MX2010012947A

MX2010012947A - Rocks and aggregate, and methods of making and using the same.

Info

Publication number: MX2010012947A
Application number: MX2010012947A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Kasra Farsad; Andrew Youngs; Brent Constanz; James O'neil; Joshua Patterson; John Stagnaro; Ryan Thatcher; Chris Camire
Original assignee: Calera Corp
Priority date: 2008-05-29
Filing date: 2009-05-29
Publication date: 2011-04-27
Also published as: GB0911440D0; GB2461622A; IL209365A0; EP2240257A4; GB2461622B; KR20110033822A; JP2011521879A; WO2009146436A1; EP2240257A1

Abstract

Compositions comprising synthetic rock, e.g., aggregate, and methods of producing and using them are provided. The rock, e.g., aggregate, contains CO2 and/or other components of an industrial waste stream. The CO2 may be in the form of divalent cation carbonates, e.g., magnesium and calcium carbonates. Aspects of the invention include contacting a CO2 containing gaseous stream with a water to dissolve CO2, and placing the water under precipitation conditions sufficient to produce a carbonate containing precipitate product, e.g., a divalent cation carbonate.

Description

ROCKS AND AGGREGATES AND METHODS TO OBTAIN AND USE THEMSELVES CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED REQUESTS In accordance with the provisions of 35 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) § 119 (e), this application claims the priority of the filing dates of: Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 056,972 filed on May 29, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 101,626 filed on September 30, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 101,629 filed on September 30, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 101,631 filed on September 30, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 073,319 filed on June 17, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 081,299 filed on July 16, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 117,541 filed on November 24, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 117,543 filed on November 24, 2008; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 107,645 filed on October 22, 2008, Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 149,633 filed on February 3, 2009; Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 158,992 filed on March 10, 2009 and Provisional Application of E.U. No. 61 / 181,250 filed on May 26, 2009 whose sections are incorporated herein by reference. This application is a continuation in part of the Application with serial number 12 / 344,019, filed on December 24, 2008 which is incorporated in its entirety hereby as reference and whose request is claimed priority according to the 35 U.S.C. § 120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Carbon dioxide emissions (C02) have been identified as one of the major contributors to the phenomena of global warming and ocean acidification. C02 is a product derived from combustion and causes operational, economic and environmental problems. As expected, high atmospheric concentrations of C02 and other greenhouse gases facilitate greater heat storage in the atmosphere, which leads to higher surface temperatures and rapid climate change. The impact of climate change will be economically costly and dangerous for the environment. To potentially reduce climate change, it is required to sequester atmospheric CO 2.

SUMMARY In one aspect the invention provides compositions. In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing a C02 scavenger component. The C02 scavenger component may contain one or more carbonate compounds; in some embodiments the carbonate compounds constitute at least 50% by weight of the aggregate, or at least 90% by weight of the aggregate, or at least 98% by weight of the aggregate; optionally, the aggregate may also contain sulfate and / or sulphite, for example that the sulphate / sulphite combination constitutes at least 0-1% by weight of the aggregate. In some embodiments the carbonate compounds comprise magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and calcium or a combination thereof; in some of these modalities, the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the aggregate is 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/10 Ca / Mg, or 150/1 Ca / Mg to 10/1 Ca / Mg, or from 2/1 Ca / Mg to 1/2 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing a C02 scavenger component wherein the aggregate has a carbon isotope fractionation value (513C) more negative than (less than) -100 / oo, or more negative than -20 ° / 0? · In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing a sequestering component of C02 wherein the aggregate has a gross density of between 1201.5 and 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 and 125 pounds / ft3), or between 1441.8 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 and 115 pounds / ft3). In some embodiments, the invention provides a structure containing an aggregate with a C02 scavenger, for example one of the aggregates described in this paragraph. Some exemplary structures of the invention include a building, a road or a dam. In some modalities, the structure is a highway, for example a highway that hijacks at least 1000 kg (1 ton) of C02 for each 1.60 km (1 mile) of highway lane, or a highway that hijacks at least 100,000 kg (100 tons) of C02 for each 1.60 km of highway lane, or a highway that sequesters at least 1,000,000 kg (1000 tons) of C02 for every 1.60 km of highway lane.

In some embodiments the invention provides a carbon-containing aggregate in which the carbon has an isotopic fractionation value of carbon (513C) more negative (less than) -10 ° / oo, or more negative than -20 ° / 0o or more negative -30 ° / oo- In some of these embodiments, the aggregate contains carbonate, for example, at least 10% by weight of carbonate or at least 50% by weight of carbonate, - · the aggregate can additionally contain optionally a sulfate and / or a sulphite such as calcium or magnesium sulfate or sulphite and, in some cases the sulfate and sulfite combination comprises at least 0.1% by weight of the aggregate. In some embodiments containing carbonate, the carbonate includes calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and magnesium or a combination thereof; for example, calcium and magnesium may be present in a calcium: magnesium molar ratio between 200: 1 and 1: 2. In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing carbon wherein the coal has an isotopic fractionation value of carbon (513C) more negative (less than) -10 ° / oo, or more negative than -20 ° / 0o or more negative that -30 ° / 00 while the gross density of the aggregate is between 1201.5 and 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 and 125 lb / ft3), for example between 1441.8 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 and 115 lb / ft3). In some embodiments the invention provides a structure containing an aggregate with carbon wherein the carbon contains an isotopic fractionation value of carbon (513C) more negative (less than) -10 ° / oo, or more negative than -20 ° / oo or more negative than -30 ° / 0o; in some modalities the structure is a building, a road or a dam. In some modalities the structure is a highway.

In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing 90-99.9% carbonate, 0.1-10% sulfate and / or sulfite, in some embodiments the aggregate additionally contains 0.00000001-0.000001% mercury or a compound with mercury. In some embodiments the aggregate has a value of isotopic fractionation of carbon (513C) plus negative (less than) -10 ° / ?? · In some embodiments the aggregate has a gross density of between 1201.5 and 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 and 125 pounds / ft3), for example between 1441.8 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 and 115 pounds / ft3). In some embodiments the invention provides a structure containing an aggregate with 90-99.9% carbonate, 0.1-10% sulfate and / or sulfite, in some embodiments the aggregate additionally contains 0.00000001-0.000001% mercury or a compound with mercury; Exemplary structures include a building, a road or a dam. In some modalities the structure is a highway.

In another aspect the invention provides methods. In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for sequestering C02 comprising (i) precipitating a composition with C02 sequestering carbonate compound from water containing a divalent cation to form a precipitate; and (ii) producing an aggregate containing a composition with C02 sequestering carbonate compound; in some embodiments the method additionally includes contacting the water containing the divalent cation with the C02 from the industrial gaseous waste stream such as a gas pipe from a power plant or a cement plant, for example a gas pipe from an electric plant that works with coal; in some embodiments the method comprises contacting the water containing the divalent cation with C02 from the combustion of fossil fuel. In some embodiments the production of the aggregate comprises subjecting the precipitate to elevated temperatures, high pressure, or a combination of both, such as raising the temperature, raising the pressure and combining both by an extractor. In some embodiments, the divalent cations of the water that contains them come partly from salt water such as seawater, for example seawater. In some modalities in the production of the aggregate the production of a predetermined form and size of the aggregate is included.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method of manufacturing the aggregate by means of a process that includes the precipitation of a carbonate compound from water containing divalent cation and the processing of the precipitate to produce an aggregate, - in some embodiments the method includes additionally contacting the water containing divalent cation with C02 of the industrial gaseous waste stream such as a gas pipe from a power plant or from a cement plant, for example a gas pipe from a coal-fired power plant. In some embodiments, the method includes contacting the water containing divalent cation with C02 from the combustion of a fossil fuel such as natural gas or coal, for example coal. In some embodiments the processing of the precipitate includes treatment of the precipitate with a high temperature, high pressure or a combination of both. In some embodiments the processing of the precipitate comprises the combination of the precipitate with a cementitious material and water allowing the combination to settle to make the product a solidified material and additionally may include breaking the solidified material.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a system for producing an aggregate that includes (i) a water supply containing divalent cation; (ii) a precipitation station of the carbonate compound which subjects the water to the precipitation conditions of the carbonate compound and which produces a precipitated carbonate composition; and (iii) an aggregate producer that produces the aggregate from the precipitated carbonate compound composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows a flow chart of a precipitation process according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a scheme of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates exemplary aggregate structures and aggregate blends according to aspects of the present invention. 3A: cylinders; 3B: triangular prism; 3C mixture of waits and bridges; 3D: graduated spheres according to their empty spaces; 3E: mixture of prisms; 3F-3H cupped aggregate with tubular vacuum space; 3I-3L mixture of aggregates with different combinations of aggregates.

Figure 4 shows an X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the precipitated material produced in example 1.

Figure 5 shows a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the wet precipitation material produced in example 1.

Figure 6 shows a TGA of the dry precipitation material produced in example 1.

Figure 7 shows an infrared spectrum with Fourier transformation (FT-IR) of the precipitation material produced in example 1.

Figure 8 shows images obtained with an electron scanning microscope (SEM) of the precipitation material produced in example 1.

Figure 9 shows an XRD spectrum of the aggregate produced in example 2.

Figure 10 shows a FT-IR spectrum of the aggregate produced in example 2.

Figure 11 shows a TGA of the aggregate produced in example 2.

Figure 12 shows SEM images of the aggregate produced in example 2.

Figure 13 shows an XRD spectrum of the aggregate and related materials in Example 3.

Figure 14 shows a TGA of the aggregate produced in example 3.

Figure 15 shows SEM images of the aggregate and related materials in Example 3.

Figure 16 shows an XRD spectrum of the aggregate and related materials in Example 4.

Figure 17 'shows a TGA of the aggregate and related materials in Example 4.

Figure 18 shows SEM images of the aggregate in Example 4.

Figure 19 shows an XRD spectrum of the precipitation material produced in Example 6.

Figure 20 shows a TGA of the precipitation material produced in Example 6.

Figure 21 shows a FT-IR spectrum of the precipitation material produced in Example 6.

Figure 22 shows the SEM images of the precipitation material produced in example 6.

Figure 23 shows an XRD spectrum of the aggregate and related materials in Example 6.

Figure 24 shows an FT-IR spectrum of the aggregate and related materials in Example 6.

Figure 25 shows a TGA of the aggregate and related materials in Example 6.

Figure 26 shows SEM images of the aggregate of example 6.

Figure 27 presents a graphical illustration of the procedure for preparing a sample and the isotope measurement values of the carbon in the sample.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Introduction II. Compositions to. Synthetic rock and aggregates i. Aggregate and rock compositions ii. Making compositions of the invention b. Adjustable compositions c. Structures i. Roads III. Methods to. Aggregate manufacturing method b. Other methods IV. Systems V. Utility I. Introduction The invention provides compositions comprising synthetic rocks, aggregates and other materials, as well as structures and other materials found in artificial environments; additionally the invention provides systems and methods for doing business.

Before it is described in more detail, it is necessary to understand that this invention is not limited in particular to the described modalities but may vary. It should also be understood that the terminology used in this document is for the sole purpose of describing certain embodiments and is not limiting since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

When a range of values is provided it is understood that each intermediate value, from one tenth of the lower limit unit, unless otherwise indicated in the context, between the upper and lower limits of that range and any other established value or intervening in that aforementioned interval, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of small intervals can be included independently in the small ranges and are also included within the invention, being subject to any specific limit excluded within the established range. When the set interval includes one or both of the limits, the ranges that exclude both or both of the included limits are also included within the invention.

Some intervals that are presented in this document with numerical values preceded by the term "around". This term is used in this document as literal support of the exact number to which it precedes as well as for the number near or approximate to the number that the term precedes. When determining whether a number is close or approximate to a specific number of a numbering, the near or approximate number that is not numbered may be a number that, in the context in which it is presented, provides a substantial equivalent of the specific number of a number. numeration.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this document have the same common meaning as is understood by a person who has no prior art skills to which this invention pertains. If not stated otherwise or is evident in the context, the percentages indicated in the document are weight / weight. Although some methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described in the document can also be used in the practice or tests of the present invention, representative illustrative methods and materials are described.

All publications and patents cited in this description are incorporated herein by reference as well as each publication or patent individually were specifically and individually incorporated by reference and are incorporated in this document as a reference to reveal and describe the methods and / or materials that are related to what is cited in the publications. The mention of any publication is as a disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to anticipate such publication by virtue of a prior invention. Additionally, the publication data may be different from the actual publication dates so they may need to be confirmed independently.

It is noted that in this document and in the appended claims the use of the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include references in plural form, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally it is notified that the claims may be inclined to exclude some optional element. Also this statement has. the intention to serve as an antecedent for the use of exclusive terminology such as "only", "only" and the like that are related to the elements of the claims cited, or the use of a "negative" limitation.

It is apparent that to those skilled in the art, each individual embodiment described and illustrated in this document has discrete components and features that may be separated or combined with the characteristics of any other of the various embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. . Any method mentioned can be carried out in the order of the aforementioned events or in any other logically possible order.

II. Compositions A. Synthetic rocks and aggregates In some embodiments, the invention provides a synthetic rock that is made without chemical binders. In some embodiments, the invention provides aggregates such as, for example, the aggregate containing C02 sequestered from the industrial gaseous waste stream, and / or an aggregate of certain composition such as the aggregates containing carbonate and / or bicarbonate of minerals, aggregates of certain isotopic composition (often indicative of fossil fuel), aggregates of certain chemical composition, aggregates containing novel minerals, aggregates with certain fracture characteristics, lightweight aggregates and sets of customized aggregates. The invention further provides established compositions and structures such as roads, buildings, dams and other man-made structures containing synthetic rock or aggregates of the invention.

The term "aggregate" is used in this document as is accepted in the art to include a particular composition that has a use as concrete, mortar and other materials, for example, pavements, asphalts and other structures and that is suitable for use in said structures. The aggregates of the invention are particular compositions that can be classified, in some embodiments, as fine or coarse. The fine aggregates according to the embodiment of the invention are particular compositions that pass almost completely through a sieve number 4 (ASTM C 125 and ASTM C 33). The coarse aggregate compositions according to some embodiments of the invention are compositions having an average particle size between 0.0025 to 0.0625 cm (0.001 to 0.25 inches), such as 0.13 to 0.32 cm (0.05 to 0.125 inches) including 0.2 cm (0.08 inches). The coarse aggregates of the invention are compositions that are predominantly retained in a No. 4 sieve (ASTM C 125 and ASTM C 33). The coarse aggregate compositions according to the embodiments of the invention are compositions having an average particle size between 0.003175 and 0.1524 meters (0.125 and 6 inches), such as 0.0047498 to 0.0762 meters (0.187 to 3 inches), including 0.0063 to 0.0254 meters (0.25 to 1.0 inches). In this document, the use of "aggregate" in certain modalities also includes larger sizes such as 0.0762 to 0.3048 meters (3 to 12 inches) and even 0.0762 to 0.6096 meters (3 to 24 inches) or greater, such as 0.3048 to 1.2192 meters. (12 to 48 inches), or greater than 1.2192 meters (48 inches), for example the sizes used in breakwaters and the like. In some modalities those structures resistant to ocean waves can have sizes even greater than 1.2191 meters (48 inches), for example more than 1,524 meters (60 inches) or more than 1.8288 meters (72 inches). 1. Aggregates and Rocky Compositions The compositions of the invention can be made by synthetic methods, described herein, which allow great control over the properties of the compositions. The important properties of the compositions may include one or more of the following: hardness, abrasion resistance, density, porosity, chemical composition, mineral composition, isotopic composition, shape, size, acid resistance, alkaline resistance, leachable chlorine content , C02 retention, reactivity (or lack of it), which will be described in more detail in this document. In some embodiments one or more of these properties such as two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more may be specifically designed to obtain a composition of the invention, for example an aggregate.

The aggregates of the invention may have a density that can vary so much that the aggregate provides the desired properties for the use in which it is to be used, for example for the material of the building in which it is used. In certain cases the density of the aggregate particles vary between 1100 to 5000 kg / m3 (ll to 5 gm / cc), such as 1300 to 3150 kg / m3 (1.3 to 3.15 gm / cc) including 1800 to 2700 kg / m3, from 1800 to 2700 kg / m3 (1.8 to 2.7 gm / cc). Other particle densities in some embodiments of the invention such as lightweight aggregates, can vary between 1100 to 2200 kg / m3 (1.1 to 2.2 gm / cc), such as 1200 to 2000 kg / m3 (1.2 to 2.0 gg / cc) ) or 1400 to 1800 kg / m3 (1.4 to 1.8 gg / cc). In some embodiments, the invention provides aggregates that vary in gross density (unit weight) from 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 pounds / foot3), or 1201.5 to 2803.5 kg / m3 (75 to 175 pounds / foot3), or 801 to 1602 kg / m3 (50 to 100 pounds / foot3), or 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 pounds / foot3), or 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 to 115 pounds / foot3), or 1602 to 3204 kg / m3 (100 to 200 lb / ft3), or 2002.5 to 2803.5 kg / m3 (125 to 175 lb / ft3), or 2242.79 to 2563.2 kg / m3 (140 to 160 lb / ft3), or 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 pounds / ft3). Some embodiments of the invention provide a light weight aggregate such as an aggregate having a gross density (unit weight) of 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 pounds / ft3). Some embodiments of the invention provide a lightweight aggregate having a gross density (weight unit) of 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 to 115 pounds / ft3).

The hardness of the particles of the aggregate can cause that the compositions of the aggregate of the invention can also vary and, in certain cases, the hardness expressed in scale ohs ranges between 1.0 and 9, as of 1 to 7, including 1 to 6 or 1 5. In some embodiments, the Mohs hardness of the aggregates of the invention ranges from 2-5 or between 2-4. In some modalities, the Mohs hardness ranges from 2-6. Other hardness scales can be used to characterize the aggregate as the Rockwell, Vickers or Brinell scales and values equivalent to those of the Mohs scale can also be used to characterize the aggregates of the invention, for example in the Vickers scale the degree of hardness of 250 corresponds to the value of 3 in the one of Mohs; the conversions between the scales are known in the art.

The abrasion resistance of an aggregate can also be important, for example to be used on the surface of a road where high abrasion resistance aggregates are useful for keeping surfaces shiny without polishing. The resistance to abrasion is related to the hardness but it is not the same. Aggregates of the invention include aggregates having an abrasion resistance similar to that of natural limestone as well as those having a lower abrasion resistance than those of natural limestone measured by methods accepted in the art such as ASTM C131-03. In some embodiments the aggregates of the invention have an abrasion resistance of less than 50%, or less than 40%, or less than 35%, or less than 30%, or less than 25%, or less than 20%, or less than 15%, or less than 10%, measured by ASTM C131-03.

The aggregates of the invention may have a porosity that also varies within particular ranges. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in some cases a highly porous aggregate is desired, in others, an aggregate of medium porosity and in other aggregates of low porosity or without porosity is what is desired. The porosity of the aggregates of some embodiments of the invention, measured by water absorption after oven drying followed by total immersion for 60 minutes and expressed as% dry weight, may be in the range of 1-40% such as 2-20%, 2-15% including 2-10% or even 3-9%.

The chemical, mineral and / or isotopic composition of the aggregates of the invention varies depending on the processing methods, the raw materials and the like. In some embodiments some or all of the carbonate compounds are metastable carbonate compounds that precipitate from water such as, for example, salt water, as described in more detail below; in some embodiments these metastable compounds are further processed to provide stable compounds in the aggregates of the invention.

Carbonate compounds in the embodiments of the invention include crystalline and / or amorphous precipitates of carbonate compounds and in some embodiments bicarbonate compounds. Specific carbonate minerals of interest include, but are not limited to: calcium carbonate minerals, magnesium carbonate minerals, and magnesium carbonate minerals. The calcium carbonate minerals of interest include but are not limited to: calcite (CaC03), aragonite (CaC03), vaterite (CaC03), ikaita (CaC03 »6H20) and amorphous calcium carbonate (CaC03« nH20). The magnesium carbonate minerals of interest include but are not limited to: dipingite (Mg5 (C03) 4 (OH) 2 · 5 (H20); the term dipingite in this document includes the dipingite minerals of this formula, magnesite (MgC03) ), barringtonite (MgC03 »2H20), nesquehonite (gC03« 3H20), lanfordite (MgC03 »5H20) and amorphous calcium magnesium carbonate (MgC03 * nH20) The calcium and magnesium carbonate minerals of interest include but are limited a: dolomite (CaMgC03), huntite (Ca g (C03) 4) and sergeevite (Ca2Mgn (C03)? 3? 20) In some embodiments, noncarbonate compounds such as brucite Mg (OH) 2 can be formed in combination with the Minerals from the above list As indicated above, carbonate compounds can be metastable (and may include one or more metastable hydroxide compounds) that are more stable in salt water than in fresh water such that in contact with fresh water it is dissolve and re-precipitate into other compounds freshwater such as minerals such as calcite low in magnesium.

In some embodiments, the aggregates of the invention are formed, in whole or in part, from metastable compounds such as those described herein that have been exposed to fresh water and that hardening is allowed in stable compounds that can be processed afterwards. , if necessary, to form particles appropriate to the type of aggregate desired. In some embodiments, the aggregates of the invention are formed from metastable compounds exposed to temperature and / or pressure conditions that convert them into stable compounds.

In some embodiments, silica minerals may be present in conjunction with carbonate compounds to form carbonate-silicate compounds. These compounds may be amorphous or crystalline in nature.

In some embodiments, silica may be in the form of opal-A, amorphous silica typically found in quartz rocks. Amorphous compounds of calcium magnesium silicate carbonate can be formed within the crystalline regions of the carbonate minerals mentioned above. Silicate minerals without carbonate can also be formed. Sepiolite is a clay mineral, a complex magnesium silicate whose general formula is g4SiOi5 (OH) 2 · 6? 20. It can be present in fine particles, fibrous and solid forms. Silicate carbonate minerals can also be formed. Under these conditions can be formed the carletonite KNa4Ca4 (C03) 4Si8018 (F, OH) - H20), potassium carbonate silicate, sodium and calcium hydrate. Like any member of the phyllosilicates subclass, the structure of the carletonite is layered alternating silicate sheets with layers of potassium, sodium and calcium. Unlike other phyllosilicates, the silicate sheets of the carletonite are composed of rings of four and eight members coned together. The leaves can be considered as if they were wire mesh with alternating holes in octagonal and square shapes. Both the octagons and the squares have a symmetry of four folds which gives the carletonite a tetragonal symmetry; 4 / m 2 / m 2 / m. Only the carletonite and other members of the apophyllite group possess this unique structure of four- and eight-member rings connected together.

The carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds of the aggregates of the invention are generally derived from, for example, precipitates formed from an aqueous solution of divalent cations (as described in more detail below). As the carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds of the aggregates are precipitated from an aqueous solution of divalent cations, they will include one or more compounds present in the solution from which they are derived. For example, if the aqueous solution of divalent cations is salt water, the carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds and aggregates including the same may contain one or more compounds found in the original aqueous cation solution. These compounds can be correlated with components that are formed in the original cation aqueous solution, wherein the identification of these compounds and the amounts thereof will collectively be referred to herein as the source identifier of the cation solution. For example, the source of the cation solution is seawater, the identification of compounds that may be present in the precipitated mineral compositions include but are not limited to: chlorine, sodium, sulfur, potassium, bromine, silicon, strontium and the Similar.

Any of these "marker" elements or source identifiers are generally present in small amounts, for example in amounts of 20,000 parts per million (ppm) or less, such as 2000 ppm or less. In some embodiments, the "label" compound is strontium which may be present in the precipitated composition comprising carbonates and / or bicarbonates. Strontium can be incorporated into the aragonite mesh (calcium carbonate) in amounts of 10,000 ppm or less, in some embodiments from 3 to 10,000 ppm such as 5 to 5,000 ppm, including 5 to 1,000 ppm or 5 to 500 ppm, including 5 to 100 ppm. Another "marker" compound is magnesium that may be present in amounts of up to 20% molar calcium substitution in carbonate compounds. The source identifier of the aqueous solution of cations of the compositions may vary depending in particular on the source of the aqueous solution of cations used to produce the precipitated composition derived from salt water comprising carbonates and / or bicarbonates. In some embodiments, the content of calcium carbonate in the aggregate is 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% by weight or higher such as 30% by weight or higher, including 40% by weight or more, for example 50% by weight and even 60% or higher, 70% or higher, 80% or higher, 90% or higher or 95% or higher. In some embodiments, the content of magnesium carbonate in the aggregate is 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% by weight or higher such as 30% by weight or greater, including 40% by weight or more, for example 50% by weight and even 60% or higher, 70% or higher, 80% or higher, 90% or higher or 95% or higher.

In certain embodiments the aggregate contains a calcium / magnesium ratio that is influenced by and therefore reflects the source of water from which it has precipitated, for example seawater containing more magnesium than calcium or for example certain brines with 100 times the calcium content such as seawater; the calcium / magnesium ratio also reflects factors such as the addition of substances containing calcium and / or magnesium during the production process, for example the use of fly ash, red mud, slag or other industrial waste containing calcium and / or magnesium; or the use of minerals containing calcium and / or magnesium as mafic or ultramafic minerals such as serpentine, olivine and the like as described herein or wolanstonite. Due to the large variation of raw materials as well as of materials added during production, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio can vary widely in several of the embodiments of the compositions and methods of the invention, in fact, in some modalities, the relationship can be adjusted according to the intended use of the aggregate. Thus, in certain modalities, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio of the aggregate varies from 200/1 Ca / Mg to 1/200 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 1/100 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 1/50 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 1/10 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 1/5 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 1/1 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 5/1 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 150/1 Ca / Mg to 10/1 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 100/1 Ca / Mg to 10/1 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/100 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/50 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/25 Ca / Mg. In some modalities the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies. from 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/10 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/8 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 1/1 Ca / Mg to 1/5 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 10/1 Ca / Mg to 1/10 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 8/1 Ca / Mg to 1/8 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 6/1 Ca / Mg to 1/6 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 4/1 Ca / Mg to 1/4 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments, the calcium / magnesium molar ratio varies from 2/1 Ca / Mg to 1/2 Ca / Mg. In some embodiments the calcium / magnesium molar ratio is 20/1 or higher such as 50/1 or higher, for example 100/1 or higher, or even 150/1 or higher. In some embodiments the calcium / magnesium molar ratio is 1/10 or less such as 1/25 or less, for example 1/50 or less, or even 1/100 or less. In some embodiments, the Ca / Mg molar ratio varies from 2/1 to 1/2, 3/2 to 2/3 or 5/4 to 4/5. In some embodiments, the Ca / Mg molar ratio varies from 1/7 to 200/1, 1/15 to 12/10, 1/10 to 5/1, 1/7 to 1/2 or 1/9 to 2/5 . In some embodiments, the Ca / Mg molar ratio varies from 1/200 to 1/7, 1/70 to 1/7 or 1/65 to 1/40. In some embodiments, the Ca / Mg molar ratio varies from 1/10 to 50/1, 1/5 to 45/1, 1/6 to 6/1, 6/5 to 45/1, 1/4 to 11/3 or 13/2 to 19/2. In some embodiments the Ca / Mg ratio is 1/3 to 3/1 or 1/2 to 2/1. In some embodiments, the Ca / Mg ratio is 2/1 for all calcium, 3/1 to 200/1, 5/1 to 200/1 or 10/1 to 200/1.

In some embodiments, aggregates are provided wherein the compositions contain carbonates and bicarbonates, for example divalent cations such as calcium or magnesium; in some cases the aggregate contains substantially only carbonates or substantially only bicarbonates or some carbonate / bicarbonate ratio. The molar ratio of carbonates / bicarbonates can be any suitable range such as 100/1 to 1/100, 50/1 to 1/50, 25/1 to 1/25, 10/1 to 1/10, 2/1 to 1 / 2 or 1/1, or substantially only carbonate or substantially only bicarbonate. In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing calcium or magnesium carbonates and / or bicarbonates or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate containing only calcium or magnesium carbonates or combinations thereof without containing bicarbonate or containing only traces of bicarbonate. Other embodiments provide an aggregate that is composed solely of calcium or magnesium bicarbonates or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the aggregate is characterized as having a carbonate / hydroxide compound ratio where, in some embodiments, it varies from 100 to 1 such as 10 to 1 and 1 to 1.

When silicon is present, the calcium / magnesium to silicon ratio can vary from 100: 1 to 1: 1 such as 50: 1 to 10: 1.

Additionally, the aggregates of the invention may include or exclude substances such as chlorine. These substances are considered undesirable for some uses, for example chlorine is undesirable in aggregates intended for use in concrete due to its tendency to corrode rebar. However, for some uses such as the low course of a road, an aggregate that contains chlorine can be accepted. The methods for making aggregates in the invention may include one or more steps to minimize the chlorine and / or sodium content in the aggregate if the chlorine is a component of the starting materials; in some modalities that step or steps are not necessary when the intended use of the aggregate is relatively insensitive to the content of these materials. Thus, in some embodiments, the leachable chlorine content of the aggregates of the invention is less than 5%. In some embodiments, the leachable chlorine content of the aggregate varies between 0.0001% and 0.05%. In some modalities, the leachable chlorine content is less than 0.05%, in others it is less than 0.1% and in others it is less than 0.5%.

In some embodiments the aggregates of the invention are formed from C02 and, in some cases, other elements or compounds having a specific isotopic composition for example an isotopic composition consistent with an origin in a fossil fuel as described below.

The aggregate of the invention may have a size or shape appropriate to the use it will have in particular, as will be described later. As some aggregates are synthetic, both size and shape can be controlled almost completely allowing a large variety of specific aggregates as well as admixtures of aggregates, which will be described later. In some embodiments, the invention may provide a coarse aggregate, for example compositions that are predominantly retained in a number 4 mesh (ASTM C 125 and ASTM C 33). Coarse aggregate compositions according to certain embodiments of the invention are compositions having an average particle size ranging between 0.00635 and 0.1524 meters (0.125 and 6 inches) such as 0.0047498 to 0.0762 meters (0.187 to 3 inches) or 0.00635 to 0.0254 meters (0.25 to 1.0 inches). The fine aggregate compositions according to some embodiments of the invention have an average particle size ranging between 0.0000254 and 0.00635 meters (0.001 and 0.25 inches) such as 0.00127 to 0.003175 meters (0.05 to 0.125 inches) or 0.00254 to 0.002032 meters. (0.01 to 0.08 inches).

The aggregates of the invention can be reactive or non-reactive. The reactive aggregates are those particles of the aggregate that react with the components (for example compounds) of other aggregate particles when in contact with a certain substance (for example water) and which form a reaction product. In some cases, the product of the reaction may be a matrix between the aggregate particles forming a stable structure. In other cases the formed matrix can be an expansive gel that can destabilize the mass, depending on the environment; in some cases where there is room for the expansive gel to expand, for example an aggregate that is considered part of the fill, with empty spaces, a reactive aggregate of this type is acceptable. The aggregate of the invention may also be non-reactive.

Also in some cases the invention provides aggregates that are resistant to acids, bases or both. For example, in some cases, the invention provides aggregates that, when exposed to a pH of 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on the desired test (for example a solution of H2S04 diluted to a pH of 2, 3, 4 or 5), release less 1, 0.1, 0.01 or 0.001% of the C02 contained in the aggregate in a 48-hour period, or a one-week period, or a 25-week period while remaining intact and retaining a portion or substantially all the hardness, resistance to abrasion and the like. Similar results can be obtained with aggregates of the invention that are resistant to bases, for example when being exposed to pH 12, 11, 10 or 9 less than 1, 0.1, 0.01 or 0.001% of C02 is released in a period of 48 hours. , 1 week, 5 weeks or 25 weeks, also remains intact and retains a portion or substantially all of its hardness, resistance to abrasion and the like. The C02 content of the material can be monitored by colorimetry or any other appropriate method.

In some embodiments, the invention provides stable aggregates to the release of C02 as described below.

In some embodiments, the aggregates of the invention are aggregates that sequester one or more components of man-made waste, typically the industrial waste stream including, but not limited to, gaseous components. Generally one or more of the components sequestered by the aggregates are components that are not desired to be released to the atmosphere or the environment. For example, for a waste stream of combustion gases, undesirable components include C02, CO, sulfur oxides (S0X as S02 and S03), nitrogen oxides (NOx as NO and N02), heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead and / or others known in the art, particles, radioactive substances, organic compounds and other unwanted components such as, for example, any component regulated by the government or regulatory agencies.

In some particular embodiments, the invention includes C02 hijacker aggregates. The term "C02 hijacker aggregate" in this document includes that the aggregate contains carbon derived from a fuel used by man as carbon from a fossil fuel. For example, the C02 scavenger aggregate according to embodiments of the present invention contains carbon that was released in the form of CO 2 from fuel combustion. In certain embodiments, the carbon sequestered in the C02 scavenger aggregate contains carbonate compounds. Thus, the C02 scavenger aggregate according to the embodiments of the present invention contains carbonate compounds wherein at least a part of the carbon in the carbonate compounds is derived from a fuel used by man as the fossil fuel. As such, the production of the aggregate of the invention results in obtaining stable C02 for storage, for example a component that can be used in various ways in the construction environment ie in man-made structures such as buildings, walls, roads, etc., and even be transported to a fossil fuel source such as a coal mine and store it there. In the same way, the production of the C02 sequestering aggregate of the invention prevents the entry of gaseous C02 into the atmosphere.

The C02 scavenger aggregate of the invention provides a long-term storage of C02 so that C02 is sequestered or fixed in the aggregate and thus is not part of the atmosphere. The term "long-term storage" includes that the aggregate of the invention maintains the sequestration of the C02 fixed for long periods of time (when the aggregate is kept under the conventional conditions of use) without there being a significant release, in its case, of C02 from the aggregate. In the context of the invention, long periods of time may refer to 1 year or more, 5 years or more, 10 years or more, 25 years or more, 50 years or more, 100 years or more, 250 years or more, 1000 years or more, 10,000 years or more, 1,000,000 years or more and even 100,000,000 years or more depending on the particular nature and uses derived from the aggregate. With respect to the C02 sequestering aggregate when used as intended and throughout its useful life, the amount of degradation, if any, measured in terms of CO2 gas released from the product, shall not exceed 10% per year, for example, it will not exceed 5% / year and in certain modalities it will not exceed 1% / year and even 0.5% / year or 0.1% / year.

Aggregate tests can be used as indirect indicators of the aggregate's long-term storage capacity. Any evidence accepted in the art or any test reasonably adequate to predict the long-term storage of C02 in a material under the conditions indicated for use may be used, for example any test that reasonably predicts that the composition maintains a significant fraction or in its entirety of fixed C02 for a certain amount of time. For example, the aggregate can be considered as a long-term C02 hijacker aggregate if it loses less than 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% or 50% of carbon at be exposed to a relative humidity of between 10 and 50%, temperatures of 50, 75, 90, 100, 120 or 150 ° C for 1, 2, 5, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 500 days. The conditions of the test are chosen according to the intended use and the environment of the material. The C02 content of the material can be monitored by any appropriate method such as coulometry.

To verify that the material is a C02 sequestrant such as carbon dioxide-containing material produced in fossil fuel combustion, tests such as isotopic measurements (measurement of 613C values) or carbon coulometry can be used; any other method suitable for verification may also be used such as measuring the presence of carbonates in the composition and / or the percentage of carbonates within the composition.

Thus, in some embodiments, the invention provides a composition comprising a C02 scavenger aggregate. The aggregate may be precipitated from water containing a divalent cation such as for example water containing an alkaline earth metal ion such as salt water which may be seawater or a geological brine or derivative thereof. Water containing divalent cations may contain C02 derived from an industrial process such as that obtained from the industrial gaseous waste stream that is later converted into a carbonate that will be contained in the aggregate. Thus, in some modalities the aggregates have a value of 513C which is a reflection of the fact that it comes from a fossil fuel, as will be described later. The C02 scavenger aggregate may contain calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium and magnesium carbonate or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the aggregate contains at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% carbonate. In some embodiments, the aggregate contains at least 50% carbonate. The molar ratio Ca / Mg of some modalities can be from 1/10 to 1/3 or 1/3 to 3/1 or 10/1 to 100/1 or about 1/1. The C02 sequestering aggregate can contain any of the minerals mentioned in this document as calcite, nesquehonita, aragonita, dipingita in the percentages indicated. Said aggregates may also have the properties described herein as size, shape, density, reactivity and the like. For example, in some embodiments said aggregates may have a hardness of at least 2 or 3 on the Mohs hardness scale or its equivalent. In some embodiments said aggregates may have a gross density of 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 pounds / foot3) or 1201.5 to 2803.5 kg / m3 (75 to 175 pounds / foot3) or 801 to 1602 kg / m3 (50 to 100 lbs / ft3) or 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 lbs / ft3) or 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 to 115 lbs / ft3) or 1602 to 3204 kg / m3 (100 to 200 lbs / ft3) or 2002.5 to 2803.5 kg / m3 (125 to 175 lb / ft3) or 2242.79 to 2563.2 kg / m3 (140 to 160 lb / ft3) or 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 lb / ft3). In some embodiments said aggregates have a gross density (unit weight) of 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 pounds / foot3). In some embodiments said aggregates have a gross density (unit weight) of 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 to 115 pounds / ft3). In some modalities said aggregates are coarse aggregates. In some modalities said aggregates are fine aggregates. Said aggregates may have Ca / Mg ratios, crystalline and polymorphic structures, porosity, reactivity or lack thereof, stability to the release of C02 and / or any other characteristic described herein.

In some embodiments the aggregates of the invention will contain carbon from fossil fuel; due to its origin of a fossil fuel, the value of the isotopic coal fractionation (513C) of said aggregate will be different from that obtained, for example, from limestone. As is known in the art, the plants from which fossil fuels are derived preferably use 12C above 13C, so that the fractionation of the carbon isotopes causes the value of their ratio to differ from that in the general atmosphere.; this value, in comparison with the standard value (PeeDee Belemnite or PDB standard), is called the coal isotope fractionation value (513C). The 513C values for coal are generally in a range of -30 to -20 ° / 0o and the 513C values for methane can be as low as -20 to -40 ° / oo and even -40 to -80 ° / oo- The 513C values for atmospheric C02 are -10 to -7 ° / oo / for limestone aggregates are +3 to -3 ° / 0o and for marine bicarbonate, 0 ° / oo- Even if the aggregate contains a bit of natural limestone or some other carbon source with a less negative value than the 513C value of the fossil fuel, its value 513C in general will remain a negative, or negative value (less than) for the stone limestone or the atmospheric C02. The aggregates of the invention therefore include aggregates with values of 513C more negative (less than) of -10 ° / oo such as much more negative than (less than) -12 ° / oo, -14 ° / oo, -16 ° / oo, -18 ° / oo, -20 ° / oo, -22 ° / oo, -24 ° / oo, -26 ° / oo, -28 ° / 0o or much more negative (less than) -30 ° / ?? · In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -10 ° / oo-In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -14 ° / oo- In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -18 ° / oo- In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 613C more negative than (less than) -20 ° / oo- In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -24 ° / oo- In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -28 ° / oo- In some embodiments m The invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -30 ° / oo- In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 513C more negative than (less than) -32 ° / oo- In some embodiments the invention provides an aggregate with a 613C more negative than (less than) -34 ° / oo- Such aggregates can be aggregates containing carbonate as described above as aggregates containing at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% carbonate such as at least 50% by weight carbonate. Said aggregates may additionally have properties described herein as size, shape, density, reactivity and the like. For example in some embodiments said aggregates may have a hardness of at least 2 or 3 on the hardness scale of ohs or the equivalent. In some embodiments said aggregates may have a gross density of 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 pounds / foot3) or 1201.5 to 2803.5 kg / m3 (75 to 175 pounds / foot3) or 801 to 1602 kg / m3 (50 to 100 lbs / ft3) or 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 lbs / ft3) or 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 to 115 lbs / ft3) or 1602 to 3204 kg / m3 (100 to 200 lbs / ft3) or 2002.5 to 2803.5 kg / m3 (125 to 175 lb / ft3) or 2242.79 to 2563.2 kg / m3 (140 to 160 lb / ft3) or 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 lb / ft3). In some embodiments said aggregates have a gross density (unit weight) of 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 pounds / foot3). In some embodiments said aggregates have a gross density (unit weight) of 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 to 115 pounds / ft3). In some modalities said aggregates are coarse aggregates. In some modalities said aggregates are fine aggregates. These aggregates can have Ca / Mg ratios, crystalline and polymorphic structures, porosity, reactivity or lack of. the same, stability to the release of C02 and / or any other characteristic described in this document.

In some embodiments, the aggregate of the invention is a carbon-negative aggregate and the aggregate production methods are carbon-negative methods. The term "carbon-negative" as used herein includes the meaning that the amount by weight of C02 that is sequestered (for example by the conversion of CO 2 into carbonate) by the practice of the methods or in a composition obtained by a method, is greater than the amount of C02 that is generated (for example by energy production, production or extraction of reagents such as base, transport and other parts of the production of the product that produces C02) for the practice of the methods or to obtain the product in its final form ready for use and which can be expressed as a percentage as shown in the following equation: % of negative carbon = (amount of C02 captured amount of C02 spent in the catch) / amount of C02 captured) x 100 Thus, a product that captures carbon dioxide while spending non-carbon dioxide in the capture process is 100% carbon negative. In some cases, the products or processes of the invention are 1 to 100% negative carbon, such as 5 to 100%, including 10 to 95%, 10 to 90%, 10 to 80%, 10 to 70%, 10 to 60%, 10 to 50%, 10 to 40%, 10 to 30%, 10 a 20%, 20 to 95%, 20 to 90%, 20 to 80%, 20 to 70%, 20 to 60%, 20 a 50%, 20 to 40%, 20 to 30%, 30 to 95%, 30 to 90%, 30 to 80%, 30 a 70%, 30 to 60%,. 30 to 50%, 30 to 40%, 40 to 95%, 40 to 90%, 40 a 80%, 40 to 70%, 40 to 60%, 40 to 50%, 50 to 95%, 50 to 90%, 50 to 80%, 50 to 70%, 50 to 60%, 60 to 95%, 60 a 90%, 60 to 80%, 60 to 70%, 70 to 95%, 70 to 90%, 70 to 80%, 80 to 95%, 80 to 90% and 90 to 95% negative carbon. In some cases, the products or processes of the invention are at least 5% negative carbon or at least 10% negative carbon or at least 20% negative carbon or at least 30% negative carbon or at least 40% negative carbon or at least 50% negative carbon or at least 60% negative carbon or at least 70% negative carbon or at least 80% negative carbon or at least 90% carbon negative. In general, negative carbon methods are described in more detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 344,019 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Aggregates of the invention in some embodiments may also include other components that are sequestered, for example in industrial waste gases, as described above. Accordingly, in some embodiments in addition to containing carbonates such as sequestered C02, the aggregates of the invention may include one or more substances that are and / or are derived from the following compounds or elements: CO, sulfur oxides (SOx as S02 and S03), nitrogen oxides (NOx such as NO and N02), heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead and / or others that are recognized in the art, particles, radioactive substances and organic compounds. Thus the invention includes aggregates which, in addition to the sequestering component of C02 as a carbonate, contain a component derived from S0X such as a sulphite or a sulfate for example calcium or magnesium sulfate or sulphite or a combination of calcium sulfate or sulphites and magnesium. In some embodiments, the invention provides aggregates containing carbonate compounds derived from C02 and sulfate and / or sulfite compounds derived from S0X wherein the molar ratio of carbonates to sulphites / sulfites (combined if both are present) is 200: 1 to 10: 1 as between 150: 1 and 20: 1 or 120: 1 and 80: 1. In some embodiments, the invention provides aggregates containing carbonate compounds derived from C02 and sulfur and / or sulphite compounds derived from SOx wherein the carbonates constitute 20-99% of the aggregate and the sulfate / sulfite compounds constitute 0.01-5% of the aggregate , for example an aggregate composed of 50-99% carbonates and 0.1-3% sulphate / sulphite compounds or an aggregate composed of 85-99% carbonates and 0.2-2% sulphate / sulfite compounds. In some modalities, the invention provides aggregates containing carbonate compounds and sulfate and / or sulfite compounds wherein the molar ratio of carbonates to sulfate / sulfite (combined if both are present) is 200: 1 to 10: 1 as between 150: 1 and 20: 1 or 120: 1 and 80: 1. In some embodiments, the invention includes aggregates which in addition to carbonate compounds or their derivatives and optionally a sulfate or sulfite derived from SOx, further contain a heavy metal such as mercury or a heavy metal derivative compound. In these embodiments, the aggregate may contain carbonate and mercuric compounds in a molar ratio between carbonate and mercapto compounds of 5xl09: l to 5xl08: l as 2xl09: l to 5xl08: l. In some embodiments the aggregates of the invention include a component derived from C02, a component derived from S0X and a component derived from mercury and optionally a component derived from NOx.

In some embodiments, the aggregate of the invention contains at least one of: a calcium carbonate compound, a magnesium carbonate compound, and a calcium magnesium carbonate compound. The molar ratio between calcium and magnesium of the aggregate can be any of those described herein, for example for magnesium: calcium ranges from 7: 1 to 2: 1; 2: 1 to 1: 2 or 1:10 to 1: 200 depending on the starting materials, manufacturing conditions and the like. In some embodiments one or more of the carbonate compounds constitute at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99% by weight of the aggregate eg at least 50% including at least 80% or at least 90%. One or more of the carbonate compounds may include a precipitate from water containing divalent cations, for example water containing divalent cations which may also contain C02 derived from the industrial gaseous waste stream. These industrial gaseous waste streams can be those described in this document as an electric plant, a smelter, a cement plant, a refinery or a smelting furnace. In some embodiments, the aggregate contains specific minerals that are produced by the manufacturing conditions as described in this document. In specific modalities, the aggregate contains a dipingite weight percentage of at least 0.1% or at least 0.5% or at least 1% or at least 2% or at least 5% or at least 10% . In some modalities the aggregate contains dipingita as well as nesquehonita. In other specific embodiments, the aggregate contains a dipingite weight percentage of at least 0.1% or at least 0.5% or at least 1% or at least 2% or at least 5% or at least 10% % and a percentage by weight of nesquehonita of at least 0.1% or at least 0.5% or at least 1% or at least 2% or at least 5% or at least 10%. In some embodiments the aggregate contains a percentage by weight of calcite of at least 0.1% or at least 0.5% or at least 1% or at least 2% or at least 5% or at least 10% or at least 20% or at least 30%. In some embodiments the aggregate contains a dolomite weight percentage of at least 0.1% or at least 0.5% or at least 1% or at least 2% or at least 5% or at least 10% or at least 20% or at least 30%.

In some embodiments, the invention provides synthetic rock that does not contain binders, that is to say a synthetic self-cementing rock. The methods of the invention allow the production of a hard and resistant rock by means of processes involving physical reactions without the need for extrinsic or intrinsic binders as described in more detail herein. Thus in some embodiments synthetic rock containing less than 10, 5, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005, 0.001, 0.0005, 0.0001% by weight of a binder is provided where the term " binder "used in this document includes compounds or substances that have been added to the synthetic rock system to cause or promote chemical reactions that cause the components of the synthetic rock to join during the synthesis process. Typical binders are described herein. In some embodiments, the synthetic rock of the invention substantially does not include a binder. Said synthetic rock can be artificially lithified by processes that imitate the geological processes in what, physically rather than chemically, are the processes by which rocks are formed, for example dissolution and reprecipitation of compounds in new forms that serve to join the composition. Said synthetic rocks of certain embodiments contain one or more carbonate compounds such as carbonate compounds derived from a fossil fuel. In some modalities, the synthetic rock can have carbon isotope fractionation values (613C) more negative (less) than -10 or -12 or -14 or -18 or -22 or -26 or -30? · -32 or - 36 ° / 00. Synthetic rock can have, in certain embodiments, values of isotopic fractionation of carbon (513C) in a range of between -10 and -40 ° / oo- In some embodiments, synthetic rock with less or no binder content includes at least one of the following: a calcium carbonate compound, a magnesium carbonate compound and a calcium magnesium carbonate compound. The molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in this synthetic rock can be any of those described hereinabove, for example for magnesium: calcium ranges from 7: 1 to 2: 1; 2: 1 to 1: 2 or 1:10 to 1: 200 depending on the starting materials, manufacturing conditions and the like. In some embodiments one or more of the carbonate compounds constitute at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99% by weight of the synthetic rock, for example at least 50% including at least 80% or at least 90%. One or more of the carbonate compounds may include a precipitate from water containing divalent cations, for example water containing divalent cations which may also contain C02 derived from the industrial gaseous waste stream. These gaseous streams of industrial waste may be those described in this document as an electric plant, a smelter, a cement plant, a refinery or a smelting furnace. Artificial rock can be produced in a process where metastable components such as metastable carbonates can be converted into more stable components. For example, in some embodiments, the synthetic rock is produced in a process where the aragonite is converted to calcite and / or the vaterite is converted to aragonite and / or calcite, and / or the protodolomite is converted to dolomite.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a light weight aggregate, for example an aggregate with a gross density of 1201.5-2002.5 kg / m3 (75-125 pounds / ft3) or 1441.8 to 1842.3 kg / m3 (90-115 pounds / ft3). ). In some embodiments, the lightweight aggregate is a C02 sequestering aggregate which may contain at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% carbonates derived from a fossil fuel. In some embodiments, the aggregate has coal isotope fractionation values (513C) more negative (less) than -10 or -12 or -14 or -18 or -22 or -26 or -30 or -32 or -36 ° / oo- The lightweight aggregate can have coal isotope fractionation values (513C) more negative (less than) in a range between -10 and -40 ° / oo in some modalities. In some other modalities the lightweight aggregate may have coal isotope fractionation values (513C) more negative (less) than -20 ° / 0o. In some embodiments, the lightweight aggregate may have coal isotope fractionation values (513C) more negative (less) than -30 ° / oo-The lightweight aggregate, in some embodiments contains carbonate and sulfate or sulfite or a combination of sulfate and sulfite. In some embodiments, the molar ratio between carbon and sulfate and / or sulfite is 1000: 1 to 10: 1 or 500: 1 to 50: 1 or 300: 1 to 75: 1. In some of these modalities, the aggregate additionally contains mercury or a mercuric compound that may come from a fossil fuel. In some embodiments, the aggregate contains dipingite.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a custom set of aggregates, for example a set of aggregates with a plurality of features that are chosen to match a set of predetermined characteristics: at least two, three, four or five as size , shape, surface texture, hardness, resistance to abrasion, density, porosity, stability to acid medium, stability to basic medium, stability to the release of CO2 and color. In some embodiments, the invention provides a set of aggregates with a plurality of features that are chosen to match a set of predetermined characteristics such as size, shape and hardness. In some embodiments, the invention provides a set of aggregates with a plurality of features that are chosen to match a set of predetermined characteristics such as size, shape, hardness and surface texture. In some embodiments, the invention provides a set of aggregates with a plurality of features that are chosen to match a set of predetermined characteristics such as size, shape, hardness and density. In some embodiments, the invention provides a set of aggregates with a plurality of features that are chosen to match a set of predetermined characteristics such as size, shape and density.

In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate. The synthetic carbonate may contain sequestered C02 such as carbonate precipitated from water with divalent cations, for example water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, ie salt water such as seawater as described hereinabove. Water with divalent cations, for example water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, may contain C02 from the industrial waste stream, where at least a part of this C02 derived from the industrial waste stream is present in the synthetic carbonate as C02. kidnaped. The industrial gaseous waste stream can be any waste stream that has been described in this document for example an electric plant, a smelter, a cement plant, a refinery or a smelting furnace. The synthetic carbonate may contain at least one of: a carbonate compound of. calcium, a magnesium carbonate compound and a calcium magnesium carbonate compound, in any proportion of those described in detail herein, for example, wherein the weight ratio of magnesium to calcium is in the range of 10. / 1 to 1/10. If calcium carbonate compounds are present, they may include one or more of any of the polymorphs described herein, for example calcite, aragonite, vaterite, ikaite or amorphous calcium carbonate. If magnesium carbonate compounds are present, they may include one or more of any of the polymorphs described herein, for example dipingite, magnesite, barringtonite, nesquehonite, lansfordite, hydromagnesite or amorphous magnesium carbonate such as dipingite in amounts of less 1% by weight or at least 5% by weight; modalities that include dipingite may, in some cases, additionally include nesquehonite, hydromagnesite or a combination thereof. If magnesium carbonate and calcium compounds are present, they may include one or more of any of the polymorphs described herein, for example dolomite, huntite or sergeevite. The aggregate may comprise strontium in the amount that has been described in this document. The aggregate can be reactive or non-reactive as also previously described in this document. In some embodiments, the synthetic carbonate constitutes from 1 to 99% of the aggregate. The aggregate can be a coarse aggregate that has an average particle size that varies between 0.003175 and 0.1524 meters (0.125 and 6 inches), or a fine aggregate that has an average particle size that varies between 0.0000254 and 0.00635 meters (0.001 and 0.25 inches) or a rough and fine combination. The aggregate may have particle forms selected from the group consisting of: rounded, irregular, scaled, angular, elongate, elongated scaled, subangular, sub-rounded, well rounded or any mixture thereof; in some cases the aggregate also has textures of the surface of the particle selected from the group consisting of: vitrea, soft, granular, rough, crystalline, honeycomb and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the aggregate has particle forms selected from the group consisting of: polygonal, cylindrical, triangular, curved, annular, ellipsoidal, oval, star-shaped, prism or any mixture thereof; and in some cases it can also have textures of the surface of the particle selected from the group consisting of: vitreous, soft, granular, rough, crystalline, honeycomb or mixtures thereof. The aggregate can have a Mohs hardness that varies around 1.5 to 9 as around 2.5 to 6 or equivalent hardness according to the Rockwell, Vickers or Brinell scales. Any of the aforementioned aggregates may also include one or more of: Portland cement, fly ash, lime and a binder, for example, Portland cement where the weight ratio of synthetic carbonate to Portland cement is 0.1 / 1 to 5 / 1. The aggregate has a density unit between 1602 to 2402.77 kg / m3 (100 to 150 lb / ft3) such as between 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 lb / ft3).

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing an aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate, the method comprising: obtaining a synthetic carbonate and producing an aggregate comprising the synthetic carbonate. In some embodiments, the synthetic carbonate comprises sequestered C02. In some embodiments the step of obtaining comprises the precipitation of the synthetic carbonate from water with divalent cations such as for example water containing an alkaline earth metal ion such as salt water such as sea water. The production step can further comprise contacting the water containing divalent cations such as, for example, water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, a gaseous stream of industrial waste previously containing C02 and / or during the precipitation step. The gaseous stream of industrial waste can be any stream that has been described in this document as for example that of a power plant, a smelter, a cement plant, a refinery or a smelting furnace, such as in a gas pipeline. In some embodiments the step of obtaining also comprises raising the pH of the water containing an alkaline earth metal ion to a value of 10 or more, either prior to or during the precipitation step. The step of obtaining further may include the generation of a fixed composition comprising the synthetic carbonate and allowing this composition to form a solid product by mixing the synthetic carbonate with one or more of: water, Portland cement, fly ash, lime and a binder and optionally refining the solid product mechanically such as by molding, extruding, granulating or grinding. The production step may include the contact of the synthetic carbonate with fresh water to convert the synthetic carbonate into a stable fresh water product; in one embodiment this is done by spreading the synthetic carbonate in an open area which is contacted with fresh water.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a suitable aggregate for use in a construction material where the aggregate has a density unit of less than 1842.3 kg / m3 (115 pounds / ft3) and which is a negative carbon aggregate.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a composition that includes a hydraulic cement and an aggregate containing a synthetic carbonate such as any of the synthetic carbonates described above. The composition may also include water and be a fixed composition such as concrete, mortar or soil stabilizer. Additionally the composition may contain at least one mixture. The hydraulic cement may contain a second synthetic carbonate wherein the second synthetic carbonate contains sequestered C02.

