Techniques of forming a foamed insulation material from gypsum waste are disclosed herein. One example technique includes mechanically comminuting the gypsum waste from an original size into particles of gypsum at a target size smaller than the original size and mixing the particles of the gypsum with a binder to form a mixture of particles and binder. The binder is configured to bind the particles of gypsum upon hydration. The example technique can further include performing air entrainment on the mixture until a foam is formed from the mixture having the particles of gypsum and binder. The foam has water that causes the binder to bind the particles of gypsum. The example technique can then include removing moisture from the mixture with the formed foam to form a foamed insulation material from the particles of gypsum.

Techniques of forming a foamed insulation material from gypsum waste are disclosed herein. One example technique includes mechanically comminuting the gypsum waste from an original size into particles of gypsum at a target size smaller than the original size and mixing the particles of the gypsum with a binder to form a mixture of particles and binder. The binder is configured to bind the particles of gypsum upon hydration. The example technique can further include performing air entrainment on the mixture until a foam is formed from the mixture having the particles of gypsum and binder. The foam has water that causes the binder to bind the particles of gypsum. The example technique can then include removing moisture from the mixture with the formed foam to form a foamed insulation material from the particles of gypsum.

Described herein are cementitious compositions comprising biochar and methods of making such compositions. The compositions find use in a variety of applications, including use in a variety of building materials and building applications.

Provided herein are methods and compositions utilizing one or more cementitious replacement materials, one or more alkaline activating materials, and, optionally one or more bonding materials and/or one or more setting time enhancer materials. The one or more cement precursors comprises one or more of calcareous sludge; paper pulp, biomass flyash; bag house dust; biomass sludge; filter cakes from bio industry's and wastewater treatment; bio ash; biomedical ash; agricultural ash; sugar cane bagasse; rice husk ash; palm oil fuel ash; oxygen furnace slags; plant stalks; bio char; starch; pyrophyllite; or a combination thereof. The one or more alkaline activating agents comprises potassium silicate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, reactive magnesium oxide, calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, silicone dioxide, sodium aluminate, calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate, or dolomite, or a combination thereof. The system comprises a vertical impact mixer.

Provided herein are methods and compositions utilizing one or more cementitious replacement materials, one or more alkaline activating materials, and, optionally one or more bonding materials and/or one or more setting time enhancer materials. The one or more cement precursors comprises one or more of calcareous sludge; paper pulp, biomass flyash; bag house dust; biomass sludge; filter cakes from bio industry's and wastewater treatment; bio ash; biomedical ash; agricultural ash; sugar cane bagasse; rice husk ash; palm oil fuel ash; oxygen furnace slags; plant stalks; bio char; starch; pyrophyllite; or a combination thereof. The one or more alkaline activating agents comprises potassium silicate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, reactive magnesium oxide, calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, silicone dioxide, sodium aluminate, calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate, or dolomite, or a combination thereof. The system comprises a vertical impact mixer.

A concrete composition, the concrete composition comprising: cementitious material; carbonaceous material; reactive silica; and insoluble silicon. The concrete composition may comprise a pozzolan. The pozzolan may have pozzolanic activity. A concrete composition comprising: cementitious material; and carbonaceous material, wherein at least a portion of the carbonaceous material has no pozzolanic activity. The carbonaceous material may comprise biochar. A method of making a concrete composition, the method comprising: milling a carbonaceous material to form a milled carbonaceous material, wherein at least a portion of the milled carbonaceous material has no pozzolanic activity; combining the milled carbonaceous material with a cementitious material; contacting the cementitious material with an aggregate; contacting the cementitious material with water; and subjecting the carbonaceous material to pyrolysis.

Described herein are cementitious compositions comprising biochar and methods of making such compositions. The compositions find use in a variety of applications, including use in a variety of building materials and building applications.