Disclosed are biopolymeric and biologically active mortars suitable for use in providing building materials having enhanced physical properties. Further disclosed are methods for making and using the disclosed materials.

Disclosed are biopolymeric and biologically active mortars suitable for use in providing building materials having enhanced physical properties. Further disclosed are methods for making and using the disclosed materials.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). One of the methods includes obtaining first optical measurements of RCA particles as the RCA particles are conveyed past the first optical sensors; determining, based on the first measurements, an initial characterization of the RCA particles; iteratively performing a carbonation process on the RCA particles, obtaining second optical measurements of the RCA particles, and determining, from the second measurements, a second characterization of the RCA particles, wherein conditions of the carbonation process are initially set based on the initial characterization, and the conditions of the carbonation process are adjusted based on the second characterization; ceasing the iterative performance of the carbonation process in response to the second characterization meeting target carbonation characteristics; iteratively performing a densification process on the RCA particles, obtaining third optical measurements of the RCA particles, and determining, from the third measurements, a third characterization of the RCA particles, wherein conditions of the densification process are initially set based on the initial characterization or the second characterization, and the conditions of the densification process are adjusted based on the third characterization; and ceasing the iterative performance of the densification process in response to the third characterization meeting target densification characteristics.

A geopolymeric material is described having compressive strength at 28 days ranging from 15 to 100 N/mm.sup.2, obtainable by curing for 12 hours at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to 60° C., from a geopolymeric aqueous mixture comprising the following inorganic components in the following parts by dry mass: metakaolin 1565 potassium silicate and/or sodium silicate 2040 aggregates recycled from CDW (Construction and Demolition Waste) 5300; said geopolymeric aqueous mixture is obtainable by mixing 20175 parts by mass of water with said inorganic components, and has a viscosity at 23° C. between 100 and 10000 Pa.Math.s, wherein: i) the viscosity is measured via Brookfield methodology, ii) the aggregates recycled from CDW belong to one or more of the classes 17.01.01, 17.01.02, 17.01.03, 17.01.07 according to the European Waste Catalogue, iii) the aggregates recycled from CDW have a grain size less than or equal to 4 mm, preferably less than or equal to 2 mm.

A geopolymeric material is described having compressive strength at 28 days ranging from 15 to 100 N/mm.sup.2, obtainable by curing for 12 hours at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to 60° C., from a geopolymeric aqueous mixture comprising the following inorganic components in the following parts by dry mass: metakaolin 1565 potassium silicate and/or sodium silicate 2040 aggregates recycled from CDW (Construction and Demolition Waste) 5300; said geopolymeric aqueous mixture is obtainable by mixing 20175 parts by mass of water with said inorganic components, and has a viscosity at 23° C. between 100 and 10000 Pa.Math.s, wherein: i) the viscosity is measured via Brookfield methodology, ii) the aggregates recycled from CDW belong to one or more of the classes 17.01.01, 17.01.02, 17.01.03, 17.01.07 according to the European Waste Catalogue, iii) the aggregates recycled from CDW have a grain size less than or equal to 4 mm, preferably less than or equal to 2 mm.

A method of producing a carbonated composite material includes: providing a carbonatable cementitious material in particulate form; mixing the carbonatable cementitious material with water to produce a mix; forming a predetermined shape with the mix, wherein the predetermined shape has an initial pore structure containing an initial pore solution having a first pH; pre-conditioning the predetermined shape to remove a predetermined amount of the water from the predetermined shape to produce a pre-conditioned shape; carbonating the pre-conditioned shape in an environment comprising carbon dioxide to produce a modified pore structure containing a modified pore solution having and a second pH, wherein the difference between the first pH and the second pH is represented by a ΔpH, and the ΔpH is 1.0 or less.

A method of producing a carbonated composite material includes: providing a carbonatable cementitious material in particulate form; mixing the carbonatable cementitious material with water to produce a mix; forming a predetermined shape with the mix, wherein the predetermined shape has an initial pore structure containing an initial pore solution having a first pH; pre-conditioning the predetermined shape to remove a predetermined amount of the water from the predetermined shape to produce a pre-conditioned shape; carbonating the pre-conditioned shape in an environment comprising carbon dioxide to produce a modified pore structure containing a modified pore solution having and a second pH, wherein the difference between the first pH and the second pH is represented by a ΔpH, and the ΔpH is 1.0 or less.

Disclosed are asphalt and asphalt binders and methods for making such compositions with sterols. The sterols improve various rheological properties. Also disclosed are methods of determining the changes or improvements of various rheoloical properties.

Disclosed are asphalt and asphalt binders and methods for making such compositions with sterols. The sterols improve various rheological properties. Also disclosed are methods of determining the changes or improvements of various rheoloical properties.

An apparatus for producing pozzolanic material from consumer waste includes a glass separator unit to remove glass material from the waste and a size reduction unit downstream the glass separator unit. The glass separator unit includes a tubular outer member and an inner helical member extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tubular outer member and defining an open central bore. The tubular outer member and the open central bore define respective coaxial longitudinal axes that are disposed at an angle relative to a horizontal reference plane, with the inlet higher than the outlet. Non-glass/non-ceramic material is output through the open outlet end of tubular outer member utilizing a flow of water. The glass/ceramic material is output to the size reduction unit through the open inlet end of the tubular outer member utilizing the rotating inner helical member of the glass separator unit.