Over 30 billions tons of concrete are produced every year. Cement, main component of concrete, emits 0.8 tons of CO2 per ton of cement produced. This is about 7% of total global CO2 emissions. First source comes from CO2 released from limestone to produce lime. The second source is from lime and clay being heated to 1450 degrees celsius to make cement. UCLA research is trying to create a close loop process.
Technology:
- CO2 released from limestone to produce lime gets captured
- CO2 is then separated from gas stream by membrane
- CO2 is integrated into building material
Stakeholders:
- Citizens
- Government
- Construction Companies
Steps to Deploy Technology:
- Develop scalable technique for 3D-printing
- Integrate all processes into a pilot facility
- Optimize process parameters
Thank you for posting this. The carbon up-cycling technology turning CO2 into concrete supports a circular closed loop process and is an efficient way to recycle material while reducing CO2. On the stakeholder list, may I suggