SBIR Phase II: Efficacy of scaled up optimized urease producing microorganisms for manufacturing biocement binders towards a viable masonry construction material

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目的重点是生物生长的砌体单位作为一个商业上可行的和可持续的替代传统的烧制砌体材料的持续发展。 该产品在环境温度下生长，利用由产生尿素酶的微生物诱导的天然碳酸钙水泥形成。第二阶段项目将侧重于生物水泥产品的材料测试、进一步优化和成本降低，旨在通过被许可制造商展示试点制造和快速商业化。利用第一阶段工作中开发的生物产品和发酵程序，将进行改进，以扩大生产规模并降低生产过程中的成本。这项技术的商业潜力主要取决于实现与传统材料的成本和性能平价，如果不是优势的话。 每年，全球生产1.23万亿块用于建筑的烧结砖，导致超过8亿吨的碳排放。 这项研究的社会影响将包括这些排放的大幅减少，以及工业副产品废物的相应减少。该项目将提高对商业可行性和测试数据（包括耐久性和物理性能）的技术理解。这一努力的技术目标包括通过严格的美国材料试验协会（ASTM）测试方法评估所产生的生物水泥砌体产品，通过持续优化降低原材料成本，为必要的生物产品创造内部生产能力，以及创造和测试适合过渡到许可证的制造工艺。第二阶段项目的主要重点领域包括对物理性能、耐候性和耐久性进行严格的材料测试，内部生产坚固的原材料成分，以及商业测试和试点生产。严格的ASTM测试方法将在两个认可的实验室进行，并通过在生产过程中采用精益自动化来减少劳动力需求。此外，在可能的情况下，将评估许可机构现有材料处理生产设备的利用情况。预期的项目结果将包括多个物理样品的综合统计分析，以及相应的故障分析。其他预期交付成果包括成功委托进行生物水泥成分的内部试验规模制造，作为商业合作伙伴和许可证持有人使用的简化添加剂。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is focused on the continued development of biologically grown masonry units as a commercially-viable and sustainable alternative to traditional fired masonry materials. This product is grown in ambient temperatures utilizing a natural calcium carbonate cement formation induced by a urease-producing microorganism. The Phase II project will focus on material testing and further optimization and cost reduction of biocement products, with the intention of demonstrating pilot manufacturing and rapid commercialization via licensee manufacturers. Using biologic products and fermentation procedures developed in the Phase I effort, improvements will be made to scale up manufacturing and reduce cost in the manufacturing process. The commercial potential of this technology is critically dependent on achieving cost and performance parity, if not superiority, with traditional materials. Each year, 1.23 trillion fired bricks are produced globally for use in construction, resulting in over 800 million tons of carbon emissions. The societal impacts of this research would include a dramatic reduction in these emissions, as well as a corresponding reduction in industrial by-product waste. This project will enhance the technological understanding for commercial viability and test data including durability and physical performance. Technical objectives for this effort include evaluation of the resulting biocement masonry products through rigorous American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) testing methods, reduction of raw material costs through continued optimization, creation of in-house production capability for the requisite biologic product, and the creation and testing of a manufacturing process suitable for transition to licensees. Main focus areas of the Phase II project include rigorous material testing for physical performance, weathering and durability, in-house production of robust raw material constituents, and commercial testing coupled with pilot manufacturing. Rigorous ASTM testing methods will be done at two accredited labs, and labor requirements will be reduced via the adoption of lean automation in the production process. Additionally, the utilization of existing material handing manufacturing equipment at licensee facilities, where possible, will be evaluated. Expected project results will include a comprehensive statistical analysis of multiple physical samples, as well as a corresponding failure analysis. Additional expected deliverables include the successful commission of in-house pilot scale manufacturing for biocement constituents as a simplified additive to be used by commercial partners and licensees.