Bio-Mediated Technique to Control Phase Changes of Porous Media in Seasonally Frozen Ground

Abstract

The phase transitions of water in soil and porous media are critical to the stability and performance of natural and engineered infrastructure in cold regions. Conventional frost mitigation methods, such as chemical treatments and mechanical modifications, often present environmental challenges and degrade with time. In contrast, some organisms naturally produce ice-binding proteins (IBPs) to thrive in low temperatures by inhibiting ice crystal growth and lowering the freezing point without external interventions. This study explores a bio-inspired approach to frost control, hypothesizing that IBPs from psychrophilic microbes can alter phase transitions in frost-prone soils. Specifically, the potential of three psychrophilic microbes—Sporosarcina psychrophila, Sporosarcina globispora, and Polaromonas hydrogenivorans—was investigated to produce IBP-enriched supernatants and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) with antifreeze properties. This IBP-enriched biopolymer can induce non-equilibrium freezing point depression and thermal hysteresis (TH), effectively controlling ice lens formation in frost-susceptible soils. A unique microscope-mounted thermoelectric cooling device was used to examine the thermal behavior of treated soils and understand the ice growth inhibition mechanism. Resiliency was evaluated by measuring the volumetric strain and compressive strength of treated soils across 10 freeze-thaw cycles. Results demonstrate that the proposed bio-mediated mitigation technique effectively control ice formation, lower freezing points, and reduce frost-related deformations in susceptible soils. This research highlights the potential of biopolymer-based, environmentally sustainable treatments to enhance infrastructure resilience in cold climates.