는 탄성파(전단파 및 압축파) 속도 측정과 일축압축시험을 통해 평가하였다. 실험 결과, 스트루바이트 반응 1일 경과 후 최대 전단 탄성계수는 처리되지 않은 시료에 비해 약 2배 증가한 반면, 체적 탄성계수는 소폭 감소하였는데 이는 요소 가수분해 과정에서 발생한 CO2 기체가 시편의 포화도를 감소시켰기 때문으로 판단된다. 또한 일축압축시험에서 시편의 강도가 매우 작아 일축압축강도를 정량적으로 산정할 수 없었지만, 파괴 시 스트루바이트 침전에 의해 흙 입자들이 서로 결합하여 집합체를 형성하는 것이 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과는 본 기법이 표층처리 및 비산먼지 저감 분야에 적용될 수 있는 잠재성을 지니고 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 :91-104
  • Received Date : 2026-01-13
  • Revised Date : 2026-02-09
  • Accepted Date : 2026-02-15
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2026.42.1.91
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