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<DIV>My question is, “ Is it biodegradable?” The packaging material using
this process is. That is a great feature for packaging. However, I
am not so sure about a structural material to replace concrete. For
foundations that are in contact with the ground and need to be tolerant to
moisture, it would need to be inert to biological action. This is one of
the great qualities of concrete. Like wood, however, if it is used in
parts of the structure where the moisture is managed to keep dry. </DIV>
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<DIV>Eli </DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=sanjayjainuk@yahoo.co.uk
href="mailto:sanjayjainuk@yahoo.co.uk">sanjay jain</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, June 29, 2014 7:37 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=greenbuilding@lists.bioenergylists.org
href="mailto:greenbuilding@lists.bioenergylists.org">Green Building</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Greenbuilding] Article: Would you live in a house made of
sand andbacteria?</DIV></DIV></DIV>
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href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/21/tech/innovation/would-you-live-in-a-house-made-of-urine-and-bacteria/"
rel=nofollow
target=_blank>http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/21/tech/innovation/would-you-live-in-a-house-made-of-urine-and-bacteria/</A></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG>(CNN)</STRONG> -- Peter Trimble found his formula through trial and
error. A design student at the<A href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/home" rel=nofollow
target=_blank> University of Edinburgh</A>, he was aiming to produce an artistic
exhibition for a module on sustainability, when he stumbled on "Dupe," a living
alternative to concrete.</DIV>
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<DIV>A lab technician introduced Trimble to Sporosarcina pasteurii, a bacterium
with binding qualities, sometimes used to solidify soil to hold road signs in
place. The student tested it with one of the world's most abundant resources -
sand. Pumping bacterial solution into a sand-filled mould, he added nutrients,
urea derived from urine as fertilizer and calcium. After a year, and hundreds of
failed experiments, this process manufactured a stool around 70% the compression
strength of concrete.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The process requires less than one-sixth of the energy used in concrete
production, and is completely biodegradable. Crucially, Trimble believes his
mechanism has the added benefit that it could be employed by anyone,
anywhere.</DIV>
<DIV>"Once you have the basic framework it should be transferable. Imagine a
Tsunami-hit farm in Indonesia that is not getting supplies. You could use sand
and bacteria on site, practically free, and have shelter housing that is far
more permanent."</DIV>
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