The Concrete Rainforest

How MgO  Ceramic Cement Sequesters Greenhouse Gases "Like a Rainforest"

At its 2007 conference in Paris the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report confirming what everyone already knew – that people are to blame for global warming. Of the total estimate for carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes in 2006, over 60 percent is attributed to cement manufacture. Which translate to about 12% of the total CO2 emissions worldwide. When a mineral calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is heated (calcined) in a kiln to at least above 825°C,(1517°F), even up to 1500°C, (2800°F), it is converted to lime (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The lime is combined with other materials to produce clinker (an intermediate product from which cement is made), and the carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere.

In 2006, the United States produced an estimated 101 million tons of cement,* resulting in the direct release of 50.5 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. This calculation is independent of the gases released by the combustion of fuels consumed in making cement, which can equal the amount produced by calcining.
Concrete is the principal building material in regions where wood is unavailable. Therefore, production of cement worldwide totaled 2.5 billion tons in 2006, and it is expected to increase.

Much like CaO, MgO starts out locked away in the earth with carbon dioxide (CO), but much less, (MgCO2). And is cooked out at nearly four times less(400-800°F) than the temperatures needed to extract CaO.
The real impact comes when the “cements” are mixed together.
When portland cement is mixed, about 33% of the CO2 , that is released in the kilns, is sequestered back into its “micro-crystal” formation during the curing period, that lasts upwards of 100 years.
When MgO Ceramic Cements are mixed, close to 200% of the CO2 that was released in the kilns is sequestered, during the curing period, lasting only 180 days. And even more is possible with the introduction of bio-mass (the best being Hemp), creating more minerals and space to “petrify”, sequestering even more CO2!

“Concrete RainForest”

During the last week in March 2007, research scientists and engineers from ten nations met in Barga, Italy to explore alternative technologies for stabilization and containment of radioactive materials. Despite the fact that the U.S. government has poured billions of dollars into vitrification programs – none of which are fully operational – this conference demonstrated growing scientific interest in more practical and economical technologies.
Many of the presentations given over the tightly scheduled four-day conference explored ceramic wasteforms and containment systems. Six presenters addressed ceramic cement technology now being developed by CeraLith in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and researchers at the Russian Federal Nuclear Center (VNIIEF) and Mayak. These stimulated considerable interest among scientists focused on the processing and disposal of radioactive waste materials.

Ceramic cement is the only proposed solution that offers an ambient temperature process providing micro- as well as macro-encapsulation of contaminants in a durable and non-leachable phosphate form. In addition to immobilization and encapsulation of wastes, ceramic cement can also provide a high-strength structural material that performs well in high-temperature, radioactive environments.

This patent covers the bio-adhesive inorganic compound crafted by Mr. Tom Lally, and two subsequent patents have been filed. The Company is now preparing for full FDA testing as a new product line, potentially to be labeled BoneAdhesive to differentiate it from the conventional product lines of bone fillers or bone cements. It’s strategy is to pursue 510 (k) approvals as a filler, then 510 (k) as a cement, a 510 (k) as an anchor, and 510 (k) as a dental cement. Boston Biomedical, LLC is the company’s regulatory/testing consultant.
The chemical composition is primarily MKP-Mono-potassium Phospate, MGO-Magnesium Oxide, and TCP -Tri-calcium Phosphate. Simply mixing with water, with no special mixing apparatus required, and the mixture has a set time is basically 10-15 minutes, which can be varied according to need. In a surgical setting, the physician can shape the precise bio-adhesive needed, or inject it into the patient. The mix can be paste-like for injection use, or can be putty like for shaped sizing. In testing, the adhesive qualities have been proven to attach ligaments and tendons to bone using the BSI solution. The Solution is bio-absorbable, non-toxic, and given its adhesive characteristics, can be a substitute for or augment the screws and other fasteners often used in knee, leg and shoulder surgery, and polymethylmethacrylate cements. Often these fasteners are not biodegradable. Since the Solution is also Ph neutral, it can also act as a delivery system for stem cells, growth hormones, protein and other biologics.