The invention also provides a method that includes obtaining a composition comprising a hydraulic cement and an aggregate containing a synthetic carbonate such as any of the synthetic carbonates described above as a carbonate containing sequestered C02 and, which produces an adjustable composition that understands the composition obtained. Furthermore, the method may include that the adjustable composition be recomposed as a solid product such as a structural product, for example, a piece of a road such as asphalt or the foundation of a building.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a roadway foundation comprising an aggregate containing a synthetic carbonate as any of the synthetic carbonates described above. In some embodiments, the invention provides asphalt comprising an aggregate containing a synthetic carbonate as any of the synthetic carbonates described above.

The invention also provides a system for producing an aggregate containing a synthetic carbonate, the system consisting of: an inlet for the water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, a station for the precipitation of the carbonate compound which subjects the water to the conditions for the precipitation of the carbonate compound and producing a synthetic carbonate; and a producer of the aggregate that produces an aggregate containing synthetic carbonate. In some embodiments, the aggregate producer comprises a refining station for mechanically refining the aggregate containing the synthetic carbonate.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for sequestering C02 that includes contacting the water containing an alkaline earth metal ion with a gaseous stream of industrial waste containing C02; a precipitation of the synthetic carbonate from the water containing an alkaline earth metal ion wherein the synthetic carbonate comprises C02 derived from the gaseous stream of industrial waste and the production of an aggregate comprising the synthetic carbonate.

In some embodiments, the invention provides an aggregate that fractures in a conchoidal manner. 2. Preparation of the compositions of the invention The aggregates of the invention can be produced by any suitable method. For example, the aggregates of the invention can be produced by precipitation of a calcium and / or magnesium carbonate composition from water and then the resulting precipitate is processed to produce an aggregate. The carbonate compound compositions comprising the aggregates of the invention can be metastable carbonate compounds or derivatives thereof which are precipitated from water as salt water as described in more detail above. The carbonate compositions of the invention include precipitates of crystalline and / or amorphous carbonate compounds.

As has been reviewed, the aggregates of the invention include a carbonate composition for example a composition precipitated from water containing divalent cations such as water with an alkaline earth metal ion such as a salt water carbonate composite composition. . Thus, the carbonate compound composition of the aggregates is one that is comprised of one or more different carbonate compounds, which may be amorphous or crystalline. As previously reviewed, the carbonate composite compositions of the cements may include one or more hydroxide compounds.

Exemplary methods for the preparation of the compositions of the invention include methods that can be divided into 1) preparation of a precipitate and 2) preparation of an aggregate from the precipitate. 1) Preparation of a precipitate The precipitates used in aggregates of the invention can be prepared from divalent cations such as magnesium and / or calcium ions and C02 as those obtained from a gaseous source of industrial waste. The precipitates are usually carbonates and / or bicarbonates and, in order to prepare the precipitate, it is necessary to remove protons from the solution either using a base or alkali, using electrochemical methods or a combination.

Divalent cations Divalent cations (such as alkaline earth metal cations such as Ca2 + and Mg2 +) are used to produce aggregate using systems and methods of the invention. The divalent cations can come from any of different sources of divalent cations depending on the availability in a certain place. These sources include industrial waste, seawater, brines, hard water, minerals and other appropriate sources.

In some places the industrial waste streams of various industrial processes provide convenient sources of divalent cations (as well as in some cases other materials useful in the process as a metallic hydroxide). Those waste streams include but are not limited to mining waste, ashes from the burning of fossil fuels (such as fly ash); slag (such as iron slag, phosphorus slag); waste from the cement kiln; petroleum refinery / petrochemical refinery waste (such as oil field and methane seam brines); carbon seam residues (such as gas production brines and coal seam brine); waste of paper processing; brine from water softening residues (such as ion exchange wastewater); silicon processing waste; agricultural residuals; metal finishing residues; high pH textile waste and caustic sludge.

In some places an appropriate source of divalent cations for use in systems and methods of the invention is water (as an aqueous solution containing divalent cations such as seawater or brine surface) which may vary depending on the particular location in the that the invention is carried out. Some aqueous solutions with appropriate divalent cations that can be used include solutions comprising one or more divalent cations such as alkaline earth metals (calcium, magnesium). In some embodiments, the aqueous source of divalent cations comprises alkaline earth metal cations. In some embodiments the alkaline earth metal cations include calcium, magnesium or a mixture of both. In some embodiments, the aqueous solution of divalent cations comprises calcium in amounts ranging from 50 to 50,000 ppm, from 50 to 40,000 ppm, from 50 to 20,000 ppm, from 100 to 10,000 ppm, from 200 to 5000 ppm or from 400 to 1000 ppm. . In some embodiments, the aqueous solution of divalent cations comprises magnesium in amounts ranging from 50 to 40,000 ppm, from 50 to 20,000 ppm, from 100 to 10,000 ppm, from 200 to 10,000 ppm, from 500 to 5000 ppm or from 500 to 2500 ppm. . In some embodiments where Ca + and Mg2 + are present, the Ca2 + / Mg2 + ratio in the aqueous solution of divalent cations is from 1 to 1000; 1 to 800; 1 to 500; 1 to 250; 1 to 200; 1 to 150; 1 to 100; 1 to 50 and 1 to 25.

The aqueous solution of divalent cations may contain divalent cations derived from fresh water, brackish water, sea water or brine (such as natural brines or anthropogenic brines such as sewage from geothermal plants or wastewater from desalination plants) as well as other salines with higher salinity than fresh water. Brackish water is water that is saltier than fresh water but not as much as seawater. Brackish water has a salinity that varies around 0.5 to 35 ppt (parts per thousand). Seawater is water that comes from the sea, an ocean or any other body of saline water that has a salinity that varies around 35 to 50 ppt. A brine is water saturated or semi-saturated with salt. The brine has a salinity of about 50 ppt or greater. In some embodiments, the source of salt water from which the divalent cations are derived is a selected natural source of a sea, the ocean, a lake, a swamp, an estuary, a lagoon, a surface of a brine, a deep brine , an alkaline lake, an inland sea or the like. In some embodiments, the source of salt water from which the divalent cations are derived is an anthropogenic brine selected from sewage from a geothermal plant or wastewater from a desalination.

Frequently fresh water is a convenient source of divalent cations (such as alkaline earth metal cations such as Ca2 + and Mg2 +). Any of the appropriate freshwater sources can be used, including freshwater sources that range from relatively mineral-free sources to relatively mineral-rich sources. Freshwater sources of natural origin, include any of a number of sources of hard water, lakes or inland seas. Some freshwater sources rich in minerals such as alkaline lakes or inland seas (such as Lake Van in Turkey) are also a source of pH-modifying agents. Freshwater sources rich in minerals can also be anthropogenic. For example, water with poor (mild) mineral content may be contacted with a source of divalent cations such as alkaline earth metal cations (calcium or magnesium) to produce mineral-rich water that is appropriate for systems and methods for producing aggregates. according to the invention. Divalent cations or precursors thereof (such as salts, minerals) can be added to fresh water (or any other of those described in this document) by means of any convenient protocol (addition of solids), suspensions or solutions). In some embodiments, the divalent cations selected from calcium and magnesium are added to fresh water. In some modalities monovalent sodium and potassium cations are selected and added to fresh water. In some embodiments, fresh water comprising calcium is combined with magnesium silicates (such as olivine or serpentine) or products or processed forms thereof, obtaining a solution comprising calcium and magnesium cations. Many minerals provide sources of divalent cations and, additionally, some minerals are sources of bases or alkalis. Mafic or ultramafic minerals such as olivite, serpentine and other suitable minerals can be dissolved by any convenient method. The solution can be accelerated by increasing the surface area by means of milling by conventional methods or milling by injection as well as by the use of ultrasonic techniques. Additionally, mineral dissolution can be accelerated by exposure to an acid or a base. Metal silicates (such as magnesium silicates) and other minerals that comprise cations of interest can be dissolved in acid such as HC1 derived from an electrochemical process, to produce, for example, magnesium cations and other metals that will be used as precipitation material and, subsequently, aggregates and other compositions of the invention. In some embodiments magnesium silicates and other materials can be digested or dissolved in an aqueous solution that has been acidified due to the addition of carbon dioxide and other components of the waste gases (such as combustion gas). Alternatively, other metal species such as metal hydroxide (Mg (OH) 2, Ca (0H) 2) may be available for use in an aggregate by dissolving one or more metal silicates (such as olivine and serpentine) with an aqueous hydroxide. alkaline (such as NaOH) or any other suitable caustic material. Any suitable concentration of the alkaline aqueous hydroxide or other caustic material can be used to decompose metal silicates including highly concentrated or highly diluted solutions. The concentration (by weight) of a solution of an alkaline hydroxide (such as NaOH) can be, for example 30 to 80% and 70 to 20% water. One advantage of metallic silicates and the like, digested with aqueous alkali hydroxides, is that they can be used directly to produce precipitated material and, subsequently, an aggregate from the residual gas stream. In addition, the base value of the precipitation reaction mixture can be recovered and reused for further digestion of the metal silicates and the like.

In some embodiments an aqueous solution of divalent cations can be obtained from an industrial plant that also provides a gaseous combustion stream. For example, in industrial water cooling plants such as industrial seawater cooling plants, the water that has been used by the industrial plant for cooling can then be used as water to produce the precipitation material and, subsequently, the addition of a system or method of the invention. If desired, the water can be cooled before entering the precipitation system. These approaches can be employed, for example with one-step cooling systems. For example, the water supply for agriculture or a city can be used by an industrial plant as a one-step cooling system. Then the water from the industrial plant can be used to produce precipitation material that can later be used to produce aggregates in a system or method of the invention and, where the outlet water has a reduced hardness and a higher purity. If desired, these systems can be modified to include security measures (for example, to detect alterations such as the addition of poison) and coordinated by government agencies (such as National Security or other agencies). Additional manipulation or security devices can be employed in these modalities.

Sources of C02 Although in some modalities there is sufficient carbon dioxide in the water source to precipitate significant amounts of carbonates (such as seawater), additional carbon dioxide is generally used for the C02 sequestering aggregates., being evident that generally this is the case. Thus, in certain embodiments, the methods additionally include contacting the volume of the aqueous solution, such as for example an aqueous solution of divalent cations to be subjected to mineral precipitation conditions, with a C02 source. The C02 source which is contacted with the aqueous solution, for example, of divalent cations can be any suitable C02 source. The source of C02 can be a gas, a liquid, a solid (such as dry ice), a supercritical fluid or C02 dissolved in a liquid. In certain modalities, the source of C02 is a source of gaseous C02. This source of gaseous CO 2 is, in certain cases, a waste feed (that is, a by-product of an active process of the industrial plant) of an industrial plant. The nature of the industrial plant can vary in these modalities, where the industrial plants of interest include power plants, chemical processing plants, mechanical processing plants, refineries, cement plants, steel plants and other industrial plants that produce C02 as a by-product of the combustion fuel or another process step (such as calcination by a cement plant). For the C02 hijacker, these waste streams, in some modalities, provide the C02 that will be sequestered. The gaseous stream may be substantially pure C02 or comprise multiple components including C02 and one or more gases and / or other substances such as ash and other particles.

The residual gas streams comprising C02 include both reduction (for example, synthesis gas, modified synthesis gas, natural gas, hydrogen and the like) and currents with oxidizing conditions (for example combustion gases from combustion). Gaseous streams of particular waste which may be suitable for the invention include combustion gases from an industrial combustion plant containing oxygen, gas produced in a turbo boiler, gas produced by coal gasification, gas produced with an anaerobic digester, gas stream natural of the head of a well, reformed natural gas or methane hydrates and the like. The combustion gases from any convenient source can be used to produce aggregates. In some embodiments, the combustion gases from the effluent stack of the post-combustion process of industrial plants such as power plants, cement plants and coal processing plants are used.

In this way, waste streams can be produced from a variety of different types of industrial plants. Waste streams suitable for the invention include waste streams produced by industrial plants that burn fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, natural gas) and anthropogenic fuel products from natural deposits of organic fuels (e.g., tar sands). , gas oil, oil shale, etc.). In some embodiments, appropriate waste streams for the systems and methods of the invention are obtained from a coal-fired power plant such as a pulverized coal-fired power plant, a supercritical coal-fired power plant, a coal-fired power plant, a plant electric coal in fluidized bed; in some modalities the waste stream comes from a gas or oil boiler and steam turbine power plants, simple cycle gas turbine power plants with gas or diesel boiler or gas combined cycle turbine power plants with boiler of gas or diesel. In some embodiments, waste streams produced by power plants are used to carry out the combustion of synthetic gas (ie, the gas that is produced by the gasification of organic matter, for example, coal, biomass, etc.). In some modalities, gas streams from integrated gasification plants with combined cycle (IGCC) are used. In some embodiments waste streams produced by heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) plants are used to produce aggregates according to the systems and methods of the invention.

Waste streams from cement plants are also appropriate for the systems and methods of the invention. Waste streams from cement plants include waste streams from both wet processes and dry processes, plants can use shaft or rotary kilns and can include precalcines. These industrial plants can burn a single fuel or two or more fuels sequentially or simultaneously.

The gaseous streams of industrial waste may contain carbon dioxide as a primary non-aerial component or may, especially in the case of coal burning electric plants, contain additional components such as nitrogen oxides (N0X), sulfur oxides (SOx) and one or more additional gases. Additional gases and other components may include CO, mercury and other heavy metals, and dust particles (for example from the calcination and combustion processes). Additional components of the gas stream may also include halides such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride; particular material such as fly ash, dust and metals including arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, chromium VI, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium and vanadium; organic compounds such as hydrocarbons, dioxins and PAH compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). In various embodiments, one or more of these additional compounds is precipitated and forms precipitated material upon contact with the gaseous waste stream comprising these additional components with an aqueous solution comprising divalent cations (such as alkaline earth metal ions such as Ca 2+ and g2 +). For example, where the gas stream contains S02, calcium and magnesium sulphates and sulphites may be precipitated whose "precipitation may additionally comprise calcium and / or magnesium carbonates." Other compounds such as heavy metals, for example mercury, may be trapped in the precipitate or they can precipitate as solid compounds.

Although the gaseous stream of industrial waste offers a relatively concentrated source of combustion gases, methods and systems can also be applied to remove the components of gas combustion from sources with lower concentration of them (such as air). atmospheric) that contains a much lower concentration of pollutants than, for example, combustion gases. Thus, in some modalities, the methods and systems include reducing the concentration of atmospheric air pollutants by producing a stable precipitated material and then adding the aggregate using procedures described in this document. In these cases, the concentration of pollutants such as C02, in a portion of the atmospheric air, can decrease by 10% or more, 20% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, 99% or more, 99.9% or more or 99.99%. This decrease in atmospheric pollutants can be carried out with yields as described herein, or with higher or lower yields, and can be carried out in a precipitation stage or in a series of precipitation stages.

A variety of different gaseous waste streams can be treated to utilize various components of gas combustion. Appropriate gas streams, in some embodiments, have C02 in amounts of 200 ppm to 1,000,000 ppm, such as 200,000 ppm at 1000 ppm, including 200,000 ppm at 2000 ppm, for example 180,000 ppm at 2000 ppm or 180,000 to 5000 ppm, also includes 180,000 ppm to 10,000 ppm. The waste streams may include one or more additional components, for example water, NOx (monatomic nitrogen oxides: NO and N02), SOx (monatomic sulfur oxide: SO, S02 and S03), VOC (volatile organic compounds), metals heavy as mercury and particles (particles of solids or liquids suspended in a gas). The temperature of the combustion gas can also vary. In some embodiments, the temperature of the combustion gas ranges from 0 ° C (273 K) to 2000 ° C (2273 K), such as 60 ° C (333 K) to 7000 ° C (7273 K) and includes 100 ° C (373 K) at 400 ° C (673 K).

A C02 source is contacted with an aqueous solution, for example an aqueous solution of divalent cations (such as alkaline earth metal cations) at some point in the method, as before, during and even after the aqueous solution of divalent cations have submitted to the conditions of precipitation. The contact of the aqueous solution, for example of divalent cations such as alkaline earth metal ions, with the C02 source can occur before and / or during the time in which the solution containing the cation is subjected to the C02 precipitation conditions. . Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention include methods in which the volume of the aqueous solution of divalent cations is brought into contact with a C02 source prior to subjecting the volume of the aqueous cation solution to the conditions of mineral precipitation. The embodiments of the invention include methods in which the volume of the aqueous solution of divalent cations is contacted with a C02 source while the volume of the aqueous solution of divalent cations is subjected to the precipitation conditions of carbonate compounds and / or bicarbonate. Modes of the invention include methods wherein the volume of the aqueous solution of divalent cations is brought into contact with a source of CO2 before subjecting the volume of the aqueous solution of cations to the precipitation conditions of carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds. Modes of the invention include methods wherein the volume of the aqueous solution of divalent cations is contacted with a C02 source both prior to and while subjecting the volume of the aqueous solution of cations to the precipitation conditions of carbonate compounds. and / or bicarbonate. In some modalities, the same solution of divalent cations can be part of the cycle more than once, where in the first cycle of precipitation is removed mainly minerals of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate and left as alkaline water to which you can add other sources of alkaline earth ions, which have more than one cycle of carbon dioxide, precipitating more carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds. As can be seen in these cases, C02 can be contacted with water before, during and / or after divalent cations are added.

A gaseous waste stream can be provided from the industrial plant to the precipitation site in any convenient manner that conveys the gaseous waste stream from the industrial plant to the precipitation plant. In some embodiments, the gaseous waste stream is provided with a gas conveyor (e.g. a duct) that runs from the industrial plant site (e.g., an industrial combustion plant) to one or more places on the site precipitation. The source of the gaseous waste stream may be at a location relatively distal to the precipitation site such that the source of the gaseous waste stream is located 1609.34 m (1 mile) or more, such as 16093.44 m ( 10 miles) or more, including 160934.4 (100 miles) or more of the precipitation site. For example, a gaseous waste stream may have been transported to the precipitation site from a remote industrial plant via a gas transport system (eg, a gas pipeline). In the C02 generating plant, the gas it contains may or may not be processed (for example, removing other components) before it reaches the precipitation site (ie, the place where the precipitation is carried out and / or production of the aggregate). However, in other cases, the source of the gaseous waste stream is close to the precipitation site. For example, the precipitation site is integrated with the source of the gaseous waste stream, such as an electrical plant that integrates a precipitation reactor for the precipitation of precipitation material that can be used to produce aggregates.

A part of the gaseous waste stream (ie, not the entire gaseous waste stream) of an industrial plant can be used to produce precipitation material and, subsequently, aggregates. In these embodiments, the portion of the gaseous waste stream that is used in precipitation of the precipitation material may be 75% or less, such as 60% or less, including 50% and less of the gaseous waste stream. In other embodiments, however, substantially (eg, 80% or more) the entire gaseous waste stream produced by the industrial plant is used in the precipitation of useful precipitation material to produce the aggregate of the invention. In these modalities, 80% or more, such as 90% or more, including 95% or more, up to 100% of the gaseous waste stream (eg, combustion gases) generated by the source can be used for the precipitation of precipitation material.

As indicated above, the gaseous waste stream may be one that is obtained from an analogous or combustion structure of an industrial plant. In these modalities, a line (for example, the pipeline) is connected to the chimney so that the gas leaves the chimney through the line and is transported to the appropriate place (s) of a precipitation system. Depending on the particular configuration of the precipitation system at the point where the gaseous waste stream is used, the location of the source from which the gaseous waste stream is obtained may vary (eg to provide a waste stream). with a suitable or desired temperature). Thus, in certain embodiments where the gaseous waste stream has a temperature ranging from 0 ° C to 1800 ° C (273 to 2073 K), such as 60 ° C to 700 ° C (333 to 973 K), it is desired that the combustion gases can be obtained at the point of exit of the boiler or gas turbines, the furnace, or at any point of the electric plant or battery that provides the desired temperature. Where desired, the combustion gases are maintained at a temperature above the dew point (eg, 125 ° C (398 K)) in order to avoid condensation and related complications. If it is not possible to keep the temperature above the dew point, measures can be taken to reduce the adverse effects of condensation (for example, using stainless steel, fluorocarbon (such as poly (tetrafluoroethylene)) lines, dilution with water , and pH control, etc.) so the pipeline does not deteriorate quickly.

The volume of water can be contacted with the C02 source using any convenient protocol. When C02 is a gas, the contact protocols of interest include, but are not limited to: direct contact protocols, eg, bubbling the gas through the volume of salt water; simultaneous contact means, i.e. contact between a gaseous stream flowing unidirectionally and a liquid phase stream; countercurrent means, that is, contact between a gaseous stream flowing in an opposite manner to a liquid phase stream, and the like. Therefore, contact can be achieved through the use of infusers, bubble producers, hydraulic venturi reactor, sprayer, gas filter, aerosols, trays, or packed column reactors and the like, according to convenience. In one of the embodiments, the contact is between a jet of flat sheet liquid and the gas, where the sheet and the gas may be in motion in countercurrent, direct current, or cross direction currents, or in any other suitable manner. See, for example, the patent application of E.U. No. 61 / 158,992 filed on March 10, 2009, which is incorporated in its entirety as a reference. In one embodiment, the contact is between droplets of a neutral liquid flotation solution, with a diameter of 5 micrometers or less, and gas in a chamber. In some embodiments a catalyst is used to accelerate the dissolution of carbon dioxide in the water, accelerating the reaction towards equilibrium; the catalyst may be an inorganic substance such as zinc or cadmium trichloride, or an organic substance, for example, an enzyme such as carbonic anhydrase.

Proton removal The dissolution of C02 in an aqueous solution produces carbonic acid that is in equilibrium with bicarbonate and carbonate. In order to precipitate carbonates, the protons are removed from the solution to change the equilibrium towards the carbonate. Additionally, the elimination of protons allows more C02 in the solution. In some embodiments proton removal is used together with the contact of C02 with the aqueous solution, for example containing divalent cations, to increase the absorption of C02 in a phase of the reaction where the pH can be constant, increase or even decrease , followed by rapid removal of protons (for example, by adding a base) to cause rapid precipitation of carbonate compounds. Protons can be removed from the solution by any appropriate approach. Approaches of interest include, but are not limited to: the use of natural agents that increase pH, the use of microorganisms and fungi, the use of synthetic chemical agents that increase pH, the recovery of waste streams produced by man and the use of electrochemical means.

The term natural agents that increase pH encompasses all the media that can be found in the broader environment that can create or have a basic local environment. Some embodiments provide natural agents that increase pH, including minerals that create basic environments upon addition to the solution, for example, a solution. These minerals include, but are not limited to: lime (CaO), periclase (MgO), volcanic ash, ultramafic rocks and minerals such as serpentine and iron hydroxide minerals, for example, goethite and limonite. In this document methods of dissolution of said rocks and minerals are provided. Some modalities provide the use of alkaline natural water bodies as natural agents that increase pH. Examples of natural alkaline bodies of water include, but are not limited to: surface water sources, for example, alkaline lakes such as Mono Lake in California, and groundwater sources, for example, basic aquifers. Other modalities provide the use of deposits of dry alkaline water bodies, like the bark along Lake Natron in the Great Rift Valley of Africa. Other modalities provide the use of organisms that excrete basic solutions or molecules in their normal metabolism, as agents that increase the pH. Examples of such organisms are fungi that produce alkaline proteases, for example, the deep-sea fungus Aspergillus ustus with an optimum pH of 9 and bacteria that create alkaline molecules, for example cyanobacteria of the species Lyngbya found in the Atlin pentane in British Columbia, which increase pH as a byproduct of photosynthesis. In some modalities, organisms are used when there are co-contaminants that are used in the metabolism where molecules or solutions that increase the pH are produced, for example, B. pasteurii that hydrolyzes urea in ammonia, is used when urea exists as a pollutant. In some modalities, organisms are grown outside the process and their alkaline excretions are used for inclusion in the kidnapping process.

Chemical agents that increase pH generally refer to synthetic chemicals, produced in large quantities, that are commercially available. Some modalities provide the use of chemicals such as: hydroxides, organic bases, superbases, oxides, ammonia and carbonates. Hydroxides are molecules that contain OH. Exemplary hydroxides are: sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH) 2) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH) 2). Organic bases are molecules that contain carbon and usually have the formula (-NR2H +). Some embodiments provide for the use of organic bases to raise the pH, including: pyridine, methylamine, imidazole, benzimidazole, histidine and phosphazene bases. Some modalities provide proton removal of the pH with ammonia, NH3. Ammonia is considered by some to be a type of organic base even though it lacks carbon molecules. Other embodiments provide for the use of superbases as chemicals that increase pH, including but not limited to: ethoxide, sodium amide (NaNH2>, sodium hydride (NaH), lithium butyl, lithium diisopropylamide, lithium diethylamide and bis Lithium (trimethylsilyl) amide Oxides are other chemicals that can be used as proton acceptors / pH increasing agents Some embodiments provide for the use of oxides as pH increasing agents, including but not limited to: calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), strontium oxide (SrO) and beryllium oxide (BeO).

The waste streams of various processes are other sources of agents that can be used to react with the protons in the aqueous solution, for example, bases. In some modalities the waste stream is provided as bases. This type of waste streams includes, but is not limited to: mining waste, ashes from the burning of fossil fuels, slag, for example, iron slag, phosphorus slag; waste from the cement kiln, petroleum refinery waste / petrochemical refinery, for example, brine from oilfield and methane seam; sewage from coal seam, for example, brine from gas production and brine from coal seam, waste from paper processing; process to soften water, for example, brine from ion exchange waste, silicon processing waste, agricultural waste, metal finishing waste, high pH textile waste and caustic sludge. Mining waste includes any waste or scrap from the extraction of the metal or other precious or useful land mineral. Some modalities provide for the use of mining waste to raise the pH, including: red mud from the aluminum extraction by the Bayer process, residues from the extraction of magnesium from seawater, for example, at Moss Landing, California and, waste from other mining processes that involve leaching processes. The ashes from fossil fuel burning processes, such as coal burning power plants, are ash that are often rich in CaO and other metal oxides that, when in solution, can create a basic environment. In some embodiments, ashes resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, for example, from coal-burning power plants, are provided as pH-increasing agents, including fly ash, for example, ash leaving the chimney and ash from background. Cement kiln residues are useful as pH increasing agents because the powder remaining in cement kilns often contains CaO and is provided as such in some embodiments. Agricultural residues, whether from animal waste or from excessive use of fertilizers, may contain potassium hydroxide (KOH) or ammonia (NH3) or both, and agricultural residues are provided in some embodiments of the invention as agents that increase the pH. Often these agricultural residues are collected from ponds, but they can also be leaked to the aquifers where they can be accessed and used in the kidnapping process.

