Compositions and Methods of Biologically Cemented Structures for Marine Applications

Abstract

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods for biologically cemented structures. More particularly, the invention is directed to materials and methods for the farming of bivalves, such as oysters and clams, and also other marine and fresh water invertebrates such as sponges, and other commercially worthwhile sessile organisms. The kits, compositions, tools and methods of the invention are also applied to erosion control of beaches and underwater surfaces, for the formation of foundations such as footings for pier supports, marine walls and other desirable structures.

Claims

1. A fabric containing spores of urease-producing cells, urease-producing cells, and/or urease enzymes.

2. The fabric of claim 1, which is comprised of organic, inorganic, natural and/or artificial fibers.

3. The fabric of claim 1, which comprises burlap, hemp, wood and/or recycled organic material.

4. The fabric of claim 1, which comprises a plastic, a polymer and/or recycled inorganic material.

5. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the spores of urease-producing cells, urease-producing cells, and/or urease enzyme comprise or are derived from bacteria or another organism.

6. The fabric of claim 5, wherein the bacteria comprise Sporosarcina pasteurii, Sporosarcina ureae, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus megaterium, Myxococcus xanthus, Proteus mirabilis, Helicobacter pylori, or variants, serotypes, mutations or combinations thereof.

7. The fabric of claim 5, wherein bacteria are genetically modified.

8. The fabric of claim 5, which is stiffened with calcite and/or polymorphs of calcium carbonate.

9. The fabric of claim 1, which contains a coloring agent and/or an identifiable agent.

10. The fabric of claim 1, which contains sessile organisms.

11. The fabric of claim 10, wherein the sessile organisms are polyps or larval forms of coral, clams, oysters and/or sponges.

12. A method for the manufacture of a fabric that contains spores of urease-producing bacteria, comprising: providing a fabric; placing the fabric in an aqueous solution containing a nitrogen source and a calcium source; adding a culture of spores of urease-producing bacteria to the aqueous solution; and incubating the fabric with the aqueous solution containing the spores for a period of time to produce calcite within the fabric to create a desired level of fabric stiffness.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fabric comprises jute, hemp, sisal, burlap, paper, wood, plastic, a polymer, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the nitrogen source comprises urea or ammonia.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the calcium source comprises calcium chloride.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising culturing the fabric with sessile organisms before or after incubating.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sessile organisms are polyps or larval forms of clams, oysters, coral and/or sponges.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the fabric containing bacteria and sessile organisms is placed in a marine environment for a period of time to allow the sessile organisms to grow and develop.

19. A method of farming sessile organisms comprising: providing a fabric; placing the fabric in an aqueous solution containing a nitrogen source and a calcium source; adding a culture of spores of urease-producing bacteria to the aqueous solution; incubating the fabric with the aqueous solution containing the spores for a period of time; exposing the incubated fabric to polyps of the sessile organisms for a period of time to promote attachment of the polyps to the fabric; and placing the fabric in a marine environment for a period of time.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising collecting the fabric after the period of time and harvesting the sessile organisms.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sessile organisms are oysters or clams.

22. A kit for farming sessile organisms in a marine environment comprising a fabric impregnated with urease producing bacteria and polyps or larval forms of sessile organisms.

23. A method of erosion control or prevention comprising: providing a fabric; placing the fabric in an aqueous solution containing a urea source and a calcium source; adding a culture of spores of urease-producing bacteria to the aqueous solution; incubating the fabric with the aqueous solution containing the spores for a period of time to produce calcite within the fabric to create a desired level of fabric stiffness; placing the fabric on an object fully or partially or periodically underwater; and allowing the culture to produce calcite thereby controlling or preventing erosion of the object and/or the surrounding area.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the fabric contains natural and/or artificial fibers.

25. The method of 23, wherein surrounding area is a beach.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Generation of Semi-Flexible Burlap

[0030] Sheets of burlap of approximately 50 cm square are placed in a solution of Sporosarcina pasteurii spores at a uniform density of approximately 10-15k spores per milliliter. Within a short time, about 30 minutes, the spores adhere to the fibers of the sheets. The now spore impregnated sheets are immersed in a broth containing nutrient media plus a calcium source and a nitrogen source, and allowed to incubate for 6-8 hours a room temperature (about 20-22 C.). After culturing for about 1-2 hours, the spore-impregnated burlap sheets are removed allowed to dry. The dried burlap sheet is less flexible than untreated burlap, but still is sufficiently flexible to be placed over another solid structure.

Example 2

Growth and Recovery of Oysters

[0031] Burlap sheets prepared according to Example 1 are immersed in medium containing living oyster polyps for a period of from 1-2 hours with gentle rocking. The polyps impregnate the burlap to saturation and affix themselves to the fabric. The impregnated burlap is molded to rocks or other solid structures in a marine environment. After 8-12 months (prior to maturation), the burlap is harvested and oysters are removed from the burlap with 100% or near 100% recovery.

Example 3

Growth of Coral Polyps

[0032] Biocement fiber lattice structures prepared according to Example 1 are immersed in medium containing living coral polyps for a period of time, roughly 1-2 hours, with gentle rocking. The coral polyps impregnate the lattice structure to saturation and affix themselves. The impregnated structure is molded to existing reefs, rocks or other solid structures in a marine environment. After 8-12 months (prior to maturation), the structure becomes entombed with new reef growth.

Example 4

Generation of Semi-Flexible Structure for Shore-line Defense and Erosion Control

[0033] A woven burlap structure of approximately 50 feet in length is placed in a solution of Sporosarcina pasteurii spores at a uniform density of approximately 10-15k spores per milliliter. Within a short time, about 30 minutes, the spores adhere to the fibers of the burlap. The now spore impregnated rolls are immersed in a broth containing nutrient media plus a calcium source and a nitrogen source, and allowed to incubate for 6-8 hours at room temperature (about 20-22 C.). After culturing for about 1-2 hours, the spore-impregnated burlap sheets are removed and allowed to dry. The dried burlap sheet is less flexible than untreated burlap, but still sufficiently flexible to be molded to existing reefs, rocks, solid structures, or sediments in a marine environment where it continues to harden in the presence of seawater calcium and carbonate ions. Aquatic plants, polyps, and other marine biomes impregnate the burlap and affix themselves to the fabric where continued growth provides additional structural rigidity, density, and thickness. The resulting composite material serves to protect the underlying substrate from erosion and tidal forces.

[0034] Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. All references cited herein, including all publications, U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, are specifically and entirely incorporated by reference. The term comprising, where ever used, is intended to include the terms consisting and consisting essentially of. Furthermore, the terms comprising, including, and containing are not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only with the true scope and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims.