The main goal of the project is to characterize fungal calcium carbonate precipitation in microfluidic device as a evaluation of feasibility for concrete crack healing.
Description:
Concrete is the world’s most widely used human-made material, yet its production is responsible for significant environmental impacts: generation of hazardous airborne dust, high energy consumption, and substantial CO₂ emissions. Given the impracticality of replacing concrete, our study proposes a sustainable alternative—concrete crack healing using fungi—to prevent reinforcement corrosion and thereby extend structural service life, ultimately reducing carbon output.
The method using fungi to repair cracks involves Microbial-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). MICP is a natural process in which microorganisms precipitate calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), thereby sealing cracks and reinforcing concrete surfaces. This process is primarily influenced by carbonate alkalinity and Ca²⁺ concentration. Ureolytic microorganisms play a key role by breaking down urea, increasing bicarbonate levels and pH, which promotes CaCO₃ precipitation in the presence of calcium ions. As the cement concrete is opaque, it is difficult to understand how they grow and precipitate in the cracks. Therefore, we will employ transparent microfluidic devices that mimic concrete’s porous architecture, enabling real-time visualization of fungal hyphal growth and biomineralization at the single-hypha level.
As part of this project, you will work with microfluidic chips to acquire time-lapse images using an inverted microscope, apply AI-driven object detection to quantify crystal nucleation and growth, and automate fluid delivery with advanced microfluidic pumps. Training in all of these techniques will be provided. The candidate must be proficient in standard microbiological methods, including sterile inoculation and nutrient medium preparation.
This project is interdisciplinary task within biology and engineering. You will primarily work with Dr. Hanbang Zou. This project is designed for a MSc student (optimally 60 cr).
Start Date: Flexible
Contact information: Hanbang Zou: Hanbang.zou@biol.lu.se