Electrochemical methods are another means of removing protons from a solution, either by removing protons from the molecules (deprotonation) of the aqueous solution of divalent cations, for example, if the production of protons by the solution of C02 matches or it exceeds the elimination of protons by an electrochemical process, or by the creation of caustic molecules, for example, hydroxides, such as through the production process of alkaline chlorine or other electrochemical processes. For example, electrodes (cathode and anode) may be provided in the reactor containing the aqueous solution, for example, in some embodiments, of divalent cations wherein the electrodes may be separated by a selective barrier, such as a membrane, if you want If desired, the by-products of the hydrolysis product, for example, H2, metallic sodium, etc. they can be collected and used for other purposes, as desired. Additional electrochemical approaches of interest include, but are not limited to, those described in the Provisional Application in the United States with serial numbers 61 / 081,299 and 61 / 091,729; whose disclosure is incorporated in this document as a reference.

In some cases, low-voltage electrochemical protocols are used to remove the protons from the aqueous solution, for example, while the C02 dissolves (either directly or indirectly the protons are removed by means of a base) and, in the precipitation stage (again, either directly or indirectly). "Low-voltage" includes an electrochemical protocol that operates with an average voltage of 2, 1.9, 1.8, 1.7 or 1.6 V or less, such as less than 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.1 V or less, such as 1 V or less, including 0.9 V or less, 0.8 V or less, 0.7 V or less, 0.6 V or less, 0.5 V or less, 0.4 V or less, 0.3 V or less, 0.2 V or less, or 0.1 V or less. The electrochemical protocols of interest are those where there is no generation of chlorine gas. Also of interest are electrochemical protocols in which oxygen gas is not generated. Also of interest are the electrochemical protocols where hydrogen gas is not generated. In some cases, the electrochemical protocol is one in which no gas is generated as a byproduct. In some modalities, in the electrochemical protocol gaseous hydrogen is generated in the cathode which is transported to the anode where it becomes a proton. For example, see the U.S. Patent Application. No. 12 / 375,632 filed December 23, 2008 and PCT Application No. US08 / 088242 filed on December 23, 2008 and PCT Application No. US09 / 32301 filed on January 28, 2009, all of which are incorporated in its entirety in this document as a reference.

These approaches for proton removal can be used in any appropriate combination. Some embodiments provide methods where there is a combination of pH elevation / proton removal including: use of man-made waste, for example fly ash or mining waste in combination with a commercially available base such as NaOH; waste generated by man in combination with electrochemical methods, for example deprotonation and natural agents that increase the pH as serpentine minerals; or waste generated by man in combination with a commercially available base and natural agents that increase pH. Some embodiments provide that in the combination of pH elevation / proton removal, 2-30% of the pH increasing agent is fly ash, that 20-80% of the pH increasing agent is waste, for example from a mining process such as red or mineral mud like serpentine, or a combination of them and, 10-50% of the agent that increases the pH is the elimination of the proton by deprotonation in an electrochemical process.

Precipitation conditions After the dissolution of CO2 in an aqueous solution containing divalent cations, or during some modalities, precipitation occurs. The conditions of precipitation of interest may vary. For example, the temperature of the water may be within a suitable range for the precipitation of the desired mineral to occur. In some embodiments the water temperature may be within the range of 5 to 70 ° C (278 to 343 K) such as 20 to 50 ° C (293 to 323 K) and including 25 to 45 ° C (298 to 318) K). Thus while a set of precipitation conditions may have a temperature in a range of 0 to 100 ° C (273 to 373 K), the temperature of the water may be adjusted in some embodiments to produce the desired precipitate.

While the pH of an aqueous solution with divalent cations can vary from 5 to 14 during a given precipitation process, in some cases the protons are eliminated, for example, the pH rises to alkaline levels in order to produce the desired product of precipitation. In some embodiments, the pH is raised to a level sufficient for the precipitation of the desired C02 sequestering product to occur. In this way the pH can be raised to 9.5 or higher such as 10 or higher, including 10.5 or higher. In some modalities, the conditions are adjusted so that during the precipitation a little is released or nothing of C02 is released. Using seawater as an example, in normal seawater, 93% of dissolved C02 is in the form of bicarbonate ions (HC03 ~) and 6% is in the form of carbonate ions (C03 ~ 2). When calcium carbonate is precipitated from normal seawater at ambient pH, C02 is released. In fresh water, at a pH greater than 10.33, more than 90% of the carbonate is in the carbonate ion form and there is no release of CO2 during the precipitation of the calcium carbonate. In seawater this transition occurs at a lower pH, close to a pH of 9.7. When desired the pH can be raised to a value of 10 or higher such as a value of 11 or higher. In some embodiments the pH is raised to a value between 7 and 11, such as between 8 and 11, including between 9 and 11, for example between 9 and 10 or between 10 and 11. In this step, the pH can rise to or be maintained at the desired alkaline level such that the pH is kept constant at a certain alkaline level or the pH can be transformed or cycled between two or more different alkaline levels, if desired.

Other additives than agents that increase the pH can be introduced into the solution with divalent cations so that the nature of the precipitate that is produced can be influenced. Thus, in certain embodiments, the methods include the supply of an additive in the solution before or during the time when the cation solution is subjected to precipitation conditions. Certain polymorph calcium carbonates can be favored with trace amounts of certain additives. For example, vaterite, a highly unstable CaC03 polymorph, can be precipitated in a variety of different morphologies and rapidly converted to calcite, can be obtained at very high yields if trace amounts of lanthanum are included as lanthanum chloride in a supersaturated carbonate solution of calcium. Other additives of interest other than lanthanum include, but are not limited to, transition metals and the like. For example, it is known that the addition of ferrous or ferric iron favors the formation of disordered dolomite (protodolomite) which would not otherwise form. The nature of the precipitate can also be influenced by the proper selection of higher proportions of ions. These higher proportions of ions also have a considerable influence on the formation of the polymorphs. For example, as the magnesium / calcium ratio in water increases, aragonite becomes the polymorph of calcium carbonate favored over calcite with low magnesium content. At low content of the magnesium: calcium ratio, the polymorph of calcite low in magnesium is preferred. Thus a wide range of magnesium: calcium ratios can be employed including for example greater than 100/1, 50/1, 20/1, 10/1, 5/1, 2/1, 1/1 or less than 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/20, 1/50, 1/100. In some embodiments, the magnesium: calcium ratio is determined by the divalent cation solution used in the precipitation process (eg seawater, brine, brackish water, fresh water), while in other embodiments, the magnesium: calcium ratio it is adjusted to fall within a certain range, for example, the addition of exogenous calcium or magnesium as from the dissolution of a rock or mineral, such as serpentine. In some embodiments, a source of water rich in calcium is used, such as a geological or other brine, and the proportion of minerals is adjusted to 1: 1 Ca: Mg by the addition of a magnesium rich source, such as dissolved serpentine or any other rock or mineral. That Ca: Mg ratio allows the formation of protodolomite in the precipitation stage which can then be formed in dolomite to form the aggregate and artificial rock.

When silicon is present, an additional number of minerals can be formed. The replacement of carbon minerals by silicon is a common feature of sedimentary rocks and sediments from the depths of the sea. Silicon can be added in several ways. At alkaline pH, the silicon dissolves and is available for reaction with the precipitated carbonates. Silicon sources can include diatomaceous earth, fly ash from burning coal and silicon smoke. Magnesium carbonates are also used for silicon scavenging in wastewater, indicating that dissolved silicon / carbonate mineral interactions can also occur at short time scales. Klein and Water (1992) conducted experiments to determine the rate, time dependence and degree of absorption of aqueous Si02 in well-characterized Ca-Mg carbonate at temperatures between 25 and 50 ° C (298 and 323 K) where the solutions of Aqueous SiO2 ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 mM Si02. Three different reaction conditions were tested: (1) absorption of silicon in the precipitation of calcite with excessive growth in the short term, in calcite seeds at a fixed level of calcitic supersaturation; (2) absorption of silicon near equilibrium with respect to calcite; and (3) absorption of silicon during relatively long recrystallization (3 weeks) of metastable carbonates (aragonite, 18% Mg-calcite moles). The absorption of silicon in carbonates is greater during the rapid precipitation of carbonates. However, the precipitation kinetics of the calcite is not affected by the interaction of Si02 with the carbonate surface and similar precipitation rates are observed with equivalent degrees of calcite supersaturation in silicon tips and in silicon-free experiments. In experiments close to equilibrium, the absorption of SiO2 is strongly time-dependent but smaller in terms of magnitude and absorption improves at high concentrations of SiO2, low pH values and high temperatures. In long-term Mg-calcite and aragonite recrystallization experiments, the SiO2 uptake was similar to that of the near-equilibrium experiments with low Mg-calcite levels. One of the advantages of silicon being present in carbonate precipitates is that it is related to its potential to form stable and hard aggregate particles.

Precipitation rates also influence the compound formation stage. By sowing the solution with a desired phase, faster precipitation can be achieved. Without sowing, rapid precipitation can be achieved by rapidly increasing the pH of an aqueous solution with divalent cations, which results in more amorphous constituents. When silicon is present, the faster the reaction rate the more silicon will be incorporated into the carbonate precipitate. The higher the pH value, the faster the precipitation and the more amorphous the precipitate.

Accordingly, the set of precipitation conditions for producing the desired precipitate from an aqueous solution with divalent cations includes, in certain embodiments, the temperature and pH of the solution and, in some cases, the concentration of the additives and the ionic species present in the aqueous solution of divalent cations. Precipitation conditions may also include factors such as the type of mixture, forms of agitation such as ultrasound and the presence of seed crystals, catalysts, membranes or substrates. In some embodiments, precipitation conditions include supersaturation conditions, temperature, pH and / or concentration gradients or cycles or the change of any of these parameters. The protocols used to prepare precipitates of carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds according to the invention can be continuous or batch process protocols. It is noted that the precipitation conditions may be different to produce a given precipitate in a continuous flow system compared to a batch system.

After the production of the precipitate of the carbonate minerals from the water, the precipitated carbonate mineral compositions are separated from the mother liquor to separately produce a precipitated carbonate mineral product, also described herein as a dehydrated precipitate or paste ( cake) precipitated in water. The separation of the precipitate can be achieved by means of an appropriate approach including a mechanical approach, for example when excess bulk water is drained from the precipitate, either by gravity alone or with the addition of vacuum, mechanical pressing, by filtering the precipitate of mother liquors to obtain a filtrate, etc. The separation of excess water produces a dehydrated, wet precipitate. 2) Production of the aggregate or artificial rock from the precipitate The precipitate produced by the aforementioned methods is subsequently treated to produce the synthetic aggregates or rocks of the invention.

In some embodiments, the dehydrated precipitate is dried to produce a product. The drying can be carried out by drying the filtrate in the air. When the filtrate is air-dried, it is desired that air drying be carried out at a temperature ranging from -70 ° C to 120 ° C (203 to 293 K). In certain embodiments the drying is achieved by drying-freezing, ie lyophilization, in which the precipitate is frozen, the surrounding pressure is reduced and sufficient heat is added to allow the water frozen in the material to be sublimed directly from the phase of the gas-frozen precipitate. In yet another embodiment, the precipitate is spray-dried to dry it, in which the liquid containing the precipitate is dried by feeding it through hot gas (such as from the gaseous waste stream of a power plant), for example where the Liquid feed is pumped through an atomizer to a drying chamber and where hot gas passes as a direct current or countercurrent in the direction of the atomizer. Depending on the drying protocol of the particular system, a filter element, a freeze-dried structure, a structure for spray drying, etc. can be included in the drying station. In certain embodiments, the waste heat from a power plant or a similar operation is used to carry out the drying step when necessary.

When desired, the precipitate can be stored in the mother liquor for a period of time after precipitation and prior to separation. For example, the precipitate can be stored in the mother liquor for a period of time ranging from 1 to 1000 days or more (for example many years or a decade or more), such as from 1 to 10 days or more at a temperature which varies from 1 ° C to 40 ° C (274 to 313 K), such as from 20 ° C to 25 ° C (293 to 298 K).

In the phase of the pulp precipitated in water, any suitable method for producing aggregates can be used. Various methods are described in this document. In some cases, the dehydrated precipitate can be crushed in a ball mill, in the presence of water, binders, surfactants, flocculants (which may be present from an earlier stage in the process) or other appropriate substances. The precipitate is subsequently treated; This can be done as simply as removing it from the ball mill and placing it in a container under a current of air where it self-consolidates into a mass that can be used later. In some cases the pulp can be reacted with fresh water to produce a different set of precipitated solids that are more stable in fresh water, which are subsequently processed to produce aggregates. In some cases, the pulp can be subjected to temperature and pressure conditions that cause an artificial lithification, that is, an artificial production of the rock which can be processed later; for example, the filtered pasta can be pressed, or stacked, or the filtered pasta can be passed through an extruder. In some of these cases the process is carried out without the use of binders to produce a synthetic rock, for example, an aggregate that is free of binders or with a minimum level of binders. In other cases, one or more binders are used.

Exemplary methods where stable reprecipitated substances in fresh water include the following: the precipitate can be combined with fresh water sufficiently for the precipitate to form a solid product where it is thought that the metastable carbonate compounds present in the precipitate have been converted to a way that is stable in fresh water. By controlling the water content in the wet material, the porosity and possible strength and the density of the final aggregate can be controlled. A typical wet paste will have 40-60% by volume of water. For denser aggregates, the wet pulp should have less than 50% water, for less dense pulps, the wet pulp should have more than 50% water. After hardening, the resulting solid product can be mechanically processed, for example, crushed or otherwise broken and ordered to produce aggregates with the desired characteristics, for example, size, particular shape, etc. In these processes, the adjustment and the steps of the mechanical processing can be carried out substantially continuously or at different times.

In certain embodiments, large volumes of the precipitate may be stored in the open environment, where the precipitate is exposed to the atmosphere. The precipitate can be irrigated with fresh water in an appropriate manner, or allowed to be exposed to rain or natural fresh water in order to produce the added product. The aggregate product can then be mechanically processed as described above.

In an example of one embodiment of the invention, the precipitate is mechanically extended uniformly with a conveyor belt and a road leveler on a compacted earth surface at a depth of interest, eg, up to 0.3048 m (twelve inches), as of 0.0254 to 0.3048 m (1 to 12 inches), including from 0.1524 to 0.3048 m (6 to 12 inches). The extended material is then watered with fresh water in a convenient proportion, for example, 1.89 liters per 28.31 liters (half gallon of water per foot3) of precipitate. Then the material is compacted by passing it several times under a steel roller, such as those used in the compaction of asphalt. The surface is irrigated again regularly, for example, every week until the material shows the desired chemical and mechanical properties, at which time the material is mechanically processed by grinding to obtain the aggregate.

In processes involving the use of temperature and pressure, usually the precipitated pulp of dehydrated water dries first. Then, the pulp is exposed to a combination of rehydration and high temperature and / or pressure for a certain time. The combination of the amount of water that is added again, the temperature, the pressure and the exposure time, as well as the thickness of the paste, can be varied according to the composition of the starting material and the desired results. A number of different ways of exposing the material to temperature and pressure are described herein; It is noted that any appropriate method can be used. An exemplary drying protocol is exposure at 40 ° C (313 K) for 24-48 hours, but higher or lower temperatures and times may be used as convenient, for example, 20-60 ° C (293-333 'K ) for 3-96 hours or even longer. Water is again added to the desired percentage, for example, from 1% -50%, for example, from 1% to 10%, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10% by weight, such as 5% by weight or 4-6% by weight or 3-7% by weight. In some cases the exact percentage of water that is added again is not important, as in the materials that are stored outdoors and that are exposed to meteoric rain. The thickness and size of the paste can be adjusted to the desired values; the thickness can vary in some modalities from 0.00127 to 0.127 m (0.05 to 5 inches), for example, from 0.00254 to 0.0508 m (0.1-2 inches) or from 0.00762 to 0.0254 m (0.3-1 inches). In some modalities the paste can be from 0.00127 m (0.5 inches) to 1.8288 m (6 feet) and even thicker. The pulp is then exposed to elevated temperatures and / or pressure for a certain time, by any appropriate method, for example, in a hot plate press. The heat for raising the temperature, for example, for the dishes, can be provided, for example, with the heat of an industrial gaseous waste stream, such as a flow of combustion gases. The temperature can be any suitable temperature; in general, for a coarse paste a higher temperature is needed; some examples of temperature ranges are from 40 to 150 ° C (313 to 423 K), for example, from 60 to 120 ° C (333 to 393 K), such as from 70 to 110 ° C (343 to 383 K) or from 80 to 100 ° C (353 to 373 K). In the same way, the pressure can be any suitable pressure to produce the desired results; Exemplary pressures include values of 6894757 to 6,894,757 x 108 Pa (1000-100,000 pounds / inch2 (psi)), including from 1.378951 x 107 to 3.447379 x 108 Pa (2000-50,000 psi) OR 1.378951 X 107 to 1.723689 X 108 Pa (2000 -25,000 psi) or 1.378951 x 107 to 1.378951 x 108 Pa (2000-20,000 psi) or 2.068427 x 107 to 3.447379 x 107 Pa (3000-5000 psi). Finally, the moment the pulp is pressed can be at any suitable time, for example, 1 to 100 seconds or 1-100 minutes or 1-50 minutes or 2-25 minutes or 1-10,000 days. The resulting hard tablet can be cured optionally, for example, by placing it on the outside and then storing it, by placing it in a chamber where it is subjected to high levels of humidity and heat, etc.

These hard tablets, optionally cured, are used as building materials by themselves or crushed to produce aggregates.

One method to supply temperature and pressure is to stack dry and dried sheets. For example, in that method a dehydrated precipitate can be dried, for example, with the combustion gases, on a plate, for example, 0.0254 to 3.048 m (1 inch to 10 feet) thick, or 0.3048 (one foot) ) at 30.48 m (10 ft) thick. The pressure is supplied by placing the plates one on top of the other; the pressure is greater than the thickness of the plate layers, for example, from 3,048 to 304.8 m (10-1000 feet) or greater, such as 30.48 to 1524 m (100 to 5,000 feet). At the appropriate time, which may be days, weeks, months or even years, depending on the desired result, for example, quarried plates of a certain level of the layers are removed, for example, from the exploitation of quarries. bottom part, and undergoes a desired treatment to produce an aggregate or some other rocky material.

Another method for supplying temperature and pressure is by the use of a press, as described in more detail in the Examples section. A suitable press, for example, a plate press, can be used to supply pressure at the desired temperature (with heat supply, for example, from the combustion gases or by other process steps to produce a precipitate, for example, from an electrochemical process) during a certain time. A set of rollers can be used similarly.

Another way of exposing the paste to high temperature and the pressure is by means of an extruder, for example, a screw extruder, which is also described in more detail in the Examples section. The barrel of the extruder can be equipped to reach a high temperature, for example, with a coating; the elevated temperature can be supplied, for example, with combustion gases or the like. The extrusion can be used as a means of preheating and drying the raw material before a pressing operation. This pressing can be done by means of a compression mold, through rollers, through rollers with notches of certain shapes (with which practically any desired shape can be given to the aggregate), between a tape that provides compression as it moves, or any other convenient method. Alternatively, the extruder can be used to draw material through a die, exposing the material to a pressure as it is forced to pass through a mold and giving it the desired shape. In some embodiments, the carbonate mineral precipitate is mixed with fresh water and then placed in the feed section of a rotary screw extruder. The extruder and / or the outlet mold can be subsequently heated to aid in the process. The rotation of the screw transports the material along its length and compresses it as the depth of the screw decreases. The screw and the barrel of the extruder can additionally include holes in the barrel and decompression zones in the screw that coincide with the vent holes of the barrel. Particularly in the case of a heating extruder, these ventilation zones allow the release of steam from the transported mass, eliminating water from the material.

The material transported by the screw is forced through a section of the mold that compresses it in an additional way and gives it shape. The typical holes in the die can be circular, oval, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, etc., although any final shape that you want to give to the aggregate can be achieved by adjusting the shape of the opening. The material that comes out of the mold can be cut to any convenient length by any appropriate method, such as a special knife for extruders (fly knife). A typical length can be from 0.00127 to 0.1524 m (0.05 to 6 inches), although it is possible to use lengths outside these ranges. Typical values of diameter can be from 0.00127 to 0.0254 m (0.05 to 1.0 inches), although diameters outside these ranges are possible.

The use of a hot mold can contribute to aggregate formation as it accelerates the transition of carbonate minerals into a stable hard form. Hot molds can be used when it is required to harden the binders or fix the binders. Temperatures of 100 to 600 ° C (373 to 873 K) are commonly used in the hot mold. The heat for the hot mold may come in its entirety or in part from the combustion gases or other industrial gases used in the production process of the precipitate, where the combustion gas is first channeled to the mold to transfer the heat from the molds. hot combustion gases to the mold.

Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the above process induces an artificial lithification, that is, the formation of the rock, through the reformulation of the compounds in the original filtered paste, in forms that are joined together without the need to add binders and, which remain together in a cohesive mass that is resistant to fracture or crushing. Thus, in some embodiments, the invention provides methods for making a synthetic rock, for example, a synthetic rock containing carbonate, without the use of binders. The rock can be formed, for example, using methods such as the methods described above. In some modalities only heat and pressure are used to form an artificial rock, where the rock has a hardness of at least 2.5 Mohs, or at least 3 Mohs of the cases, or of 3-10 Mohs, or of 3- 6 Mohs or 2-6 Mohs.

Agglutinants can be added to the carbonate minerals prior to aggregate formation. to help keep the powdery material together, either to provide structural stability or to keep the powdered materials in place while further processing is carried out. Typical binders include, but are not limited to, Portland cement, fly ash, silica, citric acid, xanthan gum or combinations thereof. Binders include those that become relatively fluid during heating and re-harden when cooled. These binders provide aid in the processing of the extrusion as well as to keep the mineral powders together. Examples of these binders include asphalt and thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene. Other binders of interest are those that react chemically with themselves or with the mineral raw material to form a matrix that encapsulates and binds the mineral raw material. Examples of these binders include thermosetting resins, such as epoxy, phenolic or polyester, and reactive inorganic materials such as Portland cement, fly ash and lime. When a binder is used, any suitable percentage of binder can be used, depending on the properties of the mineral raw material; in some embodiments, 0.05 to 50% by weight may be used, such as from 0.1% to 20% or from 0.5% to 10% or from 0.5% to 5% or from 0.5% to 2%.

Post-formation processing may include a subsequent moisture treatment, drying, sintering or similar techniques designed to accelerate and complete any chemical reaction or desired morphological changes. Other subsequent treatment techniques may include particle agglomeration or particle size reduction, such as grinding or milling. The size of the aggregate particles can be subsequently separated using any suitable screen or filtering device. In some cases, the particle size of the aggregate may be uniform (ie, particles of relatively similar sizes) and in other cases, the size of the particles may vary greatly.

The aggregate of the invention produced by the forming techniques described above can vary greatly depending on the conditions to which it is subjected during training. By controlling the size, shape, surface texture and structure of the internal cavity of the aggregate, the desired properties can be designed in the aggregate.

In some embodiments, the aggregate of the invention can be processed into a shape that has a high aspect aspect, where its length is substantially longer than its width. By "substantially longer" is meant an interval between 2 and 100 times longer, such as 5 and 50 times longer, including 5 and 10 times longer. Aggregates with high proportion aspects can improve cement flow properties and aggregate meshing due to longitudinal alignment along its longitudinal axis. In some cases, the aggregate of the invention may be in the form of a cylinder, tube or capsule (Figure 3A). "Capsule" means a cylindrical tube with rounded edges. In other cases, the aggregates of the invention are in the form of a prism. The term "prism" is used in its conventional sense to define a polyhedron made of a polygonal base with n-sides, a translated copy and n-faces attached to the corresponding sides. The union of the faces of the prism are parallelograms and all the sections parallel to the base of the faces are the same.

Figure 3B shows an example of a triangular prism shaped aggregate (ie, n = 3) stipulated in the present invention. This aggregate can have high concrete flow properties while providing excellent meshing for the aggregate.

In some embodiments, the aggregate of the invention may include a mixture of shapes and sizes. Mixtures of aggregates can have shapes that include but are not limited to prisms (n = 3 to 15), spheres, polygonal, cylindrical, triangular, curved, ringed, ellipsoidal, oval, star-shaped, disc-shaped and any combination of them. Depending on the intended use, the type and number of different forms in the mixture may vary. The type and number of forms in the mixture can be equally distributed or include some forms in a higher percentage than others. In one embodiment, the mixture of aggregates of the invention may have different shapes, but has particle sizes that vary little. By "vary little" is meant a deviation in the particle size that does not exceed 0.00127 m (0.05 inches) in some modalities, or 0.00254 m (0.10 inches) in some modalities, or 0.00508 m (0.20 inches) in some modalities. In another embodiment, the mixtures of the aggregate may have different sizes, but may have similar or identical shapes (for example, different sizes of aggregates in the form of a triangular prism). However, in another embodiment, the mixture of aggregates can vary both in form and size. The invention also provides a mixture of aggregates containing particles of identical shapes and sizes.

In an exemplary embodiment, the aggregate mixtures of the invention comprise aggregates of both different shapes and sizes. The empty space between larger aggregates can be occupied by smaller aggregates reducing the global space between aggregate particles. This allows the production of a strong and durable aggregate base, reducing the amount of cement contained in roads or concrete. For example, a mixture of aggregates can comprise spheres and "bridges" (Figure 3C). Aggregates in the form of bridges can occupy the empty space between the spherical aggregate particles creating a densely packed aggregate mixture.

In another embodiment, the admixture mixtures of the invention comprise aggregates that produce a high level of open void space when employed in a concrete. These aggregates generally contain particles of similar size with shapes designed to produce open void space between aggregate particles, increasing the porosity of packed beds in the aggregate. Figures 3D and 3E show exemplary aggregates in this category ("graduated spheres according to their empty spaces" and prisms, respectively). In certain modalities, the open void space can be left unfilled to provide higher porosity levels and liquid flow through the material. In certain modalities, the open space can be filled with cement to create a concrete with a high cement content or it can also be filled with a non-reactive filling. The void space created by a mixture comprising similar shapes of similar sizes can also be filled with polymeric material or other structural support elements.

The aggregates of the invention can also be produced to have one or more open spaces connected along one or more axes of the aggregate particle. In some cases, that aggregate can be in the form of a hollow cylinder or a polyhedral prism that contains an empty tubular space that extends through the aggregate (see Figures 3F, 3G and 3H). These structures can be produced by extrusion, molding or by creating the hole from a solid aggregate particle. The open space in the aggregate can be subsequently filled (for example, with cement, polymer fibers, etc.) or it can be left unfilled.

Another embodiment provided by the present invention is a hollow aggregate. The hollow aggregate can have any shape (e.g., spherical, disk-shaped, polyhedral prism, etc.) and size, while possessing one or more substantially empty internal cavities. By "substantially empty" it is meant that the internal cavity contains an empty space in the internal cavity which, in certain embodiments, varies from 10% to 100% of the total volume of the internal cavity of the aggregate. The internal cavity of the aggregate can be porous with pockets of empty space or it can have a honeycomb structure.

Another embodiment proposed by the present invention is an aggregate that has external grooves that can facilitate the flow of any desired liquid through the packed bed of the aggregate. The outer grooves can, for example, be engraved on a smooth face of the aggregate or they can be produced by molding or extruding the aggregate. The types of slots can vary, in some cases the pattern of the slot can be regular (ie slots without random intervals) or it can be random. The grooves can also be produced directly through the surface of the aggregate or can have a curve pattern.

In an exemplary embodiment, the external grooves of the aggregate can form intermeshing aggregates. The particles of geared aggregates are formed so that the outer grooves of the aggregate particles fit into the grooves of other aggregate particles. The gear between the particles can be narrow (ie, the slots are tightly joined reducing the gap between particles) or can be loose.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a variety of aggregate shapes with different types of external grooves can be combined to obtain an aggregate that is interlaced to form a durable smooth surface and at the same time allows the passage of any desired fluid through the material . An aggregate with graduated spheres shapes according to their empty spaces (that is, uniformly covering a wide variety of sizes) with external slots is one modality. Additional modalities may include aggregates that have external slots in a variety of ways with open spaces connected through the center that allow the passage of liquid through the aggregate particle. In certain embodiments, one or more of the forms of the aggregate include holes (eg, as described above) that facilitate the flow of liquid through the material. Mixtures of exemplary aggregates with different combinations of aggregate particles are illustrated in Figures 31, 3J, 3K, and 3L.

