Author | M. Martínez EuklidiadasCan bacteria be used in construction? The technology has remained inert until well into the 20th century. Only certain pioneering studies in the area of genetic research and fluorescent proteins use biological material as tools, but rarely for structural purposes. Now, thanks to materials such as living concrete, developed by a team of scientists from the University of Colorado in Boulder, United States, we may soon see urban development based on construction techniques that use life as its main mechanism.
What is the living concrete? — A sustainable bacteria-based building material
Conventional concrete is a basic building material. Cheap, durable, safe and with a highly predictable behaviour, its wear facilitates inspections. That is why is not painted. Despite the advantages of its physical behaviour, water can crack concrete and cause flaws at a structural level. But… what if we injected bacteria into it to repair the concrete as it cracks?The fundamental idea of living concrete is to alleviate the structural deficiencies of traditional concrete, by adding a live, self-healing component. It is basically classic concrete to which compounds are added such as calcium lactate biodegradable capsules. Compatible with concrete, their main feature is that they dissolve in water.Therefore, when the concrete cracks, the capsules open up, releasing their bacterial load. For example, bacillus subtilis, a common bacterium. These bacteria generate a chalky layer that fills the fissure in the concrete. They do not increase its resistance, but they do protect these cracks from the elements, automatically sealing them.What kind of ingredients does this innovative use? — Gelatin and photosynthetic bacteria

>Living concrete benefits to construct the Smart Cities of the future
