Influence of Ureolytic Bacteria Toward Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB) in Improving Durability of ICEB

Interlocking compressed earth blocks (ICEB) are soil stabilized based blocks that allows for mortarless construction. Various studies have been conducted to improve the durability of bricks by using environmental friendly solution. This is because common method used by the construction industries generally involving the use of chemical based substances which will promote pollution to the surrounding. This paper provide the results of Ureolytic Bacteria (UB) in improving the compressive strength and water absorption properties with the percentage of 1%, 3% and 5% UB for 7th,14th and 28th days of testing. The bacteria were added as partial replacement of limestone water in ICEB. The results of compressive strength and water absorption show that the increment of 15.25% strength and reduction of 15.66% water absorption with 5% of UB on the 28th days of testing compared to the control specimen. Therefore it is hoped that the positive results on using bacteria will continue to improve the durability of the ICEB as one of the environmental friendly solution in order to achieve sustainable construction.