As indicated above, the compositions of the aggregate of the subject invention comprise aggregate particles having a wide variety of surface shapes and textures that can be selected based on the intended use of the aggregates (e.g., the desired property of the material). which is used in the aggregate). Exemplary aggregate forms include, but are not limited to: rounded, irregular, flake, angular, elongate, elongated-scale, sub-angular, sub-rounded, well-rounded, polygonal, cylindrical, spherical, triangular, curved, ring-shaped, ellipsoid , oval, star-shaped, prisms and any mixture of them. Surface textures of exemplary aggregates include, but are not limited to, surface textures that are selected from the group consisting of: glassy, smooth, granular, rough, fluted, crystalline, paneled and mixtures thereof.

Figure 1 provides a schematic flow diagram of an aggregate production process according to one embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, an aqueous solution of divalent cations (10) such as Ca2 + or Mg2 + is the first to receive a charge from the gaseous waste stream 30 to produce a precipitation reaction mixture comprising C02, below the reaction mixture is subjected to the precipitation conditions. In some embodiments, the loading of C02 and precipitation may occur simultaneously, for example, in a single piece of equipment. As shown in Figure 1, a waste gas flow 30 is contacted with divalent cations 10 in the precipitation stage 20. When an aqueous solution of divalent cations is loaded with waste gas components, components such as C02 are combined with water molecules to produce, for example, carbonic acid, bicarbonate and also carbonate ions. In the same way, the components of the waste gas, such as SOx and NOx, form aqueous species containing sulfur and nitrogen. Thus, when water is loaded, there is an increase in, for example, the C02 content of the water, which manifests itself in the form of carbonic acid, bicarbonate and carbonate ions, which results in a concomitant decrease in partial pressure. of C02 in the waste stream that comes into contact with water. The precipitation reaction mixture may be acidic, with a pH of 6 or less, such as 5 or less, including 4 or less; however, as described in detail herein, the precipitation reaction mixture can become basic (pH of 7 or more, eg, pH of 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12) before loading the solution aqueous divalent cations to form the precipitation reaction mixture. In certain modalities, the concentration of C02 in the waste gas used to load the water is 1% or more, 2% or more, 4% or more, 8% or more, 10% or more, 11% or more , 12% or higher, 13% or higher, 14% or higher, 15% or higher, 20% or higher, 25% or higher, including 50% or higher, such as 75% or even higher. In some embodiments, the waste gas comprises other components such as sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (N0X), heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, selenium and the like; radioactive substances; particles; volatile organic components and the like. One or more of these components may also be in solution to form an aqueous solution.

For example, SOx may be in the solution as sulfate and / or sulfite; NOx as nitrate or nitrite, mercury as mercuric chloride; etc. In some embodiments the contact conditions are adjusted so that, in addition to C02, other components of the waste gas pass from the gas phase to the aqueous phase, such as SOx and / or mercury, which are finally captured in the aggregates of the invention. .

Contact protocols of interest include, but are not limited to: direct contact protocols, for example, bubbling of gas through the volume of water, means of concurrent contact, ie contact between gas and liquid phase flows that flow unidirectionally , countercurrent means, that is, contact between opposing flows of gaseous and liquid phases, cross current means and the like. Thus, contact can be achieved through the use of infusers, bubblers, hydraulic venturi reactor, sprayer, gas filter, aerosols, trays, or packed column reactors and the like, according to convenience. In one embodiment the contact is made through a cross-current contact where the gas flows in a direction perpendicular to a flat sheet of water or other liquid. In one embodiment the contact is between drops of a neutral liquid flotation solution of a diameter of 5 × 10 ~ 6 m (5 microns) or less, and the gas in the chamber.

In the precipitation stage 20, carbonate and / or bicarbonate compounds are precipitated. Precipitation conditions of interest include those that change the physical environment of the water to produce the desired precipitated product. For example, the temperature of the water may be raised to a suitable amount for the precipitation of the desired carbonate compound to occur. In such embodiments, the temperature of the water may rise to values of 5 to 70 ° C (278 to 343 K), such as 20 to 50 ° C (293 to 323 K) and including 25 to 45 ° C (298 to 318) K). Thus, while a given set of precipitation conditions may have a temperature ranging from 0 to 100 ° C (273 to 373 K), the temperature may rise in certain embodiments to produce the desired precipitate. In certain embodiments, the temperature is raised using the energy generated from low or no carbon dioxide emission sources, for example, solar energy source, wind energy source, hydroelectric power source, etc. In some embodiments, the temperature is high due to exposure to the heat of the combustion gases. While the pH of the water can vary from 7 to 14 during a given precipitation process, in certain embodiments the pH is raised to alkaline levels in order to direct the precipitation of the carbonate minerals as desired. In some of these embodiments, the pH rises to a level that minimizes if not eliminates the production of gaseous CO 2 generated during the precipitation. In these embodiments, the pH can be raised to 10 or higher, such as 11 or higher. When desired, the pH of the water is raised by any convenient method. In certain embodiments, an agent for raising the pH may be used, some examples of such agents include oxides, hydroxides (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, brucite), carbonates (e.g., sodium carbonate), and the like. The amount of the agent that raises the pH that is added to a source of salt water will depend on the particular nature of the agent and the volume of salt water that will be modified and, will be sufficient to raise the pH of the salt water source to the value wanted. Alternatively, the pH of the salt water source can be raised to the desired level by means of electrolysis of the water.

The charge of C02 and the precipitation of carbonate minerals can occur in a continuous process or in separate stages. Thus, charging and precipitation can occur in the same reactor of a system, for example, as illustrated in Figure 1 in step 20, according to certain embodiments of the invention. However, in other embodiments of the invention, these two steps can occur in separate reactors, such that water is the one that first receives the charge of C02 in a charging reactor and, the water loaded with resulting C02 is subjected to the precipitation conditions in a separate reactor.

It may be desirable for the produced aggregate to contain amorphous silica, for example, to improve the hardness and durability of the aggregate produced. Siliceous materials can be added to the aqueous solution of divalent cations before loading the water with waste waste gases such as combustion gases (for example, gases comprising C02). In such embodiments, it adds silica together with an agent that raises the pH, such as fly ash from coal combustion. Due to the oxide content in the fly ash (ie, CaO), the addition of fly ash to an aqueous solution of divalent cations will substantially increase the pH, which will help to dissolve the silica in the fly ash. When an alkaline solution of divalent cations with the dissolved silica is charged with waste gas comprising carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid which rapidly dissociates into carbonate ions. The presence of carbonate ions in a concentration of precipitation allows carbonate compounds to form which can simultaneously precipitate the silica intercalated with the precipitation material.

After the production of precipitation material from the precipitation reaction mixture, the precipitation material is separated from the precipitation reaction mixture to produce precipitation material separately, as illustrated in step 40 of Figure 1 The separation of the precipitation material from the precipitation reaction mixture can be carried out with any of a number of practical approaches, including draining (eg, gravitational sedimentation of the product from precipitation followed by draining), decanting, filtration. (eg, gravity filtration, vacuum filtration, forced air filtration), centrifugation, pressing or any combination thereof. The separation of water in large quantities produces a wet dehydrated precipitation material.

The dehydrated precipitation material can be dried optionally, to produce a dry precipitation material, as illustrated in step 60 of Figure 1. Drying of the precipitation material can be carried out by air drying. When the precipitation material is air dried, the air drying can be done at room temperature or at an elevated temperature. In certain embodiments, the elevated temperature is provided by the flow of industrial waste gases. In such embodiments, the flow of waste gases (for example combustion gases) from an electrical plant can be used first in the drying step where the waste gas flow can have a temperature ranging from 30 to 700 ° C (303 a). 973 K), such as 75 to 300 ° C (348 to 573 K). The gaseous waste stream can be directly contacted with the wet precipitation material in the drying step, or used to indirectly heat gases (such as air) in the drying step. The desired temperature can be provided in the gaseous waste stream, by causing the gas conveyor (eg a pipeline) of an industrial plant to originate at the appropriate location, for example, at a location at a distance from the steam generator of Heat recovery (HRSG) or up to the smoke output, as determined based on the specific characteristics of the exhaust gases and the configuration of the industrial plant. In yet another embodiment, the precipitation material is spray-dried to dry the precipitation material, wherein a liquid slurry comprising the precipitation material is dried by means of its feeding through a hot gas (such as the flow of liquid). gaseous waste from the power plant), for example, where the liquid slurry is pumped through an atomizer into a main drying chamber and the hot gas is passed as an adjoining stream or a countercurrent to the direction of the atomizer. In certain embodiments, the drying is carried out by drying-freezing (i.e., lyophilization), where the precipitation material is frozen, the environmental pressure is reduced and sufficient heat is added so that the water frozen in the precipitation material can sublimate. Depending on the drying protocol of the particular system, the drying station may include a filtering element, a structure for the freezing-drying process, a spray-drying structure, etc.

When desired, the dehydrated precipitation material from the separation reactor 40 may be washed before drying, as illustrated in the optional step 50 of Figure 1. The precipitation material may be washed with fresh water, for example, to remove the salts like NaCl from the dehydrated precipitation material. It is possible to dispose of washing water as convenient, for example, by disposing of it in the waste of a pond, an ocean, a sea, a lake, etc.

In step 70, the dry precipitation material is processed where it is necessary to obtain the desired aggregate product. As reviewed above, this step can include contacting the precipitation material with fresh water (with or without prior drying) to produce a product assembly followed by mechanical processing of the product assembly to produce the desired aggregate. In certain embodiments, a system is used to carry out the above methods, wherein said systems include those described below in greater detail.

B. Adjustable compositions Additional embodiments of the invention are adjustable compositions that include a hydraulic cement and the C02 hijacker aggregate of the invention; with the addition of an aqueous liquid, for example, water, the composition is set and hardened, for example, in concrete or mortar. The term "hydraulic cement" comprises its conventional meaning to refer to a composition that sets and hardens after being combined with water or a solution where the solvent is water, for example, a solution of additives. The curing and hardening of the product produced by the combination of the cements of the invention with an aqueous liquid results from the production of hydrates that are formed from the cement on the reaction with water, where the hydrates are essentially insoluble in water.

The aggregates of the invention find use in place of the conventional rock aggregates used in conventional concrete combined with pure Portland cement. Other hydraulic cements of interest in certain embodiments are Portland cement mixtures. The phrase "Portland cement mixture" includes a hydraulic cement composition that includes a Portland cement component and a significant amount of a component that is not Portland cement. As the cements of the invention are Portland cement mixtures, the cements include a Portland cement component. The Portland cement component can be any appropriate Portland cement. As is known in the art, Portland cements are powder compositions produced by milling Portland cement clinker (more than 90%), a limited amount of calcium sulfate, which controls the established time, and up to 5% constituents. minimums (as allowed by various standards). When the exhaust gases used to obtain carbon dioxide for the reaction contain SOx, then sufficient sulfate may be present as calcium sulfate in the precipitated material, either as cement or aggregate to compensate for the need for additional calcium sulfate. As defined by the European standard EN197.1, "portland cement clinker is a hydraulic material consisting, at least two thirds of the mass, of calcium silicates (3CaO.Si02 and 2CaO.Si02), the rest consists of in phases of the clinker containing aluminum and iron and other compounds.The proportion of CaO with respect to Si02 shall not be less than 2.0.The content of magnesium (MgO) shall not exceed 5.0% of the mass. " The concern for the content of MgO is due to the fact that later, in the setting reaction, magnesium hydroxide, brucite, can be formed, which leads to the deformation and weakening and cracking of the cement. In the case of cements containing magnesium carbonate, brucite is not formed, as it can be with MgO. In certain embodiments, the Portland cement component of the present invention is any Portland cement that meets ASTM standards and specifications of the C150 (Types I-VIII) of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM C50 - Standard Specification for Cement Portland). ASTM C150 covers eight types of Portland cement, each with different properties and used specifically for these properties.

Of interest in hydraulic cements is the carbonate contained in hydraulic cements. Said hydraulic carbonate containing cements, the methods for their manufacture and use are described in the pending of the United States Patent Application serial number 12 / 126,776 filed on May 23, 2008; the disclosure of said requests is incorporated herein by reference.

In certain embodiments, hydraulic cement may be a mixture of two or more different types of hydraulic cements, such as Portland cement and a hydraulic cement containing carbonate. In certain embodiments, the amount of a first cement, for example, Portland cement in the mixture, ranges from 10 to 90% by weight, such as from 30 to 70% by weight, including from 40 to 60% by weight, for example, a mix 80% OPC and 20% hydraulic cement carbonate.

The adjustable compositions of the invention, such as concrete and mortar, are produced by combining hydraulic cement with a quantity of aggregate (fine for mortar, for example, sand, coarse with or without fineness for concrete) and water, either at the same time or with a pre-combination of the cement with the aggregate and then combining the resulting dry components with water. The coarse aggregate material for concrete mixtures using cement compositions of the invention may have a minimum size of about 0.009499 m (3/8 inch) and may vary in size from the minimum to one inch or greater, including graduations between these limits. The finely divided aggregates have sizes less than 0.009499 m (3/8 of an inch) and can again be graduated in much finer sizes as sizes passing through 200 sieve or similar. The fine aggregates may be present in both mortars and concretes of the invention. The proportion of the weight of the cement to be added to the dry components of the cement may vary and, in certain embodiments, varies from 1:10 to 4:10, such as 02:10 to 5:10 including from 55: 1000 to 70: 100.

The liquid phase, for example, aqueous liquid, with which the component is combined to produce the adjustable composition, for example, concrete, can vary, from pure water to water that includes one or more solutes, additives, co-solvents, etc., as desired. The ratio of dry component to liquid phase which is combined in the preparation of the adjustable composition may vary, and in certain embodiments varies from 2:10 to 7:10, such as from 3:10 to 6:10 including 4:10 to 6:10.

In some embodiments, the cements can be used with one or more additives. Additives are compositions added to concrete that provide desirable characteristics that can not be obtained with basic concrete mixtures or to modify concrete properties to make it easier to use or more appropriate for a particular purpose or to reduce costs. As is known in the art, an additive is any material or composition that is not hydraulic cement, aggregate and water, which is used as a component of the concrete or mortar to improve some feature, or reduce the cost thereof. The amount of additive that is used can vary depending on the nature of the additive. In certain embodiments, the amounts of these components vary from 1 to 50% by weight, such as from 2 to 10% by weight.

The additives of interest include mineral additives finely divided as cementitious materials; pozzolans; pozzolanic and cementitious materials; and in nominally inert materials. Pozzolans include diatomaceous earth, opal flint, clays, shales, fly ash, silica fume, volcanic tuffs and pumicite are some of the known pozzolans. Some blast furnace slag of granulated earth and fly ash rich in calcium have pozzolanic and cementitious properties. Nominally, inert materials also include finely divided quartz, dolomites, limestone, marble, granite and others. Fly ash is defined in ASTM C618.

Another type of additives of interest include plasticizers, accelerators, retarders, air entrainers, foaming agents, water reducers, corrosion inhibitors and pigments.

Thus, additives of interest include, but are not limited to: a set of accelerators, a set of retarders, air entraining agents, defoamers, alkaline reactivity reducers, bonding additives, dispersants, coloring additives, inhibitors, additives of waterproofing, gas formers, pumping facilitators, shrinkage compensating additives, fungicide additives, germicidal additives, insecticide additives, rheology modifying agents, finely divided mineral additives, pozzolans, aggregates, wetting agents, strength-improving agents, water repellents and any other additive or mixture of concrete or mortar. The additives known in the art and any suitable additive of the types mentioned above, can be used; see, for example, U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 126,776, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In certain embodiments, the adjustable compositions of the invention include a cement used with fibers, for example, when a fiber-reinforced concrete is desired. The fibers may be made from materials containing zirconium, steel, carbon, fiberglass or synthetic materials, for example, polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, polyester, rayon, high strength aramid (ie, Kevlar ®) or mixtures thereof. .

The components of the adjustable composition can be combined by any appropriate protocol. Each material can be mixed at the time of work, or some or all of the materials can be mixed in advance. Alternatively, some of the materials are mixed with water with or without additives, such as high-range water reducing additives and then the rest of the materials can be mixed with them. As a mixing apparatus, any conventional apparatus can be used. For example, a Hobart mixer, an inclined cylinder mixer, an Omnimixer mixer, a Henschel mixer, a V-type mixer or a Nauta mixer can be used.

Following the combination of the components to produce an adjustable composition (eg, concrete), the adjustable composition will set after a certain period of time. The setting time can vary and, in certain modalities, it varies from 30 minutes to 48 hours, such as from 30 minutes to 24 hours including from 1 hour to 4 hours.

The strength of the product as a whole may also vary. In certain embodiments, the strength of the set cement may vary from 5 MPa to 70 MPa, such as from 10 MPa to 50 MPa including from 20 MPa to 40 MPa. In certain embodiments, the set of products produced from the cements of the invention are extremely durable, for example, as determined by the method described in ASTM C1157.

Aspects of the invention additionally include structures produced from the aggregates and adjustable compositions of the invention. Because these structures are produced from aggregates and / or adjustable compositions of the invention, they include markers or components that identify them as compounds obtained from a precipitated water carbonate composite composition, such as traces of various elements present in the initial source of salt water as described above. For example, when the mineral component of the aggregate component of the concrete is one that has been produced from seawater, the product as a whole will contain a profile of seawater markers of different elements in identified quantities, such as magnesium, potassium , sulfur, boron, sodium and chlorides, etc.

C. Structures Other embodiments include man-made structures containing the aggregates of the invention and the methods of their manufacture. Thus, in some embodiments, the invention provides a man-made structure that includes one or more aggregates as described herein. The man-made structure can be any structure in which the aggregate can be used, such as buildings, dams, dikes, roads or any structure made by man that incorporates an aggregate or a rock. The aggregate may be a carbon dioxide sequestering aggregate, an aggregate with a value of 613C more negative than -10 ° / 0 and the like, or any aggregate described in this document.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a man-made structure, for example, a building, a dike or a road, that includes an aggregate containing C02 from a fossil fuel source, for example, an aggregate that at least has 10% by weight of C02 from a fossil fuel source, or at least 20% C02 from a fossil fuel source, or at least 30% C02 from a fossil fuel source. In some cases the aggregate has a value of 613C more negative than -10 ° / 0o ° more negative than -20 ° / oo. In some modalities, the invention provides a man-made structure, for example, a building, a dike or a road, containing the aggregate where a portion or all of the aggregate is a lightweight aggregate, for example, an aggregate having a density from 1441,662 to 1842,123 kg / m3 (90 to 115 pounds / ft3) and where the aggregate contains C02 from a fossil fuel source for example, an aggregate that has at least 10% by weight of C02 from a fossil fuel source , or at least, 20% of C02 from a fossil fuel source, or at least 30% of C02 from a fossil fuel source. In some cases the aggregate has a value 513C more negative than -10 ° / 0o, or more negative than -20 ° / 0o.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a structure comprising providing an aggregate containing C02 from a fossil fuel source, eg, an aggregate that is at least 10% by weight of CO2 from a fossil fuel source. , or at least 20% C02 from a fossil fuel source, or at least 30% C02 from a fossil fuel source. In some cases the aggregate has a value 613C more negative than -10 ° / oo # or more negative than -20 ° / 0o and at least a portion of the structure is manufactured with the aggregate. In some embodiments at least a portion of the aggregate is a lightweight aggregate, for example, an aggregate having a density of 1441,662 to 1,842,123 kg / m3 (90 to 115 pounds / ft3). 1. Roads In some embodiments, the invention provides a road that includes one or more of the aggregates of the invention, or a component of a road that includes one or more of the aggregates of the invention, and methods and systems for manufacturing roadways. access and / or components. In some embodiments of the invention provides a road carbon dioxide sequestration, that is, a road that is built with the components, which may include one or more aggregates of the invention, whose manufacture results in global sequestration of carbon dioxide, for example, of a source industrial economy and in some embodiments of the invention provides a way for the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the roadway manufacturing to be less than the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered in the roadway material, which may include aggregates of the invention, carbon dioxide sequestration cements, forms and other components, that is, a negative carbon road (road that removes carbon).

The term "road" is used in this document to include a general class of surfaces used for transportation and recreation. Includes pavements used by motor vehicles, animal and pedestrian traffic, bicycles and any other means of transport used individually or in groups. The roads of the invention may include, but are not limited to roads, sidewalks, bridge surfaces, bicycle paths, paved trails and the like, as described in detail below. Roads include structures as simple as gravel roads, which can be single-layered, as well as roads paved with asphalt or concrete, which usually contain two or more layers.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a road that includes a C02 sequestering aggregate, such as an aggregate containing C02 from a source of industrial waste gases, as any of the C02 sequestering aggregates described herein. In some embodiments the road includes an aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate. In some modes, the road includes an aggregate that has a value 513C less than -15 ¾ > , or less than -20 & > , or less than -25 & > . In some modalities the road includes an aggregate that contains dipingite, nesquehonita, magnesite or a combination of one or several of them.

The aggregate of the above embodiments can be used in one or more components of the road, as described in more detail below. The aggregate may constitute more than 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of the road, for example, more than 20% or more than 50%, by weight.

In some modalities, the highway is a highway, a highway system, a city street, an airport runway, a sidewalk or the pavement of an open space. A highway includes a main road destined so that the public can move between important destinations, such as cities and towns. An interconnected set of highways can be referred to as a "highway system" or a "highway network" or a "highway with a transportation system". A street in the city includes any public road that is a plot of land of adjoining buildings in which people can move. The city streets of the invention refer to those roads that are used mainly for vehicular traffic, but that do not experience the high volume of traffic like that of a road, but that lodge loads higher than those applied to the sidewalks. Another exemplary road structure provided by the present invention is an airport runway. A runway includes a strip of land at an airport, in which aircraft can take off and land, and which may also include stop areas (blast pads) that are areas or stopping areas at the ends of a runway, so like the thresholds that are used for the taxiing of the airplane, the takeoff and the deployment of the landing. The sidewalk includes the conventionally paved surface that is adjacent to the roads for vehicular traffic. The sidewalks of the present invention may include any paved road that is primarily used for pedestrian traffic such as cobblestone pavements, paved roads with brick as well as paved roads that are found along the beaches (ie, beach paths), within the parks and between residential and commercial buildings. The sidewalks of the invention may also include bicycle lanes and other roads designed for traffic other than vehicular and / or animal. An open space pavement can be a parcel of land of any size or shape that has been paved so that it can be used for a variety of different purposes. For example, an open space pavement can be a playground, a sports recreation surface (for example, basketball court, roller skating rink), a parking lot and the like. The paved surface can be the basis for temporary buildings or storage facilities. The pavement of the open space can be built according to the load applied and the thickness of each layer can vary considerably.

The invention also provides a road containing material that sequesters at least 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000, 2,000,000, 3,000,000, 4,000,000, 5,000,000, 6,000,000, 7,000,000, 8,000,000, 9,000,000, or 10,000,000 kg (1 , 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, or 10,000 tons) of C02 per 160.93 m (mile) of road lane. In some modalities, the highway is at least 3,048, 30.48, 304.8 or 3,048 m (10, 100, 1000 or 10,000 feet) long, or at least 4.83, 8.05, 16.09, 80.47, 160.93 km (3, 5, 10 , 50, or 100 miles) long. The material can be of any material, for example, the aggregates as described in this document are produced in a man-made process, so that the C02 of an industrial source is trapped in the material, for example, by chemical reaction to produce stable precipitates, and remain in the material under normal conditions of use to the extent desired, or when subjected to specific tests, such as temperature, stability to acidity and / or a base, as described in this document . For example, a single lane road of 4,572 meters (15 feet wide), with a base layer of 0.18 meters (18 cm) deep that contains aggregates, some or all of which is an aggregate of the modalities of the invention, with a gross density of 1601,846 kg / m3 (100 pounds / ft3) containing approximately 1020,583 kg (2,250 pounds) of aggregate per 0.3048 meter (foot) linear of road, or approximately 1100 kg (1.1 tons) per 0.3048 meter ( foot) linear, and therefore approximately 5,500,000 kg (5,500 tons) by 1.61 km (mile) of lane. If the aggregate, in total, sequesters only 1% of its weight in the form of C02, the road will have a content of 55,000 kg (55 tons) of C02 per 1.61 km (mile) of lane. If you sequester 50% of your weight in the form of C02 (for example, if essentially all the aggregate is added-C02 according to some embodiments of the invention), then the road will have a content of material that sequesters at least 2,750,000 kg ( 2750 tons) of C02 by 1.61 km (mile) of lane. A road with a deeper base layer would have, correspondingly, more aggregate and only one with a shallower base layer would have less aggregate. This calculation, assuming that the aggregate is a sequester component of C02, is merely a simple example to illustrate the principle. Other components of the road may also contain C02 sequestering material such as surface cement or asphalt, other road layers and the like. You can easily calculate the amount of C02 that is hijacked by 1.61 kilometers (1 mile) of highway lane. To verify that a material is a C02 sequestering material, for example, a material containing carbon dioxide from the combustion of a fossil fuel, tests such as isotope measurements can be used (for example, the measurement of the 13C values). ) and carbon coulometry, any other appropriate measurement can be used.

The invention also provides a negative carbon road, where "negative carbon" has the meaning used in this document. In some modalities, the highway is at least 3.05, 30.48, 304.8, 3048 m (10, 100, 1000 or 10,000 feet) long, or at least 4.83, 8.05, 16.09, 80.47, 160.93 km (3, 5, 10, 50, or 100 miles) long. In some cases, the road is at least 5% negative carbon, or at least 10% negative carbon, or at least 20% negative carbon, or at least. 30% negative carbon, or at least 40% negative carbon, or at least 50% negative carbon, or at least 60% negative carbon, or at least 70% negative carbon, or at least 80% negative carbon, or at least 90% negative carbon.

The roads are made of several components and the invention also provides one or more of the components of a road. "Road component" includes any component (for example, structural component) used in the construction of a road. In certain embodiments, the road component may be an aggregate, a binder, a soil stabilizer, a concrete, a formed material or the asphalt. In certain other embodiments, the road component may be an adjustable composition such as cement, concrete or formed construction material (for example brick). In some embodiments, the highway component comprises a C02 hijacker aggregate, such as those described in the uses of the inventive aggregates or a carbonate with a value of 513C less than -15 amp.; > or -20 ¾ > . Depending on the type and particular size of the structure of the road being built and its geographical location, the amount of carbonate that is present in a road component of the road may vary. In certain embodiments, the amount of carbonate in a road component can vary from 1 to 100% by weight, for example from 5 to 99% by weight including from 10 to 90%, or from 15 to 50%, or from 30 to 70%, or 50% to 80% or 60-90%, or 70 to 100% or 70 to 99%. In the production of the road component, an amount of the carbonate component is combined with water and other additional components, including, but not limited to: clay, shale, soft slate, calcium silicate, quarry stone, Portland cement, ashes flyers, cement slag, binder, aggregates (eg blast furnace slag, bottom ash, gravel, limestone, granite, sand, etc.), silica fume, silicate and pozzolans. Synthetic carbonate production protocols of interest include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in the U.S. Patent Applications. with serial numbers 12 / 126,776; 12 / 163,205; and 12 / 344,019, as well as some pending, Provisional Patent Applications of E.U. with serial numbers 61 / 017,405; 61 / 017,419; 61 / 057,173; 61 / 056,972; 61 / 073,319; 61 / 079,790; 61/081,299; 61 / 082,766; 61 / 088,347; 61 / 088,340; 61 / 101,629; and 61 / 101,631; whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. The synthetic carbonates used in road and highway components of the invention may be produced by precipitation of a calcium carbonate and / or magnesium composition from water as described herein.

