Abstract: A printable concrete composition is made from the combination of a solid mix, water, and various liquid admixtures. The solid mix includes quantities of aggregate, coarse sand, and fine sand in an approximately 1:1:1 critical aggregate ratio, as well as a binding agent present in a critical binding ratio. Solid admixtures include clay, fly ash, and silica fume. This solid mix may be prepackaged for later combination with the water and liquid admixtures. The solid mix combines with water at a critical water ratio ranging from approximately 0.44 to approximately 0.50. Liquid admixtures include flow control, plasticizer, and shrinkage-reducing admixtures. Once the printable concrete composition is prepared, a user may print a structure without further modification of the composition. Users may embed mesh between layers of the printable concrete composition to reinforce or stabilize the structure.

Abstract: A scalable three dimensional printing apparatus capable of movement along three axes includes a tractor assembly movable along a selectively extendable rail component. Wheels in the tractor assembly surround part of the rail component to enable movement of a gantry bridge in a longitudinal direction along the rails. A movable printing trolley moves horizontally along a gantry bridge and has a printing column which can move vertically. Because the gantry bridge, trolley, and printing column move orthogonally to each other, users may print in three dimensions. Selective extension of the rails allows a user to alter lengthwise printing scale.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing MSW comprising the steps of —providing a stream of unsorted MSW to a microbial fermentation reactor in which the MSW is fermented with agitation at a non-water content of between 10 and 50% by weight and at a temperature of between 35 and 75 degrees for a period of between 1 and 72 hours under conditions sufficient to maintain a live lactic acid bacteria concentration of at least 10.000.000.000 CFU/L, and —removing a stream of fermented unsorted MSW from the reactor and subjecting it to a separation step whereby non-degradable solids are removed to provide a slurry of bio-degradable components. Further, a slurry of bio-degradable components prepared according to said method is provided.

Abstract: Methods of processing municipal solid wastes (MSW) are provided whereby concurrent enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation of wastes results in liquefaction of biodegradable components as well as accumulation of microbial metabolites. Liquefied biodegradable components are then separated from nondegradable solids to produce a bioliquid characterized in comprising a large percentage of dissolved solids of which a large fraction comprises some combination of acetate, ethanol, butyrate, lactate, formate or propionate. This bioliquid is, itself, a novel biomethane substrate composition, which permits very rapid conversion to biomethane. Methods of biomethane production are further provided using this bioliquid and using other biomethane substrate compositions produced by concurrent enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation of organic materials.

Abstract: In an apparatus for measuring the eccentricity of an eccentric bearing face having an axis of rotation, a rotary motion and a perimeter, the apparatus comprises a length measurement gauge, mounting means for mounting the length measurement gauge, means for guiding the movement of the length measurement gauge, in which the guiding means comprises a follower and two bearing tips, and means for applying the bearing tips to the eccentric bearing face. The mounting means for mounting the length measurement gauge functions to (a) maintain the length measurement gauge in the radical direction during rotary motion, and (b) enable the length measurement gauge to move perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. The guiding means functions to guide the movement of the length measurement gauge in the direction of the rotary motion of the eccentric bearing face.