The present disclosure discloses a method of forming self-curing concrete comprising the steps of mixing cement, aggregates, and dry MIL-101(Cr) metal-organic framework (MOF) to form a mixture, incorporating the mixture with water to form wet concrete; and curing the wet concrete. During the curing step, the MIL-101(Cr) MOF adsorbs water to from a surrounding atmosphere. The MIL-101(Cr) MOF is 3-9 wt. % relative to the cement, such that water adsorption by the MIL-101(Cr) MOF enables the wet concrete to self-cure. The present disclosure also discloses a composition for forming concrete, the composition compromising cement, aggregate, water, and MIL-101(Cr) metal-organic framework (MOF), wherein the MIL-101(Cr) is 3-9 wt. % relative to the cement. The present disclosure also discloses a self-curing concrete.

A method of making a composition of matter comprising calcium hydroxide. The method includes the steps of contacting a calcium-containing molecule with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble salt having ammonium cation and a counter-anion, under conditions effective to yield a compound containing calcium and the counter-anion; and reacting the compound comprising calcium and the counter-anion with ammonia and water under conditions to yield calcium hydroxide.

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.

Compositions and methods for producing materials for construction and for dust control utilizing enzyme producing cells, an amount of a nitrogen source such as urea, and an amount of calcium such as calcium chloride. Calcium contributes to the formation of calcium carbonate which creates a solid structure, layer or shield. One or more compositions containing components of the invention can be sprayed or otherwise applied to surfaces for erosion control, foundation support, prevention of sink hole formation, prevention of dust formation, or other applications. Ammonia, water and other by-products of the process can be recycled and re-utilized for the same or other purposes including, for example, as fertilizers and energy sources, or independently fermented from selectively cultivated microorganisms.

Provided is an additive for concrete in which viscosity of a cement composition is low and fluidity is high at an initial stage of casting even when the additive is added, and long-term strength of concrete or the like improves by the addition. A cement additive comprising a water-absorbent resin, wherein the water-absorbent resin is formed by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing no less than 50 mol % of a nonionic non-crosslinkable monomer and no less than 0.1 mol % of a nonionic crosslinkable monomer, and a content of an anionic monomer in the monomer mixture is no more than 20 mol %.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods makes use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

Class C fly ash-based cementitious materials, concretes, and related techniques are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, an activated class C fly ash-based cementitious material may be produced by intergrinding class C fly ash (e.g., classified to remove quartz and/or other contaminants and, thus, increase the reactive materials present), an activator, sodium citrate, borax, and a polycarboxylate material. The class C fly ash may have an amorphous glass content of about 60 wt % or more, a calcium oxide (CaO.sub.2) content of about 20 wt % or more, and a quartz content of about 10 wt % or less. The activator may be a chemical which reacts with class C fly ash to form strtlingite structures therein when introduced with water. In some cases, the cementitious material may be provided as an all-in-one powder blend. In some cases, techniques disclosed herein may be utilized in providing a fast-setting flowable fill material.

The invention relates to a multi-component composition for the manufacture of polyurethane/urea cementitious hybrid system, comprising at least one isocyanate component selected from the group consisting of monoisocyanate, polyisocyanate and NCO terminated prepolymer, at least one polyol, water, catalyst, at least one acidic additive, and hydraulic binder, wherein the acidic additive is at least one selected from the group consisting of Lewis acids, acid precursors and acidic buffers and is in an amount of 0.01 to 3 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition, to the preparation thereof, and to the use of the composition for the preparation of a flooring, waterproofing, screed, grouting, primer, wall paint, roofing or coating in construction applications.

A method for producing photocatalytic mortar includes providing a mortar-producing material including a fine aggregate and cement, a reactant mixture including a zinc source and urea, and a microorganism-containing mixture including water and a urease-producing microorganism, subjecting the microorganism-containing mixture and the reactant mixture to microbial induced precipitation in the mortar-producing material, subjecting zinc carbonate crystal-containing mortar produced to curing for the same to undergo hydration, and subjecting cured mortar to hydrothermal synthesis, so that zinc carbonate crystals therein are converted to nano zinc oxide crystals.