In some modalities, the road component is an asphalt product. The term "asphalt" (ie, bitumen) is used in its conventional sense to include natural or manufactured material, black or dark, solid, semi-solid or viscous, which is composed mainly of high molecular weight hydrocarbons derived from a cut in the distillation of oil after gasoline, kerosene and other fractions of crude oil have been eliminated. Thus, the invention provides an asphalt product that includes asphalt and an aggregate as described herein. The amount of aggregate in the asphalt products of the road of the present invention can vary greatly. It may vary from 5 to 50%, including 10 to 40%, such as 25 to 35%. C02 sequestering asphalt, methods and systems for the production thereof are described in greater detail in United States Provisional Applications 61 / 110,495, filed on October 31, 2008 and 61 / 149,949 filed on February 9, 2009. , the disclosure thereof is incorporated herein by reference.

In other modalities, the road component is a ground stabilizer. By "soil stabilizer" is meant a composition used to improve the stability and structural integrity (ie, maintain its shape) of a soil. C02 sequestering soil stabilizers, the methods and systems to produce them are described in more detail in United States Provisional Application 61 / 149,633, filed on February 3, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In other embodiments, the road component is a formed building material. The term "formed" is understood as in the form of, for example, molded, cast, cut or otherwise produced into a man-made structure with defined physical form, ie, the configuration. The building materials formed are different from the amorphous building materials (for example, powder, paste, liquid mud, etc.) that do not have a defined and stable shape, but rather fit into the container in which they are stored, for example , a bag or other container. The building materials formed that sequester C02, the method and systems for producing them are described in more detail in United States Provisional Application 61 / 149,610, filed on February 3, 2009, its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

As indicated above, the roads of the present invention may include one or more road layers. By way of example, a road, for example, a road that sequesters C02 or a carbon negative road of the invention, may include one or more than one layer, subgrade, a subbase layer, firm base layer and a layer superficial (those terms are understood by experts in the field, equivalent terms may be substituted if the meaning is essentially the same). It can be seen that the composition of these layers determines the type of material that can be used in them. For example, when the aggregates of the invention are used in one or more of the layers, if there are no reinforcing bars or other materials prone to corrosion, the aggregate can be an aggregate with virtually any leachable chloride content that does not decrease of the strength and durability properties of the aggregate. Thus, the aggregates of the invention that are produced in waters with high chlorine contents, such as seawater or a brine, do not necessarily have to be processed or with only minimal processing to remove the chloride, if the aggregate will be used in an appropriate layer of a road. Additionally in some embodiments the invention provides one or more of the layers containing aggregates in which a part or all of the aggregate is a reactive aggregate. Unlike conventional structures, when it comes to roads, reactive aggregates can be considered as an advantage because by reacting, the aggregate provides a stronger bond between the particles and therefore a more durable layer. A road layer as a firm base layer, in which the aggregate is loose, allows the reactive aggregate to form an expansive gel, as long as the expansion does not exceed the empty space.

Methods to produce the road, for example, roads that sequester C02 include the construction of any part of one or more of these layers. Thus, methods for constructing roads, for example, roads that sequester C02 according to aspects of the present invention include the construction of a new highway, replacing a previously constructed highway, or repairing / improving any part of a previously constructed highway. In other modalities, the road, for example, roads that sequester C02 can be full-thickness recovery. However, in other embodiments, however, the roads of the invention can be resurfaced (i.e., overlay layer) only the top layer.

The lower layer of a road may be a subgrade layer. When preparing the subgrade, the first step may include a stage of soil stabilization. The underlying subgrade soil may also be stabilized with the soil stabilizing component of the road of the present invention. The subgrade soil must be mixed with the soil stabilizer component of the road in order to obtain a uniform composition. Depending on the desired properties (e.g., load carrying capacity, frost resistance), the subgrade may be subsequently mixed with other of the road components described above (e.g., cementitious materials) to provide greater stability. The subgrade can also be treated with herbicides to prevent or retard vegetation growth that may affect the long-term structural integrity of the subgrade.

After the final compaction, a primer layer can be added to the surface of the graduated subgrade. In general, if the final road surface is less than 100 mm thick, a layer of primer must be added to the subgrade layer. An exemplary primer layer used in the present invention includes an emulsified asphalt product comprising an amount of an aggregate of the invention, for example, a C02 synthetic sequestrant carbonate described above.

The second layer of a road may be the sub-base layer. The sub-base layer is located above the subgrade and mainly functions as a structural support for the covering base and the surface layers.

In some embodiments, the sub-base may have a minimum thickness or completely absent, depending on the load capacity of the final road that is desired. Since the purpose of a stable sub-base is to provide a uniform distribution of the traffic load in the underlying subgrade, suitable sub-base materials for its use are those that are able to evenly distribute the applied load.

In some embodiments, the sub-base may comprise unconsolidated granular materials. By "unconsolidated granular materials" is meant those that do not join or adhere to one another when applied and compacted but have the natural interlacing or gearing of adjacent particles. The proportion of fine and coarse particles in unconsolidated granular materials will depend on the desired load capacity on the road. Therefore, the particle size of the unconsolidated granular material in the sub-base can vary greatly, from 0.05 mm to 25 mm, although it should not exceed 37.5 mm. In some cases, the unconsolidated granular material can be a non-reactive aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate C02 scavenger. The aggregate component can be produced, as described above, by grinding an adjustable composition or it can be a molded aggregate having a convenient shape for the gearing of the adjacent particles of the aggregate (e.g., star-shaped).

In other embodiments, the sub-base may comprise linking material. The bonding materials are those that bind the neighboring particles by means of a binder. By "binder" is meant a component that is capable of substantially joining or joining adjacent particles. In some cases of the present invention, the binder is an asphalt product comprising a synthetic carbonate sequestering C02. In other cases, the binder may be a cement comprising a synthetic carbonate C02 scavenger. In some embodiments, the sub-base comprises a reactive aggregate. When a reactive aggregate is used, a stabilized matrix is formed between the aggregate particles which allows the subbase to minimize the intrusion of fines from the subgrade into the road structure and minimizes the damage caused by the action of frost. In some embodiments, water may be added to the composition to obtain an optimum moisture content and uniformity of the material. After placing an adequate thickness of the sub-base material, the sub-base can be compacted in the same manner as described above for the subgrade.

In some embodiments, the sub-base may comprise a prefabricated cement slab. The concrete can be prepared by mixing and molding an amount of the C02 sequestering synthetic carbonate and a cementitious component such as Portland cement, in addition to other supplementary cementitious materials as described above. Reinforcing materials, such as a steel rod structure or aluminum wire mesh, can also be used on the concrete slab.

Another layer of a road, provided in the present invention is the firm base layer. The firm base is located immediately below the surface layer and contributes to the distribution of additional load, drainage and frost resistance and provides a stable platform for construction equipment. The base coat layers of the present invention may mainly comprise an aggregate as described above for the sub-base. An aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate C02 sequestrant is preferred especially in cases where there may be problems of underground drainage on the pavement, in areas where the floor of the pavement is unstable, in areas where unsuitable materials have been removed or on flexible roads of maximum depth. In some embodiments, the firm base aggregate comprises a mixture of reactive aggregates and non-reactive aggregates. The proportion of reactive aggregates in the mixture can vary from 5 to 25%, including 5 to 15%, such as 10%. The aggregate composition may include an amount of a cementitious component. The amount of the added cementitious component varies depending on the type of road, it can be from 1 to 20% by weight of the base of the road, including 1 to 10%, such as 5%. The base of the firm can be prepared later by using and mixing a dense graduated or permeable asphalt when mixed hot.

The top layer provided by the invention of the roads is the surface layer. The layer of the road surface is the layer located immediately above the base of the road surface and which is in contact with the traffic load. The surface layer should be constructed in such a way that it offers characteristics such as friction, smoothness, noise control and drainage. Additionally, the surface layer serves as a waterproofing layer for the underlying base, sub-base and subgrade. The surface layer can be constructed in two separate steps to prepare its two layers, the tread layer and the binder layer. The rolling layer is the layer that is in direct contact with the traffic load. It is meant to withstand the weight of wear from the load of traffic and can be removed and replaced as it wears out. The binder layer is most of the structure of the surface layer and serves to distribute the traffic load on the road.

In some embodiments, the surface of the surface provided by the invention comprises mainly the aggregate, of which a part or the whole is an aggregate of the invention and an asphalt binder. Additionally, an amount of the aggregate of the invention can be used in the form of powder as a filler mineral. The amount of asphalt binder used in the tread layer can vary in the range of 5 to 50%, including 5 to 40%, such as 5 to 35%. The size of the aggregate particles used in the surface layer can vary, from 50 mm to 15 mm, including 100 mm to 12.5 mm, such as 75 mm to 10 mm. The tread layer is prepared by mixing the aggregate and filler ore with a hot asphalt binder until all aggregates and mineral filler material are completely coated. The coated aggregate asphalt material can be spread over the surface of the base of the firm in such a way that it produces a smooth and uniform layer. Additionally, an asphalt binder can be used to fill any empty space or graduation changes along the surface. Then, the tread layer is compacted at a high temperature. "High temperature" means a temperature not lower than 125 ° C (398 K).

In other embodiments, the surface layer may be a surface formed of concrete, paved, rigid, as described above. In cases where the surface layer is a concrete slab, the surface can be treated with chemical additives to improve resistance to frost, damage by moisture and wear. A surface layer of rigid concrete can be used on roads that are mainly used for pedestrian traffic or for lighter loads.

Road components comprising a synthetic carbonate C02 scavenger find use in a variety of different applications. Specific structures in which the compositions of the road components of the invention find use, include, but are not limited to: highways, sidewalks, bicycle paths, beachfront roads, airport runways, city streets, streets paved roads, parking lots, skating rinks and any other plot of paved land.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method comprising: the construction of a road comprising a synthetic carbonate sequestering C02. In some embodiments, the invention provides a method comprising: the construction of a road comprising an aggregate that has a value 513C more negative than -10 & > , or, in some modalities, more negative than -20 ¾ > . The aggregate can form more than 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90% of the road.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing a road component, the method comprising: obtaining a synthetic carbonate sequestering C02, and producing a road component comprising a synthetic carbonate C02 sequestrant. Road component can be, for example, an aggregate, a cement, a mixed cement, an asphalt, a soil stabilizer, concrete, a binder, a formed material (brick, stone slab), or an adjustable composition. In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing a road component, the method comprising: obtaining a synthetic carbonate wherein the carbonate has a value 513C more negative than -10 & or, in some modalities, more negative than -20 & > , and the production of a component of the road that comprises the synthetic carbon sequestrant of CO2. The road component can be, for example, an aggregate, a cement, a mixed cement, an asphalt, a soil stabilizer, concrete, a binder, a formed material (brick, stone slab) or an adjustable composition.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a system for producing a road component comprising a synthetic C02 sequestering carbonate, the system comprising: an inlet for water containing an alkaline earth metal; a precipitation station of a carbonate compound that subjects the water to the precipitation conditions of the carbonate compound and produces a synthetic carbonate C02 scavenger; and a producer of road components to produce the road component comprising the synthetic carbonate sequestering C02. In some embodiments, the invention provides a system for producing a road component comprising a synthetic carbonate wherein the carbonate has a 513C more negative than -10 fe, or, in some embodiments, more negative than -20 & > , the system comprises: an inlet for water containing an alkaline earth metal; a precipitation station of carbonate compound which subjects the water to the precipitation conditions of the carbonate compound and produces a synthetic carbonate wherein the carbonate has a value 513C more negative than -10 & > , or, in some modalities, more negative than -20 ¾ > , and a producer of road components to produce the road component comprising the synthetic carbonate wherein the carbonate has a value of 513C more negative than -10 ¾¾ > , or, in some modalities, more negative than - 20 In some embodiments, the invention provides a C02 sequestration method, the method comprising: contacting the water containing an alkaline earth metal ion with a gaseous industrial waste stream comprising C02; precipitation of a synthetic carbonate C02 scavenger from water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, wherein the synthetic carbonate comprises C02 derived from the gaseous industrial waste stream; and the production of a road component comprising the synthetic carbonate sequestering C02. In some embodiments, the invention provides a C02 sequestration method, the method comprising: contacting the water containing an alkaline earth metal ion with a gaseous industrial waste stream comprising C02; precipitation of a synthetic carbonate wherein the carbonate has a value 513C more negative than -10 ¾ > , or, in some modalities, more negative than -20 ¾ > from the water containing the alkaline earth metal ion, wherein the synthetic carbonate comprises C02 derived from the gaseous industrial waste stream; and the production of a road component comprising the synthetic carbonate wherein the carbonate has a 613C value more negative than -10 & > , or, in some modalities, more negative than -20 & > .

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing a merchantable article or commodity that sequesters carbon, the method comprising: producing a road component comprising a synthetic carbonate-sequestering C02 compound; the determination of a quantified value of the C02 sequestered in the road component; and the production of an article or marketable merchandise that sequesters the carbon based on the determined quantified value.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for obtaining a marketable article or commodity that sequesters carbon, the method comprising: (a) generation of C02; (b) transfer of C02 to a C02 hijacker that: (i) produces a road component that comprises a C02 sequestering synthetic carbonate compound, (ii) determines a quantified value of C02 sequestered in the road component and (iii) ) produces a merchantable article or merchandise that sequesters carbon based on the determined quantified value, and (c) receives an item or marketable merchandise that sequesters carbon from the C02 hijacker.

III. Methods The methods of the invention include methods of making aggregates, methods for sequestering C02 through the manufacture of aggregates, the production of a set of aggregates with a certain set of characteristics, methods for making adjustable compositions, methods for making structures. which include the aggregates of the invention and, commercial methods.

A. Aggregate manufacturing methods.

In some embodiments, the invention provides methods of making aggregates. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of making aggregates by dissolving carbon dioxide from an industrial waste stream in an aqueous solution and precipitating one or more carbonate compounds from the aqueous solution, dehydrating the precipitate, and in some embodiments, an additional treatment of the dehydrated precipitate to produce an aggregate. The industrial waste stream can be any suitable waste stream, as described in this document. In some modalities the industrial waste stream is the combustion gas of an electric plant that works with the burning of coal. The contact can be made by any suitable apparatus and method, also described herein, for example, a flat injection connector or aerosol contact. In some embodiments, the C02 in the industrial waste stream is contacted with the aqueous solution using a flat flow connector as described herein. The protons are removed from the aqueous solution containing the dissolved C02 (and bicarbonate and carbonate, as dictated by the pH) by any convenient means, as also described later in this document.; In some embodiments, the protons are removed by an electrochemical system that can be used to produce a base for the elimination of protons, or they can be used to directly eliminate the protons (for example, by contact with the solution in which the C02 dissolves), for an additional description see this Application and the US Patent Applications numbers 12 / 344,019 and 12 / 375,632. The composition of the precipitate depends on the composition of the aqueous solution; the aqueous solution contains divalent cations, for example, magnesium and / or calcium, which may come from one or more varieties of sources, including seawater, brines such as geological brines, minerals such as minerals such as serpentine, olivine and similar, fly ash, slag, industrial waste such as red mud from bauxite refining. Thus, the calcium / magnesium ratio in the precipitate may vary and may be one of the proportions described herein, such as 5/1 to 1/5 or 1/1 to 1/10 or 100/1 to 10/1, or any other proportion depending on the material used in the aqueous solution. The precipitate contains calcium and / or magnesium carbonates and can additionally contain other components of the industrial waste gases contained in the precipitate, as described herein, for example, sulfates or sulphites, precipitates of nitrogen-containing compounds, heavy metals as Mercury and others as described in this document. In some embodiments, the precipitate is dehydrated. The post-treatment may include a treatment with temperature and / or high pressure, as described herein, for example, by means of a plate press or by extrusion. The dehydrated precipitate in some embodiments is subjected to an additional drying treatment, then water is added to return it to the desired percentage, for example, 1-20% or 1-10% or 3-7% by weight. In some embodiments, the dehydrated, optionally dried and reconstituted precipitate is treated through an extrusion press that can produce aggregates of virtually any shape and size as described hereinafter. In some embodiments, the dehydrated, optionally dried and reconstituted precipitate is treated by pressing in a plate press, which can produce aggregates with aggregate form or "plates" which can be discussed below. The dehydrated precipitate in some embodiments is subjected to high pressure, for example, 13789514.56068-41368543.68205 Pa (2000-6000 psi), or even 13789514.56068-137895145.60686 Pa (2000-20,000 psi), for a suitable time, for example, 0.1 minutes at 100 minutes, or 1 to 20 minutes or 1 to 10 minutes, at a suitable temperature, for example, 50-150 ° C (323-423 K) or 70-120 ° C (343-393 K) or 80-100 ° C C (353-373 K). In some forms, the product thus formed is used as it is. In some embodiments, the product contains carbonate and has a value 513C more negative than -10 ¾ > , or more negative than -15 ¾ > , or more negative than -20 ¾ > , or more negative than -25 & > . In other embodiments, the product is further treated, for example, by grinding, grinding and the like. In some embodiments, additional methods include combining the aggregate produced in that manner into an adjustable composition.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing an aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate by obtaining a synthetic carbonate, and producing an aggregate comprising the synthetic carbonate. Any suitable method, such as those described herein, can be used to obtain the synthetic carbonate, as long as it is suitable for use in an aggregate. In some embodiments, the synthetic carbonate comprises sequestered C02. In some embodiments, the synthetic carbonate has a value 513C more negative than -10 or more negative than -15 or more negative than -20 ¾ > , or more negative than -25 & > . The step of obtaining may comprise the precipitation of the synthetic carbonate from water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, for example, salt water such as seawater, or a brine, or water treated to contain alkaline earth metals, for example. , from minerals or industrial waste such as fly ash, slag, or red mud. In some embodiments, the step of obtaining additionally comprises contacting the water containing alkaline earth metal ions with an industrial gaseous waste stream comprising the C02 prior to the precipitation step; The flow of industrial gaseous waste can come from, for example, an electric plant, smelting plant, cement plant, refinery, or a foundry furnace; The gaseous waste stream can be, for example, combustion gases, such as combustion gases from an electric plant that works with the burning of coal. In some embodiments, the step of obtaining further comprises raising the pH of the water containing the alkaline earth metal ion to a value of 10 or higher during the precipitation step. In some embodiments, the production step further comprises: generating an adjustable composition comprising the synthetic carbonate; and allows the adjustable composition to form a solid product. In some alternative embodiments, the production step further comprises the step of subjecting the precipitate to a combination of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a suitable aggregate for the intended use; such as a temperature between 35 and 500 ° C (308 and 773 K), or between 50 and 200 ° C (323 and 473 K), or 50 and 150 ° C (323 and 423 K), and a pressure between (1000 psi and 20,000 psi), or between (1000 psi and 1-0,000 psi), or between (1000 psi and 6000 psi), such as from (4000 psi to 6000 psi). In some alternative embodiments, the step of generation comprises mixing the synthetic carbonate with one or more of: water, Portland cement, fly ash, lime and a binder. The generation step may additionally comprise the mechanical refinement of the solid product, such as by molding, extrusion, lyophilization, grinding or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the production step comprises contacting the synthetic carbonate with fresh water, for example, to convert the synthetic carbonate into a stable fresh water product. In some embodiments, the contact step comprises: the extension of the synthetic carbonate in an open area and contacting the extended synthetic carbonate with fresh water.

B. Other methods In some embodiments, the invention provides a method comprising: obtaining a composition comprising a hydraulic cement and an aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate, and producing an adjustable composition comprising the obtained composition. The aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate may, in some embodiments, be made by the methods described herein. In some embodiments, the synthetic carbonate comprises sequestered C02. In some embodiments, the synthetic carbonate has a value 513C more negative than -10 ¾ > , or more negative than -15 ¾ > , or more negative than -20 ¾ > , or more negative than -25 §¾. The method may further comprise that the adjustable composition may be set as a solid product, such as a structural product, for example, a part of a road, or the asphalt, or the foundations of a building.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for sequestering carbon dioxide, the method comprising: a precipitation of the C02 sequestering carbonate compound composition from water containing an alkaline earth metal ion; and the production of an aggregate comprising the composition of the carbonate compound sequestering C02. In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for sequestering C02 by contacting the water containing the alkaline earth metal ion with an industrial gaseous waste stream comprising C02; the precipitation of a synthetic carbonate from water containing an alkaline earth metal ion, where the synthetic carbonate comprises C02 derived from the industrial gaseous waste stream; and the production of aggregates comprising synthetic carbonate. In some modalities, the aggregate is combined in an adjustable composition. The aggregate can be used in the fabrication of man-made structures. In some embodiments, the aggregate represents at least 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 95% of the structure made by man. In some modalities, the structure made by man is a building. In some modalities, the man-made structure is a road or a component of the road. In some modalities, the structure made by man is a prey. In other modalities, the aggregate is transported to a storage site, such as an underwater storage site or an underground storage site, for example, a coal mine or other sites where fossil fuels are removed. The aggregate can be transported to the site, for example, by rail, as in the same rail cars where coal is transported to the coal-burning power plant where the aggregate was produced. The aggregate can be produced in a variety of ways so that packaging at the storage site is more efficient and / or packaging is stronger.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing a sequestering aggregate by: obtaining a sequestering component of CO 2; and the production of an aggregate comprising the C02 hijacker component. The C02 scavenger component can be obtained, in some embodiments, by precipitating a carbonate from an aqueous solution that has been in contact with a gaseous waste stream containing C02. The aggregate can be produced by any appropriate method, such as the methods described in this document.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing an aggregate containing carbon with a value of 513C more negative than -10 & > , or more negative than -158O, or more negative than -20 Ib, or more negative than -25% 6 by: obtaining a component containing carbon with a value of 613C more negative than -10 ¾¾, or more negative than - 15 & > , or more negative than -20 ¾ > , or more negative than -25 & >; and produce an aggregate from the component, thus producing an aggregate containing carbon with a value of 613C more negative than -10 fe, or more negative than -15 fe, or more negative than -20 fe, or more negative than -25 faith. The component can be obtained, in some embodiments, by precipitation of a precipitate containing carbonate from an aqueous solution which was contacted with an industrial gaseous waste stream containing C02 from the combustion of fossil fuels; depending on the type of fossil fuel, C02 will contain a carbon with a value 513C more negative than -10 fe, or more negative than -15 fe, or more negative than -20 fe, or more negative than -25 fe, and carbonates precipitates from this gas also have similar values of 513C. The carbonate counter-ion, in some embodiments, is calcium, magnesium or a combination of calcium and magnesium in any proportion such as those described herein. In some modalities, the aggregate is combined in an adjustable composition. The aggregate can be used in the fabrication of man-made structures. In some embodiments, the aggregate represents at least 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 95% of the structure made by man. In some modalities, the structure made by 'man is a building. In some modalities, the man-made structure is a road or a component of the road. In some modalities, the structure made by man is a prey. In other modalities, the aggregate is transported to a storage site, such as an underwater storage site or an underground storage site, for example, a coal mine or other sites where fossil fuels are removed. The aggregate can be transported to the site, for example, by rail, as in the same rail cars where coal is transported to the coal-burning power plant where the aggregate was produced. The aggregate can be produced in a variety of ways so that packaging at the storage site is more efficient and / or packaging is stronger. Storage sites also include wave-resistant structures (eg, artificial reefs), or other structures resistant to movement and water currents (eg, a breakwater); thus, the invention provides wave-resistant structures containing one or more of the aggregates described herein, and also provides structures resistant to movement and water currents that contain one or more of the aggregates described herein. The invention also provides methods for making wave-resistant structures or water-resistant structures including the manufacture of an aggregate as described herein, and the formation of a wave-resistant structure or a structure resistant to movement and streams of water using the aggregate.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method comprising: obtaining an adjustable composition comprising a hydraulic cement and a C02 sequestering aggregate; and the production of a solid product from the adjustable composition.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing a structure with negative carbon by the use of a negative carbon aggregate in the construction of the structure. The term "negative carbon" has the meaning described in this document. In some modalities, the structure is a building. In some modalities, the structure is a prey. In some modalities the structure is a highway. In some embodiments, the structure is a component of a larger structure, for example, the foundation of a building, or the base of a road or any other base layer for a road. In some embodiments, the negative carbon aggregate comprises at least 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90% of the structure. In some embodiments, the structure also includes at least one other C02 hijacker component. For example, in some embodiments, the structure additionally contains a supplementary cementitious material sequestering C02, and / or a C02 scavenger puzulana, which is used in the manufacture of cement for the structure. In some embodiments, the structure additionally contains a C02 sequestering cement. In some embodiments, the amount of C02 sequestered in the manufacture of the structure and its components exceeds the amount of C02 produced in the manufacture of the structure and its components by at least 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 , 60 70, 80, 90, or 95%, where the percentage (%) is calculated as described for the "negative carbon" in this document.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing a merchantable article or commodity that sequesters carbon by producing an aggregate comprising a synthetic carbonate-sequestering C02 compound; the determination of a quantified value of the C02 sequestered in the aggregate; and the production of an article or tradable merchandise that sequesters the carbon based on the determined quantified value. In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for obtaining a marketable article or commodity that sequesters carbon by generating CO 2; transfer of C02 to a C02 hijacker that: (i) produces an aggregate that comprises a synthetic carbonate compound, C02 sequestrant, (ii) determines a quantified value of C02 sequestered in the aggregate containing C02, and (iii) produces an article or marketable merchandise that sequesters carbon based on the determined quantified value, and (c) the receipt of a merchantable item or commodity that sequesters carbon from the C02 hijacker.

In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for the production of light weight aggregates by treating a starting material such that there is no net production of CO 2 during the treatment, to produce a lightweight aggregate. In some modalities there is no net sequestration of C02 in the production of the aggregate. The starting material may be an aqueous solution, a gaseous flow containing C02, such as a flow of industrial gaseous waste, a source of divalent cations, or a combination thereof. The starting materials can be treated so that they precipitate a carbonate, where carbonate sequesters C02 in the process. The process may also include • treatment of the precipitate under conditions that produce a lightweight aggregate, for example, an aggregate with a gross density (unit weight) of 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 pounds / ft3) , such as 1441.8 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 and 115 pounds / ft3).

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for manufacturing an artificial rock without the use of binders by subjecting a synthetic carbonate to conditions that cause a physical transformation, 'in such a way that they form an artificial rock, where the formation of the artificial rock does not depend on the chemical reactions of the starting material. In some embodiments, the artificial stone is formed by dissolution and re-precipitation of compounds in the initial synthetic carbonate to produce new compounds or larger amounts of compounds that were already in the starting material. In some embodiments, new or greater amounts of compounds include one or more of dipingite, hydromagnesite and / or nesquehonite. In some embodiments, fabrication of the artificial rock includes that the synthetic carbonate is subjected to a combination of elevated temperature and pressure for a sufficient period of time to produce the artificial rock. In some embodiments, the conditions to which the synthetic carbonate is subjected, are sufficient to produce an artificial rock having a hardness greater than 2, or greater than 3, or greater than 4 or 2-7, or 2-6. , or 2-5, on the Mohs scale or its equivalent on the Rockwell, Vickers or Brinell scale. In some embodiments, the conditions to which the synthetic carbonate is subjected, are sufficient to produce an artificial rock with a gross density of 801 to 3204 kg / m3 (50 to 200 pounds / ft3). In some embodiments, the conditions to which the synthetic carbonate is subjected are sufficient to produce an artificial rock with a gross density of 1201.5 to 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 to 125 pounds / ft3).

In some embodiments the invention provides a method for making an aggregate comprising the combination of the waste gases of an industrial process with water containing species that react with the waste gas to form a precipitate and the processing of the precipitate to form an aggregate.

