Methods of producing mineral based material
OwnerJohn Matthew SOMERVILLE, Liv Amelia ANDERSSON +3inventors
InventorsJohn Matthew SOMERVILLE, Liv Amelia ANDERSSON, Fanny YUEN, Davor IVANKOVIC, Laurence DE LUSSY KUBISA
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Abstract
A method of using microbial methods to form mineral based material elements via the precipitation of calcium-carbonate into an element composed primarily of aggregate is provided. Pressure is applied across at least part of the element being produced in order to drive a bulk flow of a liquid containing nutrients at least partly through the element to the bacteria. Structures in the element may be used to enhance transfer of reagents and nutrients to the microbes within the material.
Claims26
A method of producing an element comprising an aggregate matrix and calcium-carbonate, wherein the calcium-carbonate is precipitated by bacteria into the element being produced, the method comprising:
- applying a pressure across at least part of the element being produced in order to drive a bulk flow of a liquid containing nutrients at least partly through the element to the bacteria.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the element being produced comprises one or more channels, wherein the nutrient-containing liquid preferably flows through the channels.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein, as the porosity of the aggregate matrix is reduced by deposited calcium-carbonate such that the flow resistance of the flow of the liquid through the aggregate matrix increases, a flow of the liquid is created across one or more of the surfaces of the element being produced to further reduce the porosity of the surface of the element.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the method comprises flushing the element being produced with a gas during precipitation and subsequently resuming flow of the liquid containing nutrient to the element being produced.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the method comprises flowing the nutrient-containing liquid through the element being formed periodically.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the method comprises flowing the nutrient-containing liquid through the element being formed at a flow velocity of from 0.002 to 0.5, preferably from 0.005 to 0.3 mm/s, and more preferably from 0.01 to 0.1 mm/s.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure that is used to drive the bulk flow of nutrient-containing liquid is preferably from 1 to 100 kPa, more preferably from 5 to 50 kPa, and still more preferably from 10 to 30 kPa.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the method is carried out under pressure across the element being formed.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the method comprises changing the direction of flow of the liquid containing nutrients during precipitation.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the liquid is separated into two flows after having flowed through at least part of the element being produced, wherein the separation is based on the particle size of the precipitate, with a waste flow and a flow fed back into the element being produced, wherein the separation is preferably carried out using a separation element corresponding to a hydrocyclone or virtual impactor.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the flow of the liquid enables production of an element with a region greater than 50 mm thick, and preferably greater than 150 mm thick.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the flow of the liquid enables suspended calcium-carbonate precipitate to be deposited within the porous aggregate matrix of the element being produced.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure generating the flow of the liquid is created hydraulically by a pump.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure that drives the flow of the liquid is applied so as to place one or more regions of the aggregate matrix within the element being produced under compression during biocementation.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the porous aggregate matrix includes recycled aggregate and/or the calcium-carbonate producing bacteria are genetically engineered.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.