Disclosed is a hydraulically and chemically bonding refractory cement, which includes a caustic magnesia component having a BET specific surface area of at least 0.5 m.sup.2/g, and a carboxylic acid component, wherein the carboxylic acid component consists of at least one carboxylic acid that is only slightly water soluble and/or has a low dissolution rate in aqueous solutions, and which carboxylic acid component is capable of generating at least one soluble magnesium salt upon contact of the cement with water. Also disclosed is a corresponding refractory material containing the magnesia cement and to uses thereof for the manufacture of products useful in various industries.

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for the manufacture of pigmented solids structures for which can be used for construction and/or decoration. Manufacturing comprises fixing one or more pigments to an aggregate material such as crushed rock, stone or sand. The pigmented aggregate is incubated with urease or urease producing microorganisms, an amount of a nitrogen source such as urea, and an amount of calcium source such as calcium chloride forming calcite bridges between particles of aggregate. The resulting solid has a hardness and colorfastness for most any construction material. Using selected aggregate and pigment, the process also provides for the manufacture of simulated-stone materials such as clay or granite bricks or blocks, marble counter-tops, and more. The invention is also directed to composition containing microorganisms and pigment as kits that can be added to most any aggregate materials.

A concrete, mortar or grout formulation comprises two separate components: a concrete admixture comprising: (a) a concrete mixture; (b) alkali carbonate; (c) aretarder; and (d) water, an accelerator mixture comprising: (a) anaccelerator component; and (b) water.

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.

A dry polymer modified cement to receive topical aggregate to form a high friction surface on trafficked pavement substrates (asphalt, concrete). The dry polymer modified cement is a thin overlay that handles the load of traffic in a relatively short time and has a relatively long life cycle. Prior to curing, the dry polymer modified cement also acts as an adhesive layer to receive and hold aggregate that is applied thereto. The dry polymer modified cement is prepared by mixing a cement mix with water where the cement mix includes cement (ordinary Portland cement), dry polymers and aggregate. The aggregate may have gradations that meet the ASTM C144 specification or may have finer gradations to allow for easier penetration of the topical aggregate by the dry polymer modified cement. The high friction surface may be patterned to provide improved performance.

The present invention provides compositions and methods relative to controlling hydration onset of an alkaline earth metal oxide such as calcium oxide, comprising heating an inorganic alkaline earth metal oxide to sub-calcination temperatures in the presence of organic material comprising a carbohydrate, an amino-carboxylic acid, a hydroxycarboxylic acid, or a mixture thereof. Preferred treated particles comprise at least 40% and more preferably at least 80% by dry weight calcium oxide which is heated in the presence of ascorbic acid and a starch. Treated particles of the present invention manifest an unexpected, surprising hydration induction postponement behavior as demonstrated through calorimetric testing.

Various examples are provided for in situ growth of subsurface structures using bioinspired mineralization. In one example, among others, a method for growth of a subsurface structure includes introducing a first aqueous mineral salt reactant and a second aqueous mineral salt reactant comprising a polymeric additive into a soil substrate. The first and second aqueous mineral salt reactants can combine to form a polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) phase that initiates in situ mineralization in the soil substrate. Solidifying the mineralization can form a subsurface structure in the soil substrate. Multiple applications of aqueous mineral salt reactants can be introduced to adjust the thickness of the mineralization or for layers of coatings.

A method for the preparation of industrial-scale concrete installations with improved compression strength, curling, cracking and cracking characteristics, the method comprising the addition of nanosilica particulate, and more preferably, colloidal amorphous silica, having specific size and surface area characteristics to a concrete mix after water has been added to the mix and the mix has been agitated.

The present invention is a ceramic sol-gel coating system. A sol-gel solution is applied to a tilled roadbed. The roadbed is formed, then a cross-linker is applied. The roadbed is then rolled. The sol-gel solution and cross-linker react to form a ceramic sol-gel coating around the road aggregate. The coating reacts with carbon dioxide in the air to form calcium carbonate rock, capturing the carbon dioxide directly from the air.

A concrete emulsion comprising a cement, aggregate, water, and carbon dioxide is provided. The carbon dioxide may be liquid or super critical and is dispersed in the concrete emulsion composition. A method of producing a concrete emulsion composition is also provided. The method includes mixing a cement, aggregate, and water to form a hydrated concrete composition, and emulsifying the hydrated concrete composition with liquid or supercritical CO.sub.2. An article comprising the concrete emulsion composition is provided. Further, a method of treating a wellbore comprising producing a concrete emulsion composition and pumping the concrete emulsion composition into a wellbore, and a method of manufacturing an article comprising producing a concrete emulsion composition and 3D printing the concrete emulsion composition are also provided.