The methods of the invention allow the production of virtually any form or size of the aggregate, as well as any number of other characteristics of the aggregate, such as hardness, abrasion resistance, density, porosity, chemical composition, mineral composition, resistance to acidity. , resistance to alkalinity, chlorine content, sodium content, C02 retention, and reactivity (or lack of it). Thus, in some embodiments, the invention provides methods for manufacturing the aggregate by manufacturing the aggregate into a set of predetermined characteristics. In some of these modalities, the aggregate that contains C02 comes from a flow of industrial gaseous waste. In some embodiments, features include two or more in size, shape, hardness, abrasion resistance, density, porosity, chemical composition, mineral composition, acid resistance, alkaline resistance, chloride content, sodium content, retention of C02 and reactivity (or lack of it). In some embodiments, features include three or more of: size, shape, hardness, abrasion resistance, density, porosity, chemical composition, mineral composition, acid resistance, alkaline resistance, chloride content, sodium content, retention of C02 and reactivity (or lack of it). In some embodiments, features include four or more of: size, shape, hardness, abrasion resistance, density, porosity, chemical composition, mineral composition, acid resistance, alkaline resistance, chloride content, sodium content, retention of C02 and reactivity (or lack of it). In some modalities, features include size and shape. In some embodiments, the characteristics include size, shape, and at least one of: hardness, abrasion resistance, density, porosity, chemical composition, mineral composition, acidity resistance, alkaline resistance, chloride content, sodium content , C02 retention and reactivity (or lack of it).

In the modalities where the set of aggregates is made to include aggregates of predetermined size and shape, the methods to obtain the aggregates with a desired shape and size are described in this document. Any desired mixture can be produced, for example, a mixture of aggregates with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more than ten aggregate sizes, in combination with one, two, three , four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more than ten forms of aggregates. For example, a set of aggregates can have at least two sizes and at least two shapes, or exactly two sizes and exactly two shapes. This is an example only, and any combination of numbers of sizes and shapes can be used. The size can be any size desired, for example, to provide a desired degree of packing and reduce the need for cement in a concrete, a series of graduated sizes can be used, for example, selected from the largest coarse aggregate to the finest of the fine aggregates, or any combination between them. In the same way, the shapes can be of any predetermined desirable form, for example, a whole form or a variety of shapes. Some sizes of aggregates in the set can occur in one way, while others can occur in one or more other ways. For example, the methods of the invention allow the production of a series of aggregates that include spherical or disk-shaped aggregates in a set of sized sizes, for packaging, as well as a portion of the larger particles having elongated shape (i.e., having a high aspect ratio, as described herein) to improve fluidity and / or to reduce cracking, act as "insurance". Other possibilities are sets of aggregates with some pieces in the form of stars to be meshed when combined with other smaller pieces to pack and reduce the need for cement. These possibilities are only exemplary and those skilled in the art will recognize that the set of aggregates can be made in practically any combination of size and shape depending on the work for which they are intended.; from this work the characteristics of the aggregate set can be determined and the set can be "made to order." Other useful features may be included in addition to size and shape, such as reactivity. In some applications, a certain degree of reactivity may be useful, or it may be useful for a certain percentage of the aggregate set but not the whole set to be reactive. In road construction, for example, it may be useful to have a road base composed of a certain degree of reactive aggregate so that filtering water through the road surface causes the underlying aggregate to react and form a stronger base. The methods of the invention allow a calibrated amount of reactive aggregate, for example, aggregates containing siliceous materials, can be used in a set of aggregates to achieve a desired degree of total reactivity. This can be done in a certain percentage of the aggregate of a certain size, or in the whole size of a particular aggregate, or the form, etc.

Other characteristics that can be varied based on the conditions under which the aggregate is manufactured, include hardness. While a harder aggregate is generally preferred, certain kinds of size or shape of an aggregate in a set may be more useful if they are a bit soft, for example, to provide deformation in certain highly packaged uses. For example, if the aggregate is used to fill the gaps in the mines, such as in coal mines, it may be convenient to develop a set of aggregates with a variety of sizes to pack, as well as having a certain percentage of a smaller aggregate than It is a bit softer for deformation as the aggregate is as firmly as possible in the gap resulting from the coal mining process.

Other characteristics include stability, for example, solubility such as solubility at acid, neutral or basic pH. All the aggregates of a set can have the same solubility or different solubilities. Certain aggregates in a set can be deliberately manufactured to be soluble under the conditions of use, so that in a period of time, which can be of any duration, they dissolve and form an empty space in a concrete or other material, which coincides with the size and shape of the aggregate. This allows the manufacture of controlled permeability concrete.

Abrasion resistance can also be controlled in the aggregate assemblies, therefore an aggregate can be produced with all that is needed to have a resistance abrasion or can be assemblies of different aggregates of different resistance to abrasion.

IV. Systems Aspects of the invention include systems, e.g., processing plants or factories, for producing carbonate composite compositions, e.g., salt water that derives carbonate and mineral hydroxide compositions and aggregates from the invention, as well as concretes and mortars that include aggregates of the invention. Systems of the invention can have any configuration that allows the practice of the production method of interest.

Aspects of the invention additionally include systems, for example, processing plants or factories, to produce the aggregate of the invention from divalent cations and industrial waste gas components, as well as concretes and mortars including the aggregates of the invention. Systems of the invention can have any configuration that allows the practice of the production method of interest. Systems of the invention include a system for the production of aggregates wherein the system includes an inlet of water containing divalent cations, a precipitation station of the carbonate compound which subjects the water to the precipitation conditions of the carbonate compound and produces a composition of precipitated carbonate compound; and a producer of aggregates for the production of the aggregate from the composition of precipitated carbonate compound. In some embodiments, the system additionally includes an inlet for the flow of gaseous waste containing C02 / which in some embodiments may be a waste gas flow from a power plant, smelter, cement plant or a smelting furnace, for example, in some modalities, an electric plant such as a coal-fired power plant. The aggregate producer of the system can be a producer of aggregates using any suitable method for the production of an aggregate with the desired qualities, for example, any of the methods described in this document, such as the use of a combination of temperature and pressure. , as in a plate press, an extruder or a roller system. In some modalities the aggregate producer is capable of producing an aggregate of a specific size and / or a specific form. In some embodiments, the aggregate producer is capable of producing aggregates of a variety of sizes and / or shapes. The producer of aggregates can produce aggregates in a single step or in more than one step, for example, a step of producing a solid block followed optionally by one or more steps to produce aggregates of the desired properties, for example, the size and / or block shape. In some embodiments, a system of the invention is capable of producing at least 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 1,000,000, or 10,000,000 kg (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000 , or 10,000 tons) of aggregates per day containing at least 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 kg (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, or 0.5 tons) of C02 sequestered from C02 source per 1000 kg (ton) of aggregates. In some embodiments, a system of the invention is capable of producing at least one tonne of aggregates per day containing at least 0.1 tons of C02 sequestered from a C02 source per tonne of aggregates. In some embodiments, a system of the invention is capable of producing at least one tonne of aggregates per day containing at least 0.2 tons of C02 sequestered from a C02 source per tonne of aggregates. In some embodiments, a system of the invention is capable of producing at least one tonne of aggregates per day containing at least 0.3 tons of C02 sequestered from a C02 source per tonne of aggregates. In some embodiments, a system of the invention is capable of producing at least 10 tons of aggregates per day containing at least 0.3 tons of C02 sequestered from one C02 source per tonne of aggregates. In some of these modalities, the aggregate is suitable for use as a construction material.

Figure 2 provides a diagram of a precipitation and a production system of the aggregate according to an embodiment of the invention. In Figure 2, the system 100 includes the source of divalent cations 110. In certain embodiments, the source of divalent cations 110 includes a structure having an inlet for an aqueous solution containing divalent cations, such as an ocean pipeline or conduit. , etc. When the aqueous solution of divalent cations that is processed by the system to produce the precipitation material, and, subsequently, aggregates, is seawater, the inlet is in fluid communication with seawater. For example, the entrance may be a pipe line or a water supply from the oceans to a base system on land, or the entrance may be a port of entry into the hull of a ship (for example, where the system is part of a ship that goes to the sea).

Also shown in Figure 2, the source 130 of the gaseous waste stream comprises carbon dioxide and other components of the combustion gases. The residual gas flow may vary as described above. The source of divalent cations and the source of the gaseous waste stream are connected to a charging and precipitating reactor 120. The charger and precipitator 120 can include any number of different elements, such as temperature regulators (e.g., configured to heat the water at a desired temperature), additive chemical elements (for example, to introduce chemical agents that raise the pH (such as fly ash) in the water), and electrolysis elements (eg, cathodes / anodes, etc. The charger and precipitator 120 It can operate in a batch process, a semi-batches process or a continuous process.

The product of the precipitation reaction (e.g., liquid slurry) is optionally processed in a separator 140 and illustrated in Figure 2. The separator 140 can use a variety of different processes for water extraction, including processes such as continuous centrifugation. , centrifugation, centrifugation by filters, gravitational sedimentation and the like. The precipitation material can simply be washed with fresh water and allowed to moisten for a hardening reaction with fresh water. The elimination of partial and mechanical water can be carried out to adjust the density of the joint product, controlling the strength and hardness.

The system shown in figure 2 also includes a dryer 160 optionally, for drying the dehydrated precipitation material produced in a separator 140. Depending on a particular drying protocol of the system, the dryer 160 may include a filtering element , freeze-dried from the structure, oven-dried, an aerosol drying structure, etc. as described above with more details.

Also shown is an optional washing station 150, where the coarse dehydration of the precipitation material with a separator 140 is washed, for example, to remove salts and other solutes from the precipitation material before drying in the dryer 160.

The precipitation material dried with the dryer 160 is then used in the aggregate production unit 180, where the precipitation material can be processed to produce a final aggregate product.

As indicated above, the system may be present on land or sea. For example, the system can be a base system that is a coastal region (for example, near a source of seawater), or even an inland location, where water is piped into the production and precipitation system of aggregates from a source of divalent cations (for example, the ocean). Alternatively, the precipitation and aggregate production system can be a water-based system (i.e., a system that is present on or in the water). Such a system may be present on a ship, offshore platforms, etc., if desired.

IV. Utility The aggregates of interest and the adjustable compositions including them, may be useful in a variety of different applications such as the above, stable C02 sequestering products, as well as building materials. Specific structures wherein the adjustable compositions of the invention can be used, include, but are not limited to: pavements, architectural structures, eg, buildings, foundations, freeways / highways, overpasses, parking structures, brick walls / blocks, bases of a gate or fence, fences or fences and posts. Mortars of the invention can be used to fix building blocks, for example, bricks, to join or fill gaps between the building blocks. Mortars can also be used to fix existing structures, for example, to replace sections where the original mortar is compromised or eroded, among other uses.

The following examples are presented in order to provide those skilled in the art with a disclosure and complete description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors consider to be their invention nor should it be assumed that the The experiments listed below are all or the only ones, experiments that were carried out. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to the numbers used (eg, quantities, temperature, etc.), but some experimental errors and deviations must be accounted for. Unless otherwise indicated, the parts are parts by weight, the molecular weight is the average molecular weight of molecular weight, the temperature is measured in degrees centigrade and the pressure is or approaches atmospheric.

EXAMPLES Example 1. Preparation of precipitation material for use in the aggregate 287,691.3 liters (76,000 gallons) of seawater are pumped at a rate of 151.4165 liters (40 gallons) per minute in an open cistern with a capacity of 946,352.9 liters (250,000 gallons) configured with sprinklers at the bottom of the tank to reach a level of Seawater height in the tank 0.374 m (6 feet) above the sprinklers. Subsequently the carbon dioxide was sprayed into the seawater at a rate that allowed to maintain the pH value above 5.6.

The carbon dioxide was continuously sprayed and then liquid slurry with a content of 4,500 kg of magnesium hydroxide milled by injection (to decrease the size of the particles and improve the dissolution rates) was added through pipes with in-line mixers. (Magnesium hydroxide for this experiment was obtained from residues of a magnesia plant from seawater (MgO), magnesium hydroxide contained about 85% Mg (OH) 2, about 12% CaC03, and around 3% SiO2). The carbon dioxide was continued to be sprayed until the complete addition of magnesium hydroxide and until 45.36 kg (9,400 pounds) of carbon dioxide was added. Half of the reaction mixture in the tank (tank A) was subsequently transferred to another tank (tank B). The total time to complete these steps was approximately 30 hours.

About 1135,624 liters (300 gallons) of 50% by weight sodium hydroxide solution was added to tank A for a period of 4-6 hours until the pH reached 9.5. After this mixture was transferred to tank B for a time close to 5 hours and allowed to stand under the action of gravity for 8-12 hours.

The settled precipitation material was removed from the bottom of tank B and a part of this material was subsequently washed with fresh water, dehydrated in a filter press to produce a pulp filtered with approximately 30% solids and used to prepare the aggregate (see Example 2).

The data obtained by X-ray fluorescence (FRX) (Table 3) indicate that the material precipitation had a high content of the Mg: Ca ratio by weight of 12. The data of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), provided in this document (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.) indicated that the precipitation material remained moist. In Fig. 5 a TGA analysis of the wet precipitation material is shown. In Fig. 6 a TGA analysis of the dried precipitation material in a desiccator is shown.

Na Mg Al Si Si Cl K Ca Fe Weight (%) 1.65 19.99 0.00 0.24 0.06 2.09 0.07 1.68 0.04 Table 3: Elemental analysis by XRF of the precipitation material % H20% C02 Weight (%) 27.38 31.98 Table 4: Percentage of C02 content (coulometry) and calculated percentage of H20 from TGA The X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) of the precipitation material (Fig. 4) indicates the presence of dipingite (Mg5 (C03) (OH) 2 · 5 (H20)) as an important phase, nesquehonita (gC03-3H20) as another phase, a little hydromagnesite (Mg5 (C03) 4 (OH) 2 · 4 (H20)) and calcite as minor components. A little halite (NaCl) was also detected.

An infrared spectrum with Fourier transform (FT-IR) of the precipitation material is also provided (Fig. 7). Images are also provided of the material of the precipitation observed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with magnifications of lOOOx (left) and 4000X (right) (Fig. 8).

Example 2: Preparation of the aggregate from the precipitation material The steel molds of a Wabash hydraulic press (Model No .: 75-24-2TRM; ca.1974) were cleaned and the plates were previously heated in such a way that the surfaces of the plate (including the mold cavity and the punch) they were maintained at 90 ° C (363 K) for at least one hour.

A little of the paste of the filtered precipitation material of Example 1 was dried in the oven in trays at 40 ° C (313 K) for 48 hours and then ground and ground in the blender in such a way that the ground material was transferred to through a sieve No. 8. Then the ground material was mixed with water giving a mixture with 90-95% solids and the remainder was from the added water (5-10%).

A mold of 0.1016 mx 0.2032 m (4"x 8") is filled in the Wabash press with the wet mixture of the ground precipitation material and a pressure of 27,579,029.17 Pa (4000 psi) is applied to the precipitation material for about 10 seconds. . The pressure is released and the mold is reopened. The precipitation material stuck to the walls of the mold is scraped and moved towards the center of the mold. The mold is closed again and a pressure of 27, 579, 029.17 Pa (4000 psi) is applied for a total of 5 minutes. Subsequently the pressure is released, the mold is reopened and the pressed precipitation material (now added) is removed from the mold and cooled to ambient conditions. Optionally, the aggregate can be transferred from the mold to a drying rack in an oven of 110 ° C (383 K) and dried for 16 hours before cooling to ambient conditions.

Once the aggregate cools to room temperature, it acquires an appearance like that of slightly tanned or white limestone. The surface of the aggregate can not be scratched with a coin, which indicates that it has a Mohs hardness of 3 or greater, which corresponds to the hardness of most natural limestones.

A laminar structure was observed when the aggregate was broken in half. When the natural limestone of the Calera formation of Northern California was fractured, the laminar structure observed in the aggregate was observed. Natural limestone flakes were broken by applying a force only a little greater than that which was necessary to break the aggregate. By rubbing samples of natural limestone and aggregate between the palms of the hand for 5 seconds it is noted that the aggregate is slightly more friable than limestone.

Figures 9-12 provide spectra and images of the experiment: the. Fig. 9 provides a DRX spectrum of the aggregate; Fig. 10 provides an FT-IR spectrum of the aggregate; Fig. 11 provides TGA data for the aggregate; and Fig. 12 provides SEM images of the aggregate with magnifications of lOOOx (left) and 4000x (right) magnification.

Example 3: Aggregate of wollastonite mixture and precipitation material Part of the precipitation material prepared in Example 1 (mainly nescheonite rods from a paste of unwashed filtered precipitation material) is dried in an oven to constant weight. The dry starting precipitation material (5 kg) is subsequently added to a reaction vessel, with 1 kg commercial grade wollastonite (calcium silicate) and 500 ml of 50% by weight sodium hydroxide (with stirring). 12 kg of water are added to the reaction mixture with continuous stirring. Subsequently, the reaction mixture is heated to 70 ° C (343 K) overnight.

The resulting material product is. it is filtered, spray dried and used to prepare the aggregate as described in example 2, including the optional step of drying the aggregate in a drying rack in an oven at 110 ° C (383 K) for 16 hours.

Na Mg Al Si Si Cl K Ca Fe Weight (%) 0.00 0.48 0.27 22.12 0.00 0.19 0.00 36.18 0.30 Table 5: Elemental analysis by FRX of the starting wollastonite material Na Mg I Al Si S Cl K Ca Fe Weight (%) 12.14 13.09 ^ 0.12 4.48 0.36 2.47 0.06 7.19 0.07 Table 6: Elemental analysis by FRX of the spray-dried material % H20% C02 Weight (%) 14.67 23.77 Table 7: Percentage of C02 content (coulometry) and percentage of H20 calculated by TGA in the spray-dried material Fig. 13 shows DRX spectra of the aggregate (upper spectrum), spray-dried material (center spectrum) and starting wollastonite material (lower spectrum). The DRX spectrum for the starting wollastonite material (upper spectrum) indicates that the starting wollastonite material comprises wollastonite 1A and possibly 2M wollastonite (two polymorphs of wollastonite), wustite (FeO) and corundum phases (A1203). The spray-dried material (medium spectrum) shows hydromagnesite (Mg5 (C03) 4 (OH) · 4H20) and aragonite (CaC03) phases. (The coulometry indicates that the spray-dried material has a C02 percentage of 24% by weight, which supports the presence of the observed carbonate phases). Most of the peaks associated with the starting wollastonite material are still visible, however, several peaks show enlargement indicating that some reactions are occurring between the starting precipitation material and wollastonite during the above procedure. The XRD analysis of the aggregate (upper spectrum) indicates that there are few changes between the crystalline phases of the spray-dried material and the aggregate.

Fig. 14, which provides a TGA analysis of the aggregate (solid line) and the spray dried material (dotted line), indicates that there is loss of water during pressing (first peak below 100 ° C (373 K)) , but a few other changes occur as a result of the pressing. Peaks close to 400 ° C (673 K) are indicative of magnesium carbonate hydrates and peaks around 650-680 ° C (923-953 K) are indicative of calcium carbonates.

Fig. 15 provides SE images of the spray dried (top) and aggregate (bottom) material. In the aggregate, leftover wollastonite crystals (determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)) appear to be surrounded by a matrix of remnants of the starting precipitation material. Considering the XRD and the SEM images, it is not clear if the matrix has additional networks or if there is a packing / densification of the starting precipitation material.

Example 4: Aggregate of precipitation material produced from fly ash A volume of 3406,871 liters (900 gallons) of seawater contained in a properly sized reaction vessel is sprayed with a gaseous CO 2 mixture (comprising 20% C02 and 80% compressed air) until the pH is consistent with values around pH 5.8. 10 kg of NaOH solution (50% by weight of NaOH (aq)) are added with continuous spraying while the pH is maintained at a pH value of 8.5 or less. To a separate mixing container, fly ash (25 kg) from the Indian River (Indian River) and water (25 kg) are added to form a 1: 1 mixture of fly ash and water. To the resulting fly ash-water mixture, 60 kg of a NaOH solution (50% by weight of NaOH (aq)) are added with deep stirring. Under the continuous spraying of C02, the fly ash-water mixture is added to the reaction mixture in the reaction vessel, while the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained at a pH of 10.0. Any remnant of the fly ash-water mixture is discharged from the separate mixing vessel with 10 L of water, after which the C02 sprinklers are stopped. The reaction mixture is stirred for a further 10 minutes and transferred to a settling tank and allowed to stand under the action of gravity.

The product of the reaction is filtered, spray dried and used to prepare the aggregate as described in example 2, including the optional step of drying the aggregate in a drying rack in an oven at 110 ° C (383 K) ) for 16 hours.

The FRX data of the starting fly ash material and the resulting spray dried material are indicated below: Na Mg Al Si Si; IC K 'Ca Fe Weight (%) 0.00 1.12: 14.63 23.68 0.24 j 0.48 1.95 1.17 3.69 Table 8: FRX elemental analysis of the starting fly ash material.

Na Mg Al Si Si Cl K Ca Fe Weight (%) 15.23 6.88 4.76 6.84 0.45 11.91 1.05 3.44 1.17 Table 9: XRF elemental analysis of the spray-dried material.

% H20% C02 Weight (%) 10.21 12.64 Table 10: Percentage of C02 (coulometry) and calculated percentage of H20 per TGA (Fig. 17) of the spray-dried material.

Fig. 16 provides the XRD spectra of the starting fly ash material (upper spectrum), Spray dried material (center spectrum) and aggregate (lower spectrum). Fig. 16 also provides the corresponding phase analysis. The XRD spectrum of the starting fly ash material indicates the standard crystalline phases of fly ash such as quartz (Si02) and mullite. The XRD spectrum of the spray-dried material mainly indicates the crystalline phases of fly ash (ie, quartz and · mullite), as well as surface peaks that may be associated with nortupite (Na2Mg (C03) 2C1), hydromagnesite (Mg5) (C03) 4 (OH) · 4H20), halite (NaCl) and aragonite (CaCO3). The XRD spectrum of the aggregate shows crystalline phases (for example, hydromagnesite, nortopite halite and aragonite) present in the spray-dried material as well as the fly ash phases indicated above. The spray-dried material has a C02 percentage of 13% by weight, which indicates that there is carbonated material although it is not in a crystalline form.

Fig. 18 provides SEM images at lOOOx (left) and 4000x (right), showing a divided surface of a sample of a fly ash aggregate. The observations made with SEM of the aggregate confirm the presence of starting fly ash material in the aggregate; however, a matrix appears around the fly ash, in addition to some crystals in the matrix. The sample was easily ground, which indicated that the matrix might not be well formed or that it could be a friable texture material. For the amount of fine fly ash particles dispersed within the matrix, it could not be concluded by SEM-EDS whether there was silica in the matrix or whether the presence of silica was due to these fine fly ash particles.

Fig. 17 provides TGA analysis of the spray-dried and aggregate-dried material. As shown in the TGA graphs, there is water loss (there are peaks below 250 ° C (523 K) during the formation of the aggregates, but there is no noticeable change in the nature of the phases present in the material of spray drying for the aggregate.

Example 5: Aggregates in mortars In general, the aggregates of Example 2 were broken into pieces and pieces of the aggregates were sifted to obtain aggregates with a size that can pass through sieve No.2, No.4, No.16 and an aggregate of fine sand (as follow) . Aggregate sizes: • Size 1: Retained in a sieve No. 4 (4.75 mm) [+ 4] • Size 2: Passing through a No. 4 sieve (4.76mm), but it is retained in a No. 16 sieve (1.19mm) [-4 / + 16] • Size 3: It passes through a No. 16 sieve (1.19mm), but is retained in a No. 35 sieve (0.5mm) [-16 / + 35] • Rejected: What happens through a sieve No. 35 [-35] Portland cement is mixed with water in a water-cement ratio of 0.50 (1: 2) for 1 minute. The aggregate was added later until the mortar reached an adequate consistency (that is, the paste covers the entire aggregate but maintains sufficient fluidity to be molded into mortar cubes and finishes).

In a first example of mortar, the size 3 fraction of the aggregate was used to make a sample comprising 5 g of Portland cement, 2.5 g of water and 7.5 g of 3 aggregate of size 3. The resulting mortar sample is then heated 20 minutes, reaching a temperature of 31.8 ° C (304.95 K).

In a second example of mortar, the aggregate was used to make cubes of 0.0508 m (2") comprising 309 g of Portland cement, 155 g of water, and 338 g of aggregate (179 g of a fraction (coarse) in size) 1 and 159 g of a fraction (intermediate) of size 2.) The cubes are molded and allowed to mature for a period of approximately 60 hours in a room at 23 ° C (296 K) with a relative humidity of 98% · .

Example 6: Aggregate containing aragonite A reaction vessel of an appropriate size was filled with 3406,871 liters (900 gallons) of seawater collected from Moss Landing, California on October 10, 2008, and agitated using a overhead stirrer. A gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide (20% CO2 and 80% compressed air) is sprayed into seawater at a flow rate of 141.5842 liters per minute (5 scfm) for C02 and 566.3369 liters per minute (20 scfm) for compressed air. Slowly added, with continuous spraying, 3.4 kg (dry weight) of magnesium hydroxide (from residues of a seawater magnesium plant, magnesium hydroxide comprises 85% Mg (OH) 2, 12% CaCO3 and about 3% of Si02).

When the pH value is reduced around 7.0 (+0.1), a 50% NaOH solution (50% by weight of NaOH (ac)) is added. The pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to a pH of 7.9, after which the pH was maintained around 7.9 (± 0.2) by manually controlling the addition of NaOH while continuously spraying the reaction mixture with the gas mixture. If the pH was less than 7.9, 50% NaOH solution was added. If the pH was greater than or equal to 7.9, the addition of 50% NaOH solution was stopped. After adding 43 kg of the 50% NaOH solution, no more solution was added; however, the reaction mixture was sprayed continuously until the pH value was around 7.4 (+0.1). At this point, the use of sprinklers stopped.

Additionally, 50% NaOH was added to the reaction mixture until the reaction mixture had a pH value of 8.5 (that of the initial seawater). The operation of the overhead agitator was then stopped and the contents of the reaction vessel transferred to a settling tank. The reaction mixture (a liquid slurry) was allowed to stand for more than 1.5 hours, allowing the precipitation material to settle out by gravity.

State Speed Speed Weight Flow rate time pH pH Base flow of air C02 (° C) (kg) gas (L / min) (L / min) 0: 00 8 .47 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 0 15 .1 1: 05 7 .88 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 17.5 16 .6 1: 27 7 .94 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 25 17 .2 1: 32 8 .04 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 27.5 17 .3 1: 43 7 .95 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 30.5 17 .6 1: 53 7 .94 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 33.5 17 .8 2: 00 7 .00 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 0 15 .1 2: 00 8 .22 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 40.5 18 .2 2: 16 8 .00 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 43 18 .4 2: 20 7 .90 On 141 .5842 566 .3369 43 18 .5 2: 28 8 .00 Off 141 .5842 566 .3369 45 18 .5 2: 30 8 .44 Off 141 .5842 566 .3369 48.5 18 .8 Table [[#]]: Detailed reaction data.

After sedimentation, the precipitation material is separated from the supernatant and dehydrated by filtration (filter-press). Subsequently a part of the precipitation material is dried in trays in the oven at 110 ° C for 48 hours, crushed by hand and ground in a blender.

As seen in Table 1 below, the precipitation material produced by the above method had a Mg: Ca weight ratio of about 1: 7.

