Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries
Earth buildings are still a common type of residence for one-third of the world’s population. However, these buildings are not durable or resistant against earthquakes and floods, and this amplifies their potential harm to humans. Earthen construction without soil binders (e.g., cement) is known to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Polymer Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/326745 |
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| author | Ilhan Chang Minkyung Jeon Gye-Chun Cho |
| author_facet | Ilhan Chang Minkyung Jeon Gye-Chun Cho |
| author_sort | Ilhan Chang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Earth buildings are still a common type of residence for one-third of the world’s population. However, these buildings are not durable or resistant against earthquakes and floods, and this amplifies their potential harm to humans. Earthen construction without soil binders (e.g., cement) is known to result in poor strength and durability performance of earth buildings. Failure to use construction binders is related to the imbalance in binder prices in different countries. In particular, the price of cement in Africa, Middle East, and Southwest Asia countries is extremely high relative to the global trend of consumer goods and accounts for the limited usage of cement in those regions. Moreover, environmental concerns regarding cement usage have recently risen due to high CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, biopolymers have been introduced as an alternative binder for soil strengthening. Previous studies and feasibility attempts in this area show that the mechanical properties (i.e., compressive strength) of biopolymer mixed soil blocks (i.e, both 1% xanthan gum and 1% gellan gum) satisfied the international criteria for binders used in earthen structures. Economic and market analyses have demonstrated that the biopolymer binder has high potential as a self-sufficient local construction binder for earth buildings where the usage of ordinary cement is restricted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1cb12016a174179a5d52eb93900e508 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9422 1687-9430 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Polymer Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1cb12016a174179a5d52eb93900e5082025-02-03T01:29:58ZengWileyInternational Journal of Polymer Science1687-94221687-94302015-01-01201510.1155/2015/326745326745Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped CountriesIlhan Chang0Minkyung Jeon1Gye-Chun Cho2Geotechnical Engineering Research Institute (GERI), Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Goyang 10223, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of KoreaEarth buildings are still a common type of residence for one-third of the world’s population. However, these buildings are not durable or resistant against earthquakes and floods, and this amplifies their potential harm to humans. Earthen construction without soil binders (e.g., cement) is known to result in poor strength and durability performance of earth buildings. Failure to use construction binders is related to the imbalance in binder prices in different countries. In particular, the price of cement in Africa, Middle East, and Southwest Asia countries is extremely high relative to the global trend of consumer goods and accounts for the limited usage of cement in those regions. Moreover, environmental concerns regarding cement usage have recently risen due to high CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, biopolymers have been introduced as an alternative binder for soil strengthening. Previous studies and feasibility attempts in this area show that the mechanical properties (i.e., compressive strength) of biopolymer mixed soil blocks (i.e, both 1% xanthan gum and 1% gellan gum) satisfied the international criteria for binders used in earthen structures. Economic and market analyses have demonstrated that the biopolymer binder has high potential as a self-sufficient local construction binder for earth buildings where the usage of ordinary cement is restricted.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/326745 |
| spellingShingle | Ilhan Chang Minkyung Jeon Gye-Chun Cho Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries International Journal of Polymer Science |
| title | Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries |
| title_full | Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries |
| title_fullStr | Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries |
| title_short | Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries |
| title_sort | application of microbial biopolymers as an alternative construction binder for earth buildings in underdeveloped countries |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/326745 |
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