MeduSoil in l'Entreprise Romande: bacteria for soil stabilization
© 2021 LMS-EPFL, Entreprise Romande
Rather than relying on traditional cement slurries for soil improvement, MeduSoil brings to the industry a technology developed at EPFL based on microorganisms, to create instead, a natural cement - A recent article published in l'Entreprise Romande, by Pierre Cormon.
MeduSoil, a start-up from EPFL, aims to replace polluting soil stabilization practices, with a fast, economical and more ecological solution. Prof. Laloui explains the basics of bio-cementation, which is based on a “perfectly natural” mineralization process that is accelerated through the targeted use of microorganisms. The technology has also been designed with civil engineering contractors in mind, avoiding the need for major adaptations of special or costly equipment, which results in slightly cheaper costs compared to typical concrete injections, assures Dr. Terzis. In addition to two pilot projects already completed, research is still ongoing at EPFL in order to expand the state of knowledge for a finer innovation and adaptation to various envisaged applications.