Biocementation Methods and Systems

Abstract

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 of performing a cyclical reaction using calcium carbonate decomposition to form a biocement, the method comprising:
 decomposing calcium carbonate forming calcium chloride and ammonia;   reacting the ammonia with carbon dioxide in a process to form urea; and   reacting urea with calcium chloride to form biocement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein decomposing forms calcium oxide and carbon dioxide, and the calcium oxide is treated with ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein decomposing comprises treating calcium carbonate with elevated temperatures. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the elevated temperature about 850° C. or more. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein decomposing is performed with an acid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the acid comprises a mineral acid, an organic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and/or acetic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein decomposing is performed by corona discharge. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reacting urea with calcium chloride further forms ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reacting urea with calcium chloride further comprises treating with urease and/or urease-producing organisms. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise spores and/or vegetative cells. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise one or more of  Sporosarcina  spp.,  S. pasteurii, S. ureae, 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. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising reacting urea with calcium chloride in the presence of urease-producing organisms and supplemental materials. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the supplemental materials comprise organic or inorganic material, rock, glass, wood, paper, metal, plastic, polymers, fibers, minerals or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 decomposing calcium carbonate to form calcium chloride and carbon dioxide, which react to form calcium dioxide;   reacting calcium dioxide with ammonium in a process to form urea; and   reacting calcium chloride with urea to form biocement.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein decomposing comprises treating calcium carbonate with elevated temperatures. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elevated temperature is about 850° C. or more. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein decomposing is performed with an acid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the acid comprises a mineral acid, an organic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and/or acetic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein decomposing is performed by corona discharge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein reacting calcium chloride with urea further comprises treatment with urease and/or urease-producing organisms. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise spores and/or vegetative cells. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise one or more of  Sporosarcina  spp.,  S. pasteurii, S. ureae, 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. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising reacting urea with calcium chloride in the presence of urease-producing organisms and supplemental materials. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the supplemental materials comprise organic or inorganic material, rock, glass, wood, paper, metal, plastic, polymers, fibers, minerals or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . 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.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein decomposing comprises treating calcium carbonate with elevated temperatures. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the elevated temperature about 850° C. or more. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein decomposing is performed with an acid 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the acid comprises a mineral acid, an organic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and/or acetic acid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein decomposing is performed by corona discharge. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein reacting urea with calcium chloride further comprises treatment with urease and/or urease-producing organisms. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise spores and/or vegetative cells. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the urease-producing organisms comprise one or more of  Sporosarcina  spp.,  S. pasteurii, S. ureae, 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. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reacting urea with calcium chloride in the presence of urease-producing organisms and supplemental materials. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the supplemental materials comprise organic or inorganic material, rock, glass, wood, paper, metal, plastic, polymers, fibers, minerals or combinations thereof.