Solid formations of non-volatile bituminous materials suitable for reducing carbon dioxide emissions during transport

A solid formation of non-volatile bituminous material configured for bulk transport at temperatures at or below 25° Celsius, the solid formation comprising solidified non-volatile bituminous material and a three-dimensional polymer lattice structure extending throughout the non-volatile bituminous material, wherein the solid formation is defined by an irregular outer surface comprising:

• a) a plurality of non-planar face surfaces, wherein the three-dimensional polymer lattice structure extends to each of the non-planar face surfaces, and each non-planar face surface comprises:
• i) a first face section comprising a planar surface having a perimeter defined by first, second, and third edges;
• ii) a second face section comprising a concave surface having a perimeter defined by first, second, and third edges, wherein the second edge of the second face section integrally connects to the second edge of the first face section;
• iii) a third face section comprising a convex surface having a perimeter defined by first, second, and third edges, wherein the third edge of the third face section integrally connects to the third edge to the first face section;
• iv) a fourth face section comprising a planar surface having a perimeter defined by first, second, and third edges, wherein the third edge of the fourth face section integrally connects to the third edge of the second face section and the second edge of the fourth face section integrally connects to the second edge of the third face section;
• and
• a center point, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth face sections each integrally connect to the center point;
• b) a top surface integrally connected at angles of less than ninety degrees to the first edges of the first face sections of each of the non-planar face surfaces, wherein the three-dimensional polymer lattice structure further extends to the top surface, and the top surface comprises a plurality of integrally connected top surface sections that form a domed surface;
• c) a bottom surface integrally connected at angles of greater than ninety degrees to the first edges of the fourth face sections of each of the non-planar face surfaces, wherein the three-dimensional polymer lattice structure extends to the bottom surface, and the bottom surface comprises a plurality of integrally connected bottom surface sections that form a domed surface;
• and
• d) a plurality of curved edges, wherein each curved edge integrally connects at a top end to the top surface and at a bottom end to the bottom surface and is disposed between and integrally connects the first edges of the second face sections of each of the non-planar face surfaces to the first edges of the third face sections of an adjacent non-planar face surface.

A plurality of solid formations of non-volatile bituminous material configured for bulk transport in a container and at a temperature of 25° Celsius or below,

• wherein
• each of the plurality of solid formations comprises solidified non-volatile bituminous material and a three-dimensional polymer lattice structure,
• each of the solid formations is defined by an irregular outer surface configured to limit surface contact to less than 5% with adjacent solid formations during bulk transport in a container, the irregular outer surface comprising a non-planar top surface and three non-planar face surfaces, wherein each non-planar face surface connects to adjacent non-planar face surfaces and to the non-planar top surface at acute angles, and
• the three-dimensional polymer lattice structure is disposed throughout the solidified non-volatile bituminous material, extending to the non-planar face surfaces and the non-planar top surface.