Compositions, tools and methods for the manufacture of construction materials using enzymes

• US 8,951,786 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: bioMASON, Inc.
• Original Assignee: bioMASON, Inc.
• Inventors: Dosier, Ginger K.
• Primary Examiner(s): THEISEN, MARY LYNN F
• Application Number:
  US13/834,273
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/289.1
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 17/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for shaping the material; Auxiliary measures taken in connection with such shaping moulds B28B7/00; after-treatment B28B11/00; feeding or discharging B28B13/00; arrangements for embedding elements in the material B28B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/087 containing one or more hydrogen atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/00 Use of inorganic materials as fillers, e.g. pigments, for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of inorganic materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone expanding or defibrillating materials C04B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/0001 Living organisms, e.g. microorganisms, or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/124 Chlorides of ammonium or of the alkali or alkaline earth metals, e.g. calcium chloride
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/126 Urea
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/14 Peptides; Proteins; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/10 Lime cements or magnesium oxide cements
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 30/00 Compositions for artificial stone, not containing binders
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0028 Aspects relating to the mixing step of the mortar preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0067 making use of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0071 making use of a rise in pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0259 Hardening promoted by a rise in pressure C04B40/024 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods for producing construction material utilizing loose pieces of aggregate (30), enzyme producing cells, an amount of urea and an amount of calcium ions. A first solution is prepared which includes urease which is formed by enzyme producing cells. A second solution is prepared which includes urea and calcium ions. The first and second solutions are added to the loose aggregate (30). The calcium ions contribute to the formation of calcium carbonate wherein the calcium carbonate fills and bonds between at least some of the gaps between the loose pieces of aggregate forming a solid construction material (92).

Claims

1. A kit comprising:

a composition containing urease-producing bacteria or eukaryotic cells in a transport media;

a frame that supports the addition of an aggregate and the composition.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the urease-producing bacteria are Sporosarcina pasteurii, Sporosarcina ureae, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus sphaericus, Myxococcus xanthus, Proteus mirabilis, Helicobacter pylori or combinations thereof.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the transport media is minimal growth media.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the composition further contains one or more of urea, calcium and water.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the composition is lyophilized.

6. The kit of claim 1, which further contains instructional materials for manufacture of construction materials.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the construction materials are masonry.

8. A kit comprising:

a composition containing urease in a enzymatically acceptable carrier;

a frame that supports the addition of an aggregate and the composition.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the urease is produced by urease-producing eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells.

10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the aggregate comprises crushed or broken pieces.

11. The kit of claim 8, wherein the composition further contains one or more of urea, calcium and water.

12. The kit of claim 8, wherein the composition is lyophilized.

13. The kit of claim 8, which further contains instructional materials for manufacture of construction materials.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the construction materials are masonry.

15. A kit comprising a composition containing urease-producing bacteria or eukaryotic cells, or urease enzyme, and framework support material, which, when combined with an aggregate and water, forms construction material.

16. The kit of claim 15, which comprises urease-producing bacteria.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the urease-producing bacteria comprise one or more of Sporosarcina Pasteurii, Sporosarcina Ureae, Proteus Vulgaris, Bacillus Sphaericus, Myxococcus Xanthus, Proteus Mirabilis, Helicobacter Pylori or a combination thereof, or a variant, mutation or genetically modified strain thereof.

18. The kit of claim 15, wherein the framework support material supports the addition of an aggregate and the composition for the formation of a solid unit.

19. The kit of claim 15, wherein the aggregate comprises sand, glass beads, recycled glass foam, fly ash composite, soil, small stones, basalt, fibers and mixtures thereof.

20. The kit of claim 15, wherein the construction materials formed comprise concrete masonry units, cinder blocks, bricks, foundation blocks, breeze blocks, hollow blocks, solid blocks, besser blocks, clinker blocks, high or low density blocks, aerated blocks, tile or pre-cast veneers.

21. The kit of claim 15, wherein the construction materials are formed from being pressed into molds.

22. The kit of claim 15, wherein the construction materials are formed from being extruded.

23. The kit of claim 15, further comprising instructional materials.