13 votes

Making iron bacteria cement (water insoluble, no firing required)

12 comments

  1. [12]
    cfabbro
    Link
    As always with Primitive Technology videos, be sure to turn on the closed captioning. And here is the video description for more details:

    As always with Primitive Technology videos, be sure to turn on the closed captioning.

    And here is the video description for more details:

    About This Video:
    I developed a cement made from iron bacteria, then made pots from it to test its ability to set and not dissolve in water. Iron bacteria lives by oxidizing dissolved iron 2 oxide in the water table, converting it to insoluble iron 3 oxide, which precipitates out of solution forming an orange slime. This material can be concentrated to a paste that can be shaped into objects. After drying out completely, the material becomes insoluble in water just as cement does.

    I don't know for sure why it does this but I suspect that while it's wet, there's still some dissolved iron 2 oxide in the material. When air gets to the iron 2 oxide and converts it to iron 3 oxide it precipitates out. It then becomes a solid, cementing itself to the other iron 3 already present. This is probably why iron bacteria sometimes forms solid lumps known as bog ore. Bog ore was once primarily used for smelting into iron but was also occasionally used as a building material (not as a cement but as solid building blocks).

    The potential use for this material could be as a cement-like material or mortar used in structures when iron bacteria can be found in large quantities. Fire is not used in the process as is the case with limestone or wood ash cement, and so reduces fuel consumption. It may be an appropriate use for iron bacteria contaminated with mud that might otherwise be unsuitable for smelting. Aggregates such as sand and gravel could also be added to bulk out the volume. More experiments need to be made.

    3 votes
    1. [6]
      Don_Camillo
      Link Parent
      as always with primitive technology i make shure to keep the subtitles off. it makes it a much more serene experience, and his visual style combined with the title is more then enough to...

      as always with primitive technology i make shure to keep the subtitles off. it makes it a much more serene experience, and his visual style combined with the title is more then enough to understand what he is doing. sometimes it need some educated guessing, but the payoff when you finally get it is just sooo good :-)

      2 votes
      1. [5]
        cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Yeah, I usually watch his videos with captioning off first, but then rewatch with them on so I can fully understand exactly what he is doing and why.

        Yeah, I usually watch his videos with captioning off first, but then rewatch with them on so I can fully understand exactly what he is doing and why.

        3 votes
        1. [4]
          Eric_the_Cerise
          Link Parent
          Am I missing something? Is this a joke? I watched 75% of the video, and he never said a word.

          Am I missing something? Is this a joke? I watched 75% of the video, and he never said a word.

          1. FlippantGod
            Link Parent
            No, he doesn't speak, but he does add captioning. cfabbro just enjoys watching without distractions the first time around.

            No, he doesn't speak, but he does add captioning. cfabbro just enjoys watching without distractions the first time around.

            4 votes
          2. Fiachra
            Link Parent
            His closed captions are just descriptions of what he's doing and why.

            His closed captions are just descriptions of what he's doing and why.

            2 votes
          3. cfabbro
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            No joke. I just find his videos relaxing to watch. But like I said, if you want to know what is going on make sure to turn on the captioning.

            No joke. I just find his videos relaxing to watch. But like I said, if you want to know what is going on make sure to turn on the captioning.

            1 vote
    2. [5]
      teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      Interesting that he’s made cups entirely out of rust! I wonder if it affects the flavor of what you drink out of them.

      Interesting that he’s made cups entirely out of rust! I wonder if it affects the flavor of what you drink out of them.

      1 vote
      1. [4]
        vord
        Link Parent
        I would not reccomend making things to eat/cook off of using this method. Tetnus is no joke. That said, I'll bet it could make for a great sharpening stone.

        I would not reccomend making things to eat/cook off of using this method. Tetnus is no joke.

        That said, I'll bet it could make for a great sharpening stone.

        1 vote
        1. [3]
          cfabbro
          Link Parent
          I think that's the wrong bacterium. Tetanus is caused by a soil bacterium called clostridium tetani, but despite having an association with rusty nails (which is actually a bit of a myth) it's not...

          I think that's the wrong bacterium. Tetanus is caused by a soil bacterium called clostridium tetani, but despite having an association with rusty nails (which is actually a bit of a myth) it's not actually an iron-oxidizing bacterium like those used in this project. I still probably wouldn't risk eating or drinking out of one of those bowls though.

          2 votes
          1. vord
            Link Parent
            Oh I'm aware. But I presume any exposed rust would retain that rough texture which enables further bacterial growth, although perhaps thats less of an issue here.

            Oh I'm aware. But I presume any exposed rust would retain that rough texture which enables further bacterial growth, although perhaps thats less of an issue here.

            1 vote
          2. Happy_Shredder
            Link Parent
            I wonder how long it will take primtech to figure out glazing...that would pretty handily solve the issue

            I wonder how long it will take primtech to figure out glazing...that would pretty handily solve the issue

            1 vote