Coastal erosion is accelerating due to global warming, thus weakening infrastructures and threatening the population. Actual remediation techniques are costly, resource-consuming and vulnerable. Here, we designed the synthesis of a carbonate rock by seawater electrolysis to reinforce engineering infrastructures. Inspired by electrochemical cathodic protection, the new technique involves the application of a low current in a buried metal grid to precipitate aragonite (CaCO₃) and brucite (Mg(OH)₂), which agglomerate the metal grid with the sediment. We tested the effects of power surface densities, 3 and 5 W/m², on agglomerate properties during more than 2 years in natural conditions. We measured agglomerate thickness, accessible water porosity and axial compressive strength. The results show growth rates of 2.5 mm/month at 3 W/m² and 4.1 mm/month at 5 W/m² during the first 32 months. Data on material properties do not show a significant effect of power surface density. Maximum porosity of 16% is reached after 12 months, and maximum compressive strength of 10 MPa is obtained after 18 months. Overall, our findings confirm under outdoor conditions the practical application of electrochemical limestone synthesis for reinforcement of the coastal infrastructures.

由于全球变暖，沿海侵蚀正在加速，从而削弱了基础设施并威胁着人口。实际的修复技术成本高昂，资源消耗且脆弱。在这里，我们设计了通过海水电解合成碳酸盐岩石的方法，以增强工程基础设施。受电化学阴极保护的启发，这项新技术涉及在埋入的金属网格中施加低电流，以使文石（CaCO ₃）和水镁石（Mg（OH）₂）沉淀，这使金属网格与沉积物团聚。我们测试了功率表面密度3和5 W / m ^2的影响，在自然条件下2年以上的附聚物性质。我们测量了附聚物的厚度，可及的水孔隙率和轴向抗压强度。结果显示，在前32个月中，以3 W / m ^2的速度生长2.5毫米/月和以5 W / m ^2的速度生长4.1毫米/月。有关材料性能的数据并未显示出功率表面密度的显着影响。12个月后达到最大孔隙率16％，18个月后获得最大抗压强度10 MPa。总体而言，我们的发现证实了在室外条件下电化学石灰石合成在沿海基础设施加固中的实际应用。