Terra-Bond™ is a patented technology developed and owned by the Pildysh Group. The technology was originally developed by PT and is currently marketed and commercially implemented through Sul-Terra Power Corp. PT provides management of Sul-Terra’s projects.

The Technology: Terra-Bond™ is a cementing technology encompassing a process and resulting products, which utilizes a modified, thermoplastic, sulphur based cement to encapsulate and bind solid, finely divided, industrial by-products and wastes in a strong, stable material matrix (i.e.: the Terra-Bond™ matrix). The Terra-Bond™ matrix is formed into discrete particles for use in construction and waste encapsulation applications (discussed below.) The key points of the Terra-Bond™ technology are as follows:

• Purpose & Premise - By-Product/Waste Utilization or Encapsulation:
  The Terra-Bond™ process consumes large volumes of solid, finely divided, industrial by-products or waste materials. Typical matrix compositions will contain 40% to 80% of the solid by-products/wastes by mass of the matrix. In addition, the process consumes substantial volumes of elemental sulphur (at least 20% by mass of the matrix), which is often available as a by-product from natural gas refining.
   
• Binder – Stabilized Sulphur Cement:
  Through the proprietary Terra-Bond process, the elemental sulphur crystal structure is modified for stabilization. This chemico/physical stabilization is essential in order to create sulphur based cements with sufficient stability for use in construction or waste encapsulation applications (discussed below.) Note: in some cases, specialty stabilizers manufactured by the Pildysh Group may be required for certain Terra-Bond™ matrix compositions.
   
• Final Products - Discrete Particle Forming:
  The Terra-Bond™ material matrix is formed into discrete particles ranging in size from approximately 80 µm to 50 mm in diameter. These sized particles not only assist in enhancing the matrix durability but can be readily handled making them ideal for construction and waste stabilization applications (discussed below.)

Suitable By-Products or Waste Materials: Terra-Bond™ matrix compositions are all material and/or application specific. Therefore, laboratory feasibility assessments are required to assess potential by-product or waste material compatibility with the Terra-Bond™ technology. As a guideline, several dozen materials have been assessed in the lab and a general list of suitable by-products or waste materials would include:

• Elemental sulphur/contaminated sulphur.
• Produced sand.
• Tailings.
• Fly ash.
• Bottom ash.
• Slag.
• Precipitator/baghouse dusts.
• Coke/carbon.
• Drilling muds/cuttings.
• Contaminated soils.
• Pulp and paper/forestry process residues.
• Mining process residues.
• Agricultural residues.

Applications: The Terra-Bond™ technology has two main applications depending on the environmental characterization of the solid by-product or waste as follows:

• By-Product/Waste Utilization - synthetic aggregate production:
  In the case of non-hazardous solid by-products or waste materials, the Terra-Bond™ technology can be used to manufacture high quality synthetic aggregate for construction applications. MORE>>>
   
• Waste Encapsulation - hazardous waste de-classification: in the case of hazardous solid waste materials, the Terra-Bond™ technology can be used to encapsulate the waste material thus creating a stable pellets which can be stored long-term in a de-classified containment facility. MORE>>>