Methods of forming minerals using biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing macroorganisms and compositions formed using same
Methods of forming cement pastes, methods of forming concrete, and methods of forming other compositions using mineral particles formed from the one or more of biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing microorganisms. Desired features, such as size and morphology, can be controlled by controlling growth parameters of the biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing microorganisms.
1 . A method of forming concrete, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a growth medium;
providing one or more of biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing macroorganisms within the growth medium;
producing mineral particles using the one or more of biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing macroorganisms within the growth medium by photosynthesis;
separating the mineral particles from the growth medium;
forming portland cement paste using the mineral particles separated from the growth medium; and
mixing the cement paste with sand and aggregate,
wherein the concrete comprises about 30 to about 45 wt % aggregate, about 25 to about 40 wt % sand, and about 5 to about 10 wt % cement paste, and
wherein the mineral particles comprise at least one of amorphous silicon dioxide particles or crystalline calcium carbonate particles.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomineralizing microorganisms within the growth medium comprise bacteria selected from the group consisting of cyanobacteria.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomineralizing microorganisms within the growth medium comprise microalgae.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the microalgae is selected from the group consisting of diatoms and coccolithophores.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth medium comprises seawater and carbon dioxide.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a morphology of a first portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate particles is rounded and wherein a morphology of a second portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate particles is angular.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an average cross-sectional dimension of one or more of the amorphous silicon dioxide particles and the crystalline calcium carbonate particles is between about 10 nm and about 1 um.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an average cross-sectional dimension of the crystalline calcium carbonate particles is between about 1 μm and about 5 mm.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mineral particles are an additive to portland cement paste.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline calcium carbonate particles are pressed together to form larger particles having an average cross-sectional dimension of up to about 5 cm.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth medium comprises at least one of A+, BG-11, BPU, or LB Broth and wherein the growth medium comprises about 1 to about 30 g/L CaCl 2 .
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline calcium carbonate particles are formed using Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomineralizing microorganisms within the growth medium comprise Emiliania huxleyi.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomineralizing microorganisms within the growth medium comprise one or more of Prymnesium neolepis and Cyclotella sp.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
grinding the mineral particles to an average particle size of about 1 to about 100 μm to form a powder.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
grinding the mineral particles;
heating the ground particles with other additives to a temperature of greater than 1500° C. to form clinker; and
grinding the clinker to form portland cement.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of:
adding water to the portland cement to form the cement paste.
18 . A method of forming cement paste, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a growth medium;
providing one or more of biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing macroorganisms within the growth medium;
producing mineral particles using the one or more of biomineralizing microorganisms and biomineralizing macroorganisms within the growth medium by photosynthesis;
separating the mineral particles from the growth medium;
forming one or more of portland cement and portland cement paste using the mineral particles separated from the growth medium; and
mitigating excess organic matter prior to forming one or more of portland cement and portland cement paste using the mineral particles.