Production of masonry with bacteria

• US 9,796,626 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• 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:
  US15/248,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/06 Quartz; Sand
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/305 Titanium oxide, e.g. titanates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/0001 Living organisms, e.g. microorganisms, or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/0067 the ingredients being formed in situ by chemical reactions or conversion of one or more of the compounds of the composition
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00017 Aspects relating to the protection of the environment
• 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 24/12 Nitrogen containing compounds organic derivatives of hydrazine hydrazine C04B22/00
• 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 35/632 Organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0039 Premixtures of ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/80 acting on amide bonds in linear amides (3.5.1)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 1/04 by using bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 305/01005 Urease (3.5.1.5)

Abstract

Methods for producing construction material utilizing loose pieces of aggregate (30), enzyme producing bacteria, an amount of urea and an amount of calcium ions. A first solution is prepared which includes urease which is formed by enzyme producing bacteria. 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 solid structure comprising a plurality of aggregate particles bound together with calcite bonds, wherein the calcite bonds are distributed equally around aggregate particles.

2. The solid structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aggregate particles comprises particles of sand, crushed stone, basalt, glass, gravel, clay, recycled brick, recycled cement, or mixtures thereof.

3. The solid structure of claim 1, wherein the solid structure further comprises performance enhancing materials.

4. The solid structure of claim 3, wherein the performance enhancing materials comprise fibers that provide strength to the solid structure.

5. The solid structure of claim 3, wherein the performance enhancing materials comprise pollution absorbing materials.

6. The solid structure of claim 5, wherein the pollution absorbing materials comprise titanium dioxide.

7. The solid structure of claim 3, wherein the performance enhancing materials comprise insulation materials.

8. The solid structure of claim 3, wherein the performance enhancing materials comprise materials that enhance light transmission.

9. The solid structure of claim 8, wherein the materials that enhance light transmission comprise glass.

10. The solid structure of claim 1, which have a predetermined hardness.

11. The solid structure of claim 1, which has a compression strength greater than a clay brick.

12. A solid structure comprising a homogenous plurality of aggregate particles bound together with calcite bonds, wherein the calcite bonds are distributed equally around aggregate particles and manufactured by combining aggregate particles, calcium, urea and urease in an aqueous mixture forming calcite bonds.

13. The solid structure of claim 12, wherein the aggregate particles comprise sand, stone, gravel, basalt, glass, clay, asphalt, or mixtures thereof.

14. The solid structure of claim 12, wherein the calcium comprises one or more of calcium chloride, calcium acetate, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, or mixtures thereof.

15. The solid structure of claim 12, wherein the urease is produced from microorganisms.

16. The solid structure of claim 15, wherein the microorganisms comprise one or more of cells and/or spores of Sporosarcina ureae, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus sphaericus, Myxococcus xanthus, Proteus mirabilis and Helicobacter pylori, or combinations thereof.

17. The solid structure of claim 12, wherein the solid structure further contains performance enhancing materials that comprise materials that enhance strength, enhance absorb pollution, enhance light transmission, and/or enhance insulation of the solid structure.

18. The solid structure of claim 12, wherein the solid structure comprises a predetermined shape.

19. The solid structure of claim 12, wherein the predetermined shape is a brick, a block, a tile, a column, and/or a panel.