BIOROCK EXPERIMENTATION ²¹

EXPERIMENT AT PALM JUMERIAH 2004 ²²

by Profesor Joe Valenic

The experiment was under the direction of Professor Wolf H. Hilbertz, co-founder of Biorock Inc., who invented the mineral accretion process to create structures in seawater.

In this experimental setup, 02 electrodes are supplied with a low-voltage DC current from a battery charger. Electrolytic reactions at the cathode (a negatively charged electrode) cause minerals form in seawater, primarily calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide, to build up or accrete.

SPECIFICATIONS ²⁴

1. The diameter of the accretion over the 3/8" steel rebar was 3.89cm on the pyramid closest to the anode and 2.86cm on the pyramid further away from the anode.

2. A diamond-shaped steel extrusion was welded onto one side of each of the pyramids. The remaining diamond-shaped openings were accreted more heavily on the pyramid closest to the anode to an opening size of 2 x 4.5 cm.

3. The hardness of the accretion on the 2 structures appeared to touch to be of similar hardness. The one exception is the hwavily accreted lifting eyehole at the top of pyramid closest to the anode.

4. This 7 cm lifting eyehole was accreted such that an opening of only 1 cm occured on the pyramid closest to the anode and 4cm on the pyramid distant from the anode. The very heavy accretion on the close pyramid structure broke off upon touch exposing the bare steel structure underneath. Bubbles were observed at the exposed blackened steel indicating the accretion process was continuing.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYMBIOTIC PROCESS LABORATORY ²⁵

by Profesor Wolf Hilbertz, Desmond Fletcher, Carolyn Krausse

Experiment at Port Aransas

4 large structures were accreted at the location; 3 doubled layered arched hung from a flotation rig and prototypical column segment with a diameter of 14'0 and 64 cubes for compression testing.

Concluded that: The potentials of mineral accretion technology for structural application are unlimited;

1. submerged and floating tanks

2. container for marine organisims,

3. architectural components,

4. segments for floating dams, jetties, breakwaters and current diverters- towable or self-propelled habitats, under and on the sea,

could be designed.

FUTURE VENICE ²⁶

Growing a “giant artificial reef” could stop Venice sinking

“Senior University of Greenwich lecturer explains how a synthetic “limestone-like” support structure could be grown underneath Venice to prevent the city’s foundation’s from being eroded.

 EXPERIMENTING WITH ELECTROLYSIS ²⁷

An abstract of the water displacement, control and water saving basins of the new Panama Canal Locks. Through an almost scientific ecperimental level of accuracy, the amount of water with the central chamber can be controlled and changed.

The number of flasks, demonstrate the ability of locks to save far more water than the proposed 60%. The system is then developed into a projected dual use infrastructure- whereby water is no longer simply for transit and trade, but can be activated.

This experiment demonstrates an additonal prototype that is able to clean oxidised iron objects through the use of electroylsis. This process's ability to function is however still dependent on the water levels. The electrolysis experiment and the submerged object revealed an intriguing and etheral underwater and industrial environment is beginning to emerge.

Here the body if water is being used to clean iron oxide from an object through electrolysis- a process that can be up-sacled to industrial levels.

BIO-FOULING AND INDUSTRY OF COMBATING GROWTH ²⁸

at Balboa Port, Panama City

The build-up of biological material and structures on ship hulls and marine infrastructure- time based growth, also dependent on water movement. As humans alter the landscape of the Earth and economic globalisation expands, biological invasions increasingly homogenise the world's biota. In temperature marine systems, invasions are occuring at a rapid pace, driven by the transfer of organisms by vessels and live trade.

BIOROCK REGENERATION IN PANAMA ²⁹

Developing a Site Specific Generator

Coral Regeneration System: Developing floating installations that can harness the tidal power from the constant movement of passing vessels entering the canal.

This power can be used to electrrify and activate the specifically constructed biorock structures below. Instead of the shipping industry dammaging coral and marine left, they are empowered to help sustain and develop them. The distances between buoys are determined by shipping paths and can powere the corals from a distance.

MATERIAL EXPLORATION ³⁰

Forming Around a Structure

Mixing up the materials to replicate the texture and materiality of the biorock.

The mixture includes:

• Oyster Shell

• Portland Cement

• Salt Crystals

The salt crystals enable variation in texture and the creation of voids, where organisms would be able to grow and thrive.

TESTING CHAMBERS ³¹

Design and Construction

A series of 5 water containers to provide 5 separate test beds for the potential growth of biorock in salt-water.

The separate containers will allow for the test of different voltages- to explore what volatrge produces the most successful, plentiful and stable mineral accretion after a few days/week.

Exploration of accretion around different forms

Created from steel mesh as well as to test the concentration of the salt mix within the chambers- to explore whether higher amounts of calcium, magnesium, strontium affect the growth and accretion process.

Connection

Following the process of electrolysis each chamber is connected to a separate battery set. The cathode is connected to the steel mesh- to attract the mineral accretion, where as the brass tubes act as the anode to complete the circuit. Each chamber can then be safely turned off and modifications to the wiring, chamber, materials can be made easily.

GROWTH RATE EXPERIMENT ³²

Material used: Steel Wire mesh with 6.3 mm spacings.

To explore what volatge produces the most successful, plentiful and stable mineral accretion after a few days/week.

Allowing for later alteration to voltage supply if required.

OBSERVATION ³³

After a few days,

1. Water started to turn blue, as the water began to split into oxygen and hydrogen.

2. Solid clumps began to form within each of the chambebrs, more noticeably within the higher voltage tests.

3. Colouration was present on the copper wire used to bind the brass anodes. The material was unintended, despite creating very interesting and vivid environment and serires of colours.

4. There was very little accretion over the wire mesh even after a few days. (5-6 days)

   • Black growths began to form piecemeal around the wire mesh, and this could be attributed to the nature of the anode.

OBSERVATION ³⁴

1. Noticed growth within the higher voltage chambers of 6V and 12 V chambers around the wire mesh- increasing the diameter of the fine mesh.

2. With growth being more dense and prominent on the areas of mesh closer to the anode. The growth had also been affected by the colouration of the electrolysed salt-water- ranging from a deep orange to a powdery light blue-green.

3. Black growths also became more prominent aroound the base of the mesh.

4. Added more marine salt mixture to the cambers to explore the effect of this on teh reaction.

OBSERVATION ³⁵

1. After a week, it was observed that there was still very little growth arouund the mesh- something was preventing the reaction and the mineral accretion from occuring successfully.

2. It was found that the probable cause of the issue was the alloy nature of the brass anode.

3. Made up of zinc and copper, it is likely that one of these impurities were affecting the process.

4. The following steps were to begin experimenting with different anodes materials, to get a more successful result.

The mesh diameter has almost tripled in size.

FINAL RESULTS