Biocementation Method and System
The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.
1 . A method comprising:
decomposing calcium carbonate to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide, wherein the calcium oxide is treated with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride; and
reacting calcium chloride with urea to form biocement.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein decomposing comprises treating calcium carbonate with elevated temperatures.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the elevated temperature about 850° C. or more.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein decomposing is performed with an acid.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the acid comprises a mineral acid, an organic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and/or acetic acid.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein decomposing is performed by corona discharge.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting urea with calcium chloride further comprises treatment with urease and/or urease-producing organisms.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise spores and/or vegetative cells.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise one or more of Sporosarcina spp., S. pasteurii, S. nreae, Proteus spp., P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Bacillus spp., B. sphaericus, B. megaterium, Myxococcus spp., M. xanthus, Helicobacter spp., H. pylori , and variants, serotypes, mutations, recombinant forms, and combinations thereof.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising reacting urea with calcium chloride in the presence of urease-producing organisms and supplemental materials.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the supplemental materials comprise organic or inorganic material, rock, glass, wood, paper, metal, plastic, polymers, fibers, minerals or combinations thereof.