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Volume 13 | Issue 6 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJCE-V13I6P118 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I6P118

Self-Healing and Biological CO₂ Capture in Concrete Using Microencapsulated Nostoc Sphaericum

Rike Ricardo Zevallos Ramos, Marlon Armando Carhuaz Matias, Axel Elian Quispe Romero, Marko Antonio Lengua Fernandez

Received Revised Accepted Published
20 Mar 2026 19 Apr 2026 18 May 2026 30 Jun 2026

Citation :

Rike Ricardo Zevallos Ramos, Marlon Armando Carhuaz Matias, Axel Elian Quispe Romero, Marko Antonio Lengua Fernandez, "Self-Healing and Biological CO₂ Capture in Concrete Using Microencapsulated Nostoc Sphaericum," International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 257-277, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I6P118

Abstract

An increase in atmospheric CO₂ coupled with concrete production presents dual challenges in modern civil engineering that threaten structural integrity and contribute to global warming. In the Andean country of Peru, where the climate is highly variable, these challenges are exacerbated by the lack of sustainable technologies both to (i) repair existing structures and (ii) mitigate CO₂ emissions associated with cementitious materials. This study evaluated the effectiveness of microencapsulated Nostoc sphaericum in both bio-mortar and concrete with respect to self-healing and CO₂ biofixation. A total of six mixes were designed with five levels of microencapsulated Nostoc sphaericum (1.75%, 2.00%, 2.25%, 2.50%, and 2.75%) and a control without additives, with a target strength of 210 kg/cm². The experimental program included the determination of workability, compressive strength, and indirect tensile strength, crack Control, and gravimetric CO₂ uptake under controlled light and humidity conditions. The 1.75% mixture exhibited the best overall performance, with an increase in compressive strength of 0.8% compared to the Control, crack closure of 85.3%, and CO₂ biofixation of 2,583 mg CO₂/cm³ (4.05 g per test tube). The increase in dosage after 1.75% was recognised a limitation because of biopolymer saturation, also due to light diffusion. The work shows how a nutritious microencapsulated cushuro is designed to generate living, self-healing, and carbon-negative concrete without the addition of external nutrients. Such an innovative biotechnological output represents a disruptive and sustainable option for the Peruvian civil construction sector, by generating higher-performance materials with a reduced environmental impact.

Keywords

Biological Co₂ Capture, Biocementitious Concretes, Calcium Carbonate, Nostoc Sphaericum, Self-Repairing Concretes.

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