A high viscosity of curdlan at alkaline pH increases segregational resistance of concrete = 염기성 pH에서의 고점도 커들란에 의한 콘크리트의 재료분리 억제 효과 증진

Abstract

In order to use a polysaccharide, curdlan, as a concrete admixture, we first developed a pilot-scale fermentation process for the mass production of curdlan. We also examined the rheological properties of curdlan, and tested how well the curdlan obtained in this work increased the segregational resistance of the cement slurry. Fermentation was performed in a 300-liter fermenter equipped with 3 disk-turbine impellers. Since curdlan production is stimulated under nitrogen-limiting conditions, the culture pH was shifted from the optimal pH for cell growth (pH 7.0) to the optimal pH for curdlan production (pH 5.5) at the onset of ammonium exhaustion. We obtained a curdlan production of 65 g/L in 120 hr batch cultivation of Agrobacterium species. The insoluble curdlan at the final stage of fermentation was readily harvested by centrifugation together with the cells. The freeze-dried sample contained 78% (w/w) of curdlan. The solubility and viscosity of the curdlan increased with the increase of the solution pH, which enhances the viscosity of concrete since the pH of concrete is extremely high (pH 13.0). Test results of the curdlan as a concrete admixture with cement slurry demonstrated that it prohibits the leakage of water. In conclusion, this work certifies and enlarges curdlan's industrial potential as a concrete admixture.