Fungal-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in Civil Engineering: Mechanisms and Innovative Applications for Soil Stabilization, Self-Healing Concrete, and Heavy Metal Immobilization

The field of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation in civil engineering has seen significant advancements, with the emergence of novel approaches such as bacterially induced calcium carbonate precipitation and the exploration of fungal induced calcium precipitation (FICP). FICP, in particular, has garnered attention due to its unique characteristics, including the formation of 3D reticular hyphae by filamentous fungi, which offer increased nucleation sites for applications such as crack repair and soil stabilization. Further, advancements in fungal-mediated microbial cementation, self-healing concrete, and heavy metal immobilization techniques have transitioned from theoretical concepts to practical applications. In this review, we summarize the current mainstream mechanisms of FICP and discuss its potential advantages and disadvantages. By reviewing recent research progress on FICP in civil engineering, we propose new directions for future research and applications in this field.