Biomass construct for erosion control and structures

Abstract

In one aspect there is provided a construct, mound, layer or brick which offers utility as an erosion control medium formed primarily from a blend of biomass, cementitious binder and water. In another aspect there is provided a construct, mound, layer or brick, which offers utility as a construction medium. Also provided are processes by which an aggregate of woody biomass (a blend of chips, particles and pieces), and a cementitious binder slurry can be applied by manual methods or spray applied by mechanical means. Upon drying the biomass construct conforms and binds to a ground surface providing a hard porous medium capable of adhering to a large variety of ground surfaces and to terrain of varied slope, pitch and constitution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for preparing a solid biomass construct for application to a ground surface in order to reduce erosion, comprising the steps of:
 (a) formulating a cementitious binder;   (b) thoroughly mixing said cementitious binder in a quantity of water so as to form a cementitious binder slurry;   (c) adding said cementitious binder slurry to a quantity of biomass and thoroughly mixing said slurry and said biomass together so as to substantially coat said biomass with said slurry;   (d) applying said slurry coated biomass to said ground surface; and   (e) allowing said slurry coated biomass applied to said ground surface to cure into a solid biomass construct.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said biomass is substantially derived from sources local to said ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . A solid biomass construct produced by the process according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said cementitious binder includes one or more chemicals chosen from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium oxychloride, magnesium oxysulfate, magnesium phosphate, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said step of formulating said cementitious binder includes means for increasing the strength, hardness, and tensile strength of said solid biomass construct 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said steps of (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) include means for creating a porous structure within said solid biomass construct. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said biomass comprises between 25% to 90% by weight of said cured, solid biomass construct. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7  wherein said biomass comprises between 50% to 85% by weight of said cured, solid biomass construct. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said cementitious binder comprises between 10% and 75% by weight of said cured, solid biomass construct. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein said cementitious binder comprises between 15% to 50% by weight of said cured, solid biomass construct. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding a foaming agent during said step of thoroughly mixing said cementitious binder in said quantity of water. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11  wherein said step of adding a foaming agent comprises adding said foam in volumetric ratios between 1 part foam to 1 part cementitious binder slurry, to 2 parts foam to 1 part cementitious binder slurry.