Na Mg Al Si Si Cl K Ca Fe Weight (%) 1.30 4.17 0.46 0.87 0.09 1.26 0.09 28.43 0.26 Table 1: FRX elemental analysis of sample MLD6P00006-204 The XRD analysis (Fig. 19) of the kiln-dried precipitation material indicates the presence of aragonite (CaCO3) as an important phase, halite (NaCl) and a little magnesium calcite (MgxCa (1-X) C03, x ~ 4% molar) and hydromagnesite (Mg5 (C03) 4 (OH) | 4H20) as minor components.

% H20% C02; Weight (%) i 5.58; 38.46 Table 2: Percentage of the content 'of C02 (coulometry) and calculated percentage of H20 by TGA Figures 20-22 provide spectra and images of the precipitation material: Fig. 20 provides the TGA of the precipitation material; Fig. 21 provides the FT-IR of the precipitation material and Fig. 22 provides SEM images of the precipitation material at 250x (left) and 4000X (right).

As described in Example 2, the steel molds of the abash hydraulic press were cleaned and the plates were pre-heated in such a way that the surfaces of the plates were heated to 90 ° C for a minimum time of 2 hours.

Subsequently, the kiln-dried precipitation material was crushed and ground in a blender so that the milled material could pass through a No. 8 sieve. The ground material was then mixed with water producing a mixture with 90% solids and a remnant of water added.

A mold of 0.1016 x 0.2032 m (4"x 8") was filled in the Wabash press with the wet mixture of ground precipitation material and subjected to a pressure of 27.579.029.17 Pa (60 tons) for a time of about 10 seconds. . Then the pressure is released and the mold reopens. The precipitation material stuck to the walls of the mold is scraped and moved towards the center of the mold. The mold is closed again and a pressure of 27,579,029.17 Pa (60 tons) is applied for a total of 5 minutes. The pressure is released and the mold is reopened, the pressed precipitation material (now added) is removed from the mold and cooled under ambient conditions. Optionally, the aggregate can be transferred from the mold to a drying rack in an oven of 110 ° C (383 K) and dried for 16 hours before cooling to ambient conditions.

The aggregate was moderately easy to break and grind when preparing for analysis.

Figures 23-26 provide spectra and images of the aggregate: Fig. 23 provides the DRX spectrum of the aggregate and precipitation material from which the aggregate was prepared, Fig. 24 provides an FT-IR of the aggregate; Fig. 25 provides the TGA of the aggregate and Fig. 25 provides SEM images of the aggregate at lOOOx (left) and 4000X (right).

As shown in Figures 23-25, no change in composition occurs as a result of pressing and subsequent drying of the precipitation material. SEM images seem to indicate a packing of aggregate particles, but limited to the absence of matrix formation.

Example 7: Aggregate formed by extrusion of the precipitate In this example, a sample of carbonate precipitates prepared basically as described in Example 1, comprising neschegonite and aragonite and containing water of approximately 60% by weight, is placed in a hot extruder, with ventilation and with a barrel of a diameter of 2.07 m (1.5 inches). The extruder was heated to about 220 ° C (493 K) and the material was placed in the extruder for about five seconds. The opening of the exit die of the extruder is 0.009525 m (0.375 inches). The material obtained from the extruder comprises hydromagnesite and calcite, as well as the starting minerals with a water content of less than 10%. However, much of the material was prematurely lithified inside the extruder producing a doughy mass. Subsequently this dough was dried in the oven at 60 ° C (333 K) and produced a friable mass that was divided fine particles of aggregate.

Example 8: Aggregate formed by wet milling the precipitate with ethanol In this example an aggregate was prepared by wet milling the precipitate with ethanol. In the preparation of this example, a sample of carbonate precipitate, prepared basically as described in Example 1, was filtered in a standard industrial filter press to produce a filter cake with approximately 50% solids. A solution of 10% by weight ethanol was added to the precipitate and the mixture was milled in a ball mill for 2-24 hours. The ground precipitate was dried in a fume hood overnight at room temperature. The resulting product was a dense, self-consolidated sheet that was divided into fragments suitable for fine or coarse aggregates. The Mohs hardness of the product was at least 2.

Example 9: Fine synthetic aggregate from a carbonate precipitate A synthetic fine aggregate (ASF) is a synthetic aggregate similar to sand particles and is prepared from a carbonate precipitate using the methods described herein. It is intended that ASF be incorporated into concrete mixtures and that it may replace part or all of the fine aggregate (sand) in concrete mixtures to balance, with its carbon content sequestered, the carbon content emitted from Portland cement. . It is expected that several hundred kilograms per cubic meter will be used, since each 45.35924 kg (100 pounds) of Portland cement requires about 90.71847 kg (200 pounds) of the ASF to manufacture carbon-neutral concrete. A mixture of 6 months with 50% fly ash requires 255.8261 kg (564 pounds) of ASF to be carbon neutral; with 25% fly ash, 383,791 kg (846 pounds); with 100% OPC, 511.6522 kg (1128 pounds) would be required. The typical sand content in concrete is 498.9516-725.7478 kg (1100-1600 pounds).

The use of ASF to produce reduced carbon or carbon neutral concrete will help the concrete industry in complying with the new greenhouse gas reduction legislation. The use of ASF can provide innovation to carbon credits, as well as bonuses for recycled materials. Because ASF is a filler that replaces another filler, it is expected to be accepted more quickly and easily than a product that replaces a portion of the cementitious material. The ASF can be used in concrete, stucco, gunnite, etc., as a substitute for sand, in order to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint of these products.

The main characteristics of the ASF are: • Composition of calcium and magnesium carbonate.

• Minimum content of C02 captured of 45% Interval of particle size, based on the cumulative percentage that passes through a sieve: o 100% pass through a screen # 4 (4,750 u) o 95-98% pass through a screen # 8 (2,360 u) o 65-75% pass through a screen # 16 (1,180 u) o 40-50% pass through a screen # 30 (600 u) o From 10-15% pass through a screen # 50 (300 u) o 0-2% goes through a screen # 100 (150 u) Particle size distribution consistent with 10% batch to batch Meets ASTM C-33 standard The flow properties of concrete at the neutral carbon level remain unchanged or improve compared to sand under similar water content conditions The strength properties of concrete at the neutral carbon level remain unchanged or improve compared to sand under similar water content conditions • The durability properties (ASR, ice-thaw, etc.) of the concrete at the neutral carbon level remain unchanged or improve compared to sand under similar water content conditions · Shrink / shrink properties of concrete at the neutral carbon level remain unchanged or improve compared to sand under similar water content conditions • The concrete finish at the neutral carbon level remain unchanged or improve compared to sand at similar water content conditions • The leachable NaCl content is < 0.1% • It is stable during storage and transport Example 10: Coarse synthetic aggregate from the carbonate precipitate A coarse synthetic aggregate (CSA) refers to an aggregate with a particle size that varies from 0.00635 to 0.0381 m (1/4"to 1 1/2"). The CSA is prepared by methods such as those described in this document and is intended to be used when the natural coarse aggregate is used. Larger amounts may be used on road surfaces, asphalt and concrete. The use of CSA to produce neutral carbon or reduced carbon concrete makes it easier for the concrete industry to comply with the greenhouse gas reduction legislation such as CA AB32. The use of CSA can provide carbon credits, as well as bonuses of recycled materials. Because CSA is a filling that replaces another filling, it will be accepted more quickly and easily than a product that replaces a portion of the cementitious material.

The CSA can be used when using similar gravel or crushed stone. When it comes to siliceous CSA produced in plants with fly ash or mafic minerals as cation ses, its use is limited to the firm or base of a road or asphalt. It is intended that the CSA be used in the same way that a natural coarse aggregate is currently used. It can be extended to road or asphalt and concrete roads.

According to the location of the plant and the se of cations / bases, two grades of CSA are available. One is a 100% carbonate material (CSA carbonate) that is suitable for all uses. The other grade (CSA siliceous) will only be used on the asphalt and on the base or base of a road because when using it in concrete there is a possibility of silica-alkali reactivity (ASR).

The main features of the FSA are: • Meets industry standards (AST C033) for a coarse aggregate of limestone • Meets Caltrans specifications for a coarse aggregate for concrete, asphalt and the road surface or base • In the CSA complete carbonate there is a minimum content of 44% of C02 captured • In the siliceous CSA there is a minimum content of 30% of C02 captured • Presents consistent gradation • Does not reduce functionality, mechanical properties, shrinkage / shrinkage or durability of road surface or base, asphalt or concrete compared to conventional coarse aggregate • Leachable NaCl content < 0.1% for a CSA carbonate used in specific applications, • It is stable during storage and transport, being unprotected and exposed to the elements of the environment Example 11: Measurement of the 613C value of a solid precipitate A solid precipitate comprising carbonates is bubbled with commercially available C02 (Praxair) through the seawater followed by pH adjustment. Two precipitates were produced in two different procedures (P00361 and LD13). Unlike atmospheric gases, air separation is not the main se of carbon dioxide in bottled gas. Although sometimes derived directly from the combustion of a fuel, the most economical way to produce carbon dioxide is to recover it as a byproduct of the manufacturing processes of other companies or natural wells. It is then purified and liquefied and sold to customers around the world. In general, the value 513C for a bottled gas in a fermentation is about -30¾ > at -20¾ ?, and for a bottled gas from petroleum ses, the value 513C is approximately -40 & > to -30¾ > . Thus, the bottled gas was expected to be isotopically light (like combustion gas) and to have values in the range of -208O to -408b. To compare, the 613C value of C02 in seawater is approximately 0, in the air it is no more negative than -10 &; > and for carbonates in natural limestone the value 613C is + 38- < > . If the carbonates in the precipitate contain predominantly C02 from a bottled gas, it would be expected that their 613C values would be in the range of -208b to -408O, likewise no closer to 0 than to the C02 of seawater or air, or carbonates in natural limestone.

The 613C values for the two precipitates were measured by mass spectrometry. Samples were run in duplicate for each precipitate. The 513C values that did not correspond to the typical values of natural limestone and seawater, and those corresponding to the isotopically light C02 values that are expected to be found in bottled gas, were measured in the precipitates, see the following table (d180 values were also measured): 613C: d18? I: 613C d180 Deviation ID: ^ i Deviation 1 (% o) '(% o) shows standard Sln standard Sxn Correct i Corr. corr P00361-001 -29.42 '0.01 0 -11.51 0.01 1 31.4 -12.44 P00361-004 -29.73 i 0.01 0 -7.84 0.01 0 -31.16 -8.32 MLD13F00001- -27.75 0.01 0 -7. 25, 0.01 0 -7.54 105 28. 40 MLD13P00001- -27.66 '0.01 0 -7. 23 0.00 1 -27 .42 -7.28 006 This example demonstrates that the 513C values of the precipitates containing carbonates produced according to the methods included in the invention, can be measured with high precision and that such 613C values are in the negative interval foreseen for the C02 from sources industrial, which makes it different from carbonates in natural limestones or C02 from air or seawater.

Example 12. Measurement of 613C values for solid precipitates and starting materials This example demonstrates the precipitation of carbonate material from saline using carbon dioxide (C02) bottling and industrial waste material rich in magnesium, and the determination of the 613C values of the materials and products. The procedure was carried out in a container open to the atmosphere.

The starting materials, commercially available, were bottled C02 gas, sea water and brucite residues from a magnesium hydroxide production site as the source of the industrial waste from the base. The brucite residues were approximately 85% Mg (OH) 2, 12% CaC03 and 3% Si02.

A container filled with seawater was available in the town (near Santa Cruz, CA). The brucite residues were added to the seawater, providing a pH (alkaline) and a concentration of divalent cations appropriate for the precipitation of carbonates and CO 2 gas was sprayed into the alkaline solution of seawater. Sufficient time was allowed to allow interaction of the components of the reaction, after which the precipitated material was separated from the remaining seawater solution, also known as the supernatant solution. No elevated temperature or other special procedures were used to dry the precipitated carbonate material. The carbonate material was characterized by the analysis of the 513C values, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SE).

The 513C values of the process starting materials, the carbonate precipitate material and the supernatant solution were measured. The 513C value of the atmospheric air was not measured but a value of the literature was taken which is presented in Table 3. The system used for the analysis was manufactured by "Los Gatos Research", direct absorption spectroscopy was used to provide the 513C values and gas concentration data ranging from 2% to 20% of C02. The instrument was calibrated with standard gases, and the measurements of travertine and marble IAEA # 20 yielded values that are within the error of measurement of the values accepted in the literature. The sample of the CO2 gas source is taken with a syringe. The C02 gas is passed through a gas dryer, later by the upper bank of the analysis system available in the market. Solid samples, such as brucite residues and precipitate, were first digested with perchloric acid (HC10 2M). The C02 gas is obtained from the digestion and then passed through the gas dryer. From there, the gas passes to the analysis system, resulting in the isotopic data of carbon fractionation. This digestion process is shown in Figure 27. Similarly, the supernatant solution is digested to obtain the C02 gas which is then dried and passed to the analysis instrument resulting in the 613C values.

The measurements of the analysis of the C02 sources, the industrial waste (brucite residues), the carbonate precipitate and the supernatant solution are listed in Table 3. The 613C values for the precipitate and the supernatant solution were -31.98 &; and -38.591b respectively. The 613C values of both reaction products reflect the incorporation of the C02 source (513C = -41.39 >) and the influence of the brucite residues that include a little calcium carbonate (513C = -6.73 &; >). This example illustrates that the 513C values can be used to confirm the primary carbon source in a carbonate composition.

TABLE 3 EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND VALUES MEASURED BY CHARACTERIZATION OF ISOTOPE FRACTIONATION VALUE VALUE VALUE 613C VALUE 513C VALUE OF THE 513C OF 513C DEL EXAMPLE SOLUTION 813C SOURCE ATMOSPHERIC OF C02 SOURCE BASE THE BASE OF THE PYTHE OVERFLOW OF C02 [° / 00] NADANTE [° / 00 1 [° / 00] [° / 00] [° / 00] gas Mg (0H) 2 + emboteresiduos 10 -. 10 -8 llado, -41.39 -6.73 | 38.59 -31.98 of source Ca (CO) 3 1 gas emboteMg (OH) 2 + waste disposal eleven - . 11 -41.56 -6.73 • 34.16 -30.04 according to the NIST Ca (CO) 3 RM8563 2 gases from combusMg (OH) 2 + waste 12 -. 12 -8 -25, 00 -6.73 -24.8 -19.92 of the of BurningCa (CO) 3 dor propane so2 / co2 mixture ashes 13 gas • 12, 45 -17, 46 -11, 70 • 15.88 flyers bottling 1. Zeebe, RE and Galdrow Wolf, E., C02 in seawater: Equilibrium, Kinetics, Isotopes (2005) Elsevier, San Diego, p. 169 2. SPECIFICATION NIST RM8563, Standard for Gas Light Isotope of C02 Example 13: Measurement of the value d C for a solid precipitate and starting materials This precipitation was carried out in a container of 946352.9 liters (250,000 gallons). The starting materials, commercially available, were bottled C02 gas, seawater (from a place near Santa Cruz, CA) and brucite residues as industrial waste. The brucite residues were approximately 85% Mg (0H) 2, 12% CaC03 and 3% Si02.

The container of 946352.9 liters (250,000 gallons) is partially filled with seawater available locally. The brucite residues were added to the seawater, providing a pH (alkaline) and a concentration of divalent cations appropriate for the precipitation of carbonates without the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. The C02 gas was sprayed at an appropriate rate and time to precipitate the carbonate material from the alkaline solution of seawater. Sufficient time was allowed to allow interaction of the components of the reaction, after which the precipitated material was separated from the remaining seawater solution, also known as the supernatant solution. The carbonate material was characterized by the analysis of 813C values, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The 513C values of the starting materials of the process, the resulting materials and the supernatant solution were measured. The 613G value of the atmospheric air was not measured but a value of the literature was taken which is presented in Table 3. The system for the analysis used was manufactured by "Los Gatos Research" as described in example 12.

The measurements of the C02 source analysis, the industrial waste (brucite residues), the carbonate precipitate and the supernatant solution are listed in Table 3. The 613C values for the precipitate and the supernatant solution are -30.04 &; > and -34.16 ¾ > , respectively. The 613C values of both reaction products reflect the incorporation of the C02 source (613C = -41.56 &>) and the influence of the brucite residues that include a little calcium carbonate (513C = -6.73 fe ). The carbonate precipitate material is more likely to incorporate the calcium carbonate of the brucite residues than the supernatant solution, so the 513C value of the precipitate reflects that it is less negative than that of the supernatant solution. This example illustrates that the 513C values can be used to confirm the primary carbon source in a carbonate composition.

Example 14: Measurement of the 613C value of a solid precipitate and the starting materials This experiment was carried out using combustion gases resulting from the burning of propane gas and an industrial waste material rich in magnesium. The procedure was carried out in a container open to the atmosphere.

. . The starting materials were the combustion gases of a propane burner, seawater (from a place near Santa Cruz, CA) and brucite residues as industrial waste. The brucite residues were approximately 85% Mg (0H) 2, 12% CaC03 and 3% Si02.

A container with seawater available in the town was filled. The brucite residues were added to the seawater, providing a pH (alkaline) and a concentration of divalent cations appropriate for the precipitation of carbonates without the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. The combustion gas was sprayed at an appropriate rate and time to precipitate the carbonate material from the alkaline solution of seawater. Sufficient time was allowed to allow interaction of the reaction components, after which the precipitated material was separated from the remaining seawater solution, also known as the supernatant solution.

The 513C values of the starting materials of the process, the resulting materials and the supernatant solution were measured. The 513C value of the atmospheric air was not measured but a value of the literature was taken which is presented in Table 3. The system used for the analysis was manufactured by "Los Gatos Research", and it uses direct absorption spectroscopy to provide the 613C values and gas concentration data ranging from 2% to 20% C02, as described in Example 12.

The measurements of the analysis of combustion gases, industrial waste (brucite residues), the carbonate precipitate and the supernatant solution are listed in Table 3. The 513C values for the precipitate and the supernatant solution are -19.92 ¾| »And -24.8 & > , respectively. The 513C values of both reaction products reflect the incorporation of the combustion gases, source of C02 (513C = -25.00 ¾¾) and the influence of brucite residues that include a little calcium carbonate (613C = -6.73 ¾ >). This example illustrates that the 813C values can be used to confirm the primary carbon source in a carbonate composition.

Example 15. Measurement of the 613C value for a solid precipitate and starting materials In this experiment a carbonated material is precipitated from a saline solution using a mixture of bottled S02 and bottled carbon dioxide (C02) gases and fly ash as industrial waste material. The procedure was carried out in a container open to the atmosphere.

The starting materials, commercially available, were a mixture of bottled S02 and C02 gas (S02 / C02 gas), seawater (from a place near Santa Cruz, CA), and fly ash as industrial waste.

A container with seawater available in the town was filled. Fly ash was added to seawater after a process was carried out where the terrestrial materials disintegrate and fall apart when exposed to moisture (slaking), providing a pH (alkaline) and a concentration of divalent cations appropriate for precipitation of carbonates without the release of C02 into the atmosphere. The S02 / C02 gas was sprayed at an appropriate rate and time to precipitate the carbonate material from the alkaline solution of seawater. Sufficient time was allowed to allow interaction of the reaction components, after which the precipitated material was separated from the remaining seawater solution, also known as the supernatant solution.

The 513C values of the starting materials of the process, the precipitated carbonate material and the supernatant solution were measured, as detailed in Example 12.

The measurements of S02 / C02 gas analysis, industrial waste (fly ash), carbonate precipitate and supernatant solution are listed in Table 3. The 513C values for the precipitate and the supernatant solution are -15.88 &;, and -11.70§ ?, respectively. The 513C values of both reaction products reflect the incorporation of gas S02 / C02 (813C = -12.45 Ib) and fly ash that includes a little carbon that during combustion was not totally converted into a gas (813C = - 17.46 & >). Because the fly ash is a product of the combustion of fossil fuels, have a value 813C more negative than the one of the C02 used, the total value 513C of the precipitate reflects that it is more negative than that of the C02 itself. This example illustrates that the 613C values can be used to confirm the primary carbon source in a carbonate composition.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for the purposes of clarity of understanding, it is evident to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications without departing from the value or scope of the appended claims.

Accordingly, the foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will be appreciated that experts in the field will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown in this document, incorporate the principles of the invention and are included within their value and scope. Additionally, all the examples and the conditional language cited in this document have as their main purpose to assist the reader in the understanding of the principles of the invention and of the concepts contributed by the inventors to promote the technique and, they will be interpreted without limits as such examples and conditions specifically cited. On the other hand, all the statements made in this document that recite principles, aspects and modalities of the invention, as well as the specific examples thereof, are intended to cover both the structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that said equivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalents that will be developed in the future, that is, any developed element that performs the same function, independently of the structure. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments that are shown and described in this document. On the contrary, the scope and value of the present invention are incorporated in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS which is claimed is:

1. An aggregate comprising a C02 sequestering component. 2. The aggregate of claim 1, wherein the C02 scavenger component, comprises one or more carbonate compounds. 3. The aggregate of claim 2, wherein the carbonate compound or compounds represent at least 50% by weight of the aggregate: 4. The aggregate of claim 2 wherein the carbonate compound or compounds represent at least 90% by weight of the aggregate. 5. The aggregate of claim 2 wherein the carbonate compound or compounds represent at least 98% by weight of the aggregate. 6. The aggregate of claim 2 wherein the carbonate compound or compounds comprise magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate and magnesium or a combination thereof. 7. The aggregate of claim 6 wherein the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the aggregate is Ca / Mg 1/1 to Ca / g 1/10. 8. The aggregate of claim 6 wherein the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the aggregate is Ca / Mg 150/1 up to Ca / Mg 10/1. 9. The aggregate of claim 6 wherein the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the aggregate is Ca / Mg 2/1 to Ca / Mg 1/2. 10. The aggregate of claim 1 having a carbon isotope fractionation value (613C) more negative than -10 &; ". 11. The aggregate of claim 1 having a carbon isotope fractionation value (813C) more negative than -20¾ > . 12. The aggregate of claim 1 having a gross density between 1201.5 kg / m3 and 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 pounds / foot3 and 125 pounds / foot3). 13. The aggregate of claim 1 having a gross density between 1441.8 kg / m3 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 pounds / ft3 and 115 pounds / ft3). 14. The aggregate of claim 2 which also comprises a sulfate and / or a sulfite. 15. The aggregate of claim 14 wherein the combined sulfate and / or sulfite comprises at least 0.1% by weight of the aggregate. 16. A structure comprising the aggregate of claim 1. 17. The structure of claim 16 which is a building, a road or a dam. 18. The structure of claim 17 that is a highway. 19. The road of claim 18 where the road seizes at least 1000 kg (1 ton) of C02 for every 1.60 km (mile) of road lane. 20. The highway of claim 18 where the highway seizes at least 100,000 kg (100 tons) of C02 for each 1.60 km (mile) of highway lane. 21. The highway of claim 18 where the highway seizes at least 1,000,000 kg (1000 tons) of C02 for every 1.60 km (mile) of highway lane. 22. An aggregate that comprises coal where the coal has an isotopic fractionation value of carbon (513C) more negative than -101O. 23. The aggregate of claim 22 wherein the carbon has a value of 613C more negative than -20¾ > . 24. The aggregate of claim 22 wherein the carbon has a value of 613C more negative than -30¾ > . 25. The aggregate of claim 22 wherein the aggregate comprises carbonate. 26. The aggregate of claim 25 wherein the carbonate content of the aggregate is at least 10% by weight. 27. The aggregate of claim 25 wherein the carbonate content of the aggregate is at least 50% by weight. 28. The aggregate of claim 26 which also comprises a sulfate and / or a sulfite. 29. The aggregate of claim 28 wherein the combined sulfate and sulfite comprise at least 0. 1% by weight of the aggregate. 30. The aggregate of claim 25 wherein the carbonate comprises calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and magnesium or a combination thereof. 31. The aggregate of claim 30 wherein the calcium: magnesium molar ratio is 200: 1 and 1: 2. 32. The aggregate of claim 22 having a gross density between 1201.5 kg / m3 and 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 pounds / foot3 and 125 pounds / foot3). 33. The aggregate of claim 22 having a gross density between 1441.8 kg / m3 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 pounds / ft3 and 115 pounds / ft3). 34. A structure comprising the aggregate of claim 22. 35. The structure of claim 34 which is a building, a road or a dam. 36. The structure of claim 35 which is a highway. 37. An aggregate comprising 90 to 99.9% carbonate, 0.1 to 10% sulfate and / or sulfite. 38. The aggregate of claim 37 which additionally contains from 0.00000001 to 0.000001% mercury or a mercury-containing compound. 39. The aggregate of claim 37 having a carbon isotope fractionation value (d130) more negative than -10¾ > . 40. The aggregate of claim 37 having a gross density between 1201.5 kg / m3 and 2002.5 kg / m3 (75 pounds / foot3 and 125 pounds / foot3). 41. The aggregate of claim 40 having a gross density between 1441.8 kg / m3 and 1842.3 kg / m3 (90 pounds / foot3 and 115 pounds / foot3). 42. A structure comprising the aggregate of claim 37. 43. The structure of claim 42 which is a building, a road or a dam. 44. The structure of claim 43 which is a highway. 45. A method for sequestering C02 comprising (i) precipitation of the composition of a C02 sequestering carbonate compound, from water containing divalent cations to form a precipitate; and (ii) the production of an aggregate comprising the composition of a C02 sequestering carbonate compound. 46. The method of claim 45 wherein the production of the aggregate comprises subjecting the precipitate of claim 45 to an elevated temperature, an elevated pressure or a combination thereof. 47. The method of claim 46 wherein the high temperature, the high pressure or the combination thereof is produced by an extruder. 48. The method of claim 45 which additionally comprises contacting the water containing divalent cations with C02 from the flow of industrial gaseous waste. 49. The method of claim 45 further comprising contacting the water containing divalent cations with C02 from the combustion of a fossil fuel. 50. The method of claim 48 wherein the flow of industrial gaseous waste is a combustion gas of an electric plant or a cement plant. 51. The method of claim 50 wherein the combustion gas is the combustion gas of an electric plant.

2. The method of claim 51 wherein the power plant is an electric plant that uses charcoal burning.

3. The method of claim 45 wherein the divalent cations of the water containing divalent cations come, at least partially, from salt water.

4. The method of claim 53 wherein the salt water comprises seawater or brine.

5. The method of claim 53 wherein the salt water comprises seawater. 6. The method of claim 45 wherein the production of the aggregate comprises the production of an aggregate with a predetermined size and shape. 7. A method of manufacturing aggregates comprising the precipitation of a carbonate compound from water containing divalent cations and processing the precipitate to produce an aggregate. 8. The method of claim 57 further comprising contacting the water containing divalent cations with C02 that comes from an industrial gaseous waste stream. 59. The method of claim 58 wherein the industrial gaseous waste stream is combustion gas from a power plant or from a cement plant. 60. The method of claim 59 wherein the combustion gas is combustion gas of an electric plant. 61. The method of claim 60 wherein the power plant is an electric plant that uses charcoal burning. 62. The method of claim 57 further comprising contacting the water containing divalent cations with C02 from the combustion of a fossil fuel. 63. The method of claim 62 wherein the fossil fuel comprises natural gas or coal. 64. The method of claim 63 wherein the fossil fuel comprises carbon. 65. The method of claim 57 wherein the processing of the precipitate comprises treating the precipitate with elevated temperature, elevated pressure or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 57 wherein the processing of the precipitate comprises the combination of the precipitate with a cementitious material and water, allowing the combination to set to provide a solidified material.

7. The method of claim 66 further comprising breaking the solidified material.

8. A system for the production of an aggregate that includes: (i) a device for a water containing divalent cations; (ii) a precipitation station of carbonate compounds that subjects the water to the precipitation conditions of the carbonate compound and produces a precipitated carbonate compound composition; Y (iii) a producer of aggregate to produce aggregates from the precipitated carbonate compound composition.