A combination desalination, hydroelectric power, and salt production system is described and the related methods. The comprehensive design solves problems and provides economic solutions to problems for arid regions. The system may comprise one of evaporating water from the concentrated brine water to precipitate salt, applying the concentrated brine water for agriculture, filling a recreational or therapeutic pools, mixing the concentrated brine water with gypsum to produce a masonry product, mixing the salt with cement to form a masonry product, mixing the salt with plastic, for example.

The invention relates to methods for manufacturing an inorganic polymer object from a precursor wherein the precursor consists of one or more or comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of gibbsite-containing bauxite, gibbsite containing residue of the Bayer process, thermally processed gibbsite-containing bauxite, and thermally processed gibbsite-containing residue of the Bayer process, the method comprising the steps of alkaline-activating said precursor, mixing the precursor, shaping the mixed precursor and hydrothermally curing the shaped precursor at a temperature between 70° C. and 350° C.

The present invention relates to a mortar or concrete material comprising cement, water, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate, wherein the fine aggregate is partially replaced by metallic mineral extraction residues (MMERs) not subjected to thermal treatment, with a pH of less than 7, with a particle size of less than 4 mm, and partially stabilised with limestone material that comprises at least 60% calcite with a particle size of less than 63 μm. The present invention also relates to the method for preparing said material and the use thereof to prepare construction materials.

A low strength backfill material having a 28 days compressive strength less than approximately 2.0 MPa is provided. The backfill is suitable for use in areas with dense underground utilities due to its high excavatability and good thermal conductivity. The backfill includes a cementitious binder of approximately 1 weight percent to approximately 10 weight percent and fine aggregates in an amount of approximately 40 to approximately 75 weight percent. Filler is provided at 20 microns to approximately 100 microns for high flowability. A density-controlling agent of 0.0001-5 weight percent is used such that the density of a cured backfill material is approximately 1600 kg/m.sup.3 to 2000 kg/m.sup.3. Thermally conductive particles having a size range of approximately 0.01 microns to 500 microns in an amount of approximately 0.1 to 10 weight percent are evenly dispersed throughout the backfill.

A low strength backfill material having a 28 days compressive strength less than approximately 2.0 MPa is provided. The backfill is suitable for use in areas with dense underground utilities due to its high excavatability and good thermal conductivity. The backfill includes a cementitious binder of approximately 1 weight percent to approximately 10 weight percent and fine aggregates in an amount of approximately 40 to approximately 75 weight percent. Filler is provided at 20 microns to approximately 100 microns for high flowability. A density-controlling agent of 0.0001-5 weight percent is used such that the density of a cured backfill material is approximately 1600 kg/m.sup.3 to 2000 kg/m.sup.3. Thermally conductive particles having a size range of approximately 0.01 microns to 500 microns in an amount of approximately 0.1 to 10 weight percent are evenly dispersed throughout the backfill.

An improved process for the preparation of aggregates for use with mixtures of various carbonatable substances, in particular mixtures comprising pulverised fuel ash and/or steel slag. The mixtures also comprise a carbonatable binder. The process comprises the steps of a. blending a combination of two carbonatable wastes, b. mixing the blended carbonatable waste with a carbonatable binder, c. mixing the blended carbonatable waste and binder with water, and d. carbonating the damp blended carbonatable waste in the presence of carbon dioxide.

The invention relates to methods for manufacturing an inorganic polymer object from a precursor wherein the precursor consists of one or more or comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of gibbsite-containing bauxite, gibbsite containing residue of the Bayer process, thermally processed gibbsite-containing bauxite, and thermally processed gibbsite-containing residue of the Bayer process, the method comprising the steps of alkaline-activating said precursor, mixing the precursor, shaping the mixed precursor and hydrothermally curing the shaped precursor at a temperature between 70° C. and 350° C.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide encapsulation of waste (2) materials in a first (1), double (5), triple (7), or even quadruple (44) encapsulation. Encapsulation may include waste (2), ash (4), Portland cement (3), water, chemicals, or the like. Agglomerates formed perhaps with high energy mixing may be processed, cured, or the like.

Disclosed is a balance weight of steel and heavy concrete components and a production method for the balance weight, as an alternative to pig casting and spheroidal graphite casting.

Disclosed is a balance weight of steel and heavy concrete components and a production method for the balance weight, as an alternative to pig casting and spheroidal graphite casting.