ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microbiological Chemistry and Geomicrobiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1653557
Optimizing Bacillus pasteurii Spore Germination and Unveiling Impermeability Mechanisms in Microbial Self-Healing Concrete
Provisionally accepted
- 1Shandong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Science for the Yellow River Delta, Shandong University of Aeronautics, Binzhou, China
- 2College of Energy and Mining Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- 3Anhui University of Science and Technology Medical School, Huainan, China
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This study systematically investigated the impact of key factors on the spore germination of Bacillus pasteurii, a self-healing bacterium for concrete, and elucidated its impermeability mechanism. Through controlled experiments, the optimal germination conditions were determined: 2 g/L microcapsule concentration, pH 8, and 1 g/L inosine, yielding a peak germination efficiency that highlights parameter synergies. Notably, the alkaline concrete matrix was confirmed to facilitate B. pasteurii physiology, whereas Ca²⁺ had no inhibitory effect on germination, enabling the use of calcium-based additives in self-healing formulations. Three minutes of thermal stimulation effectively triggered germination, suggesting a practical activation approach. Future research should address complex physicochemical influences and bacterial gradient domestication for environmental adaptability. With respect to the impermeability mechanism, the B. pasteurii-containing mortar enhanced the cement hydration stability. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) revealed that self-healing concrete had an infiltration fractal cone number of 2.832 and a trunk fractal dimension of 2.306, similar to those of conventional materials, indicating no structural complexity. Environmental erosion primarily affects 300–10,000 nm pores, pinpointing durability targets. SEM and MIP analyses revealed that B. pasteurii-induced vaterite and aragonite calcium carbonate crystals integrated with tobermorite, reducing porosity and enhancing mechanical strength. These findings provide theoretical and practical guidance for the development of advanced self-healing concrete.
Keywords: Self-healing concrete, Impermeability, Bacillus pasteurii, spore germination, Germination conditions, Concrete durability
Received: 25 Jun 2025; Accepted: 22 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Hu, Liu, Zhang and Hu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Weitao Liu, College of Energy and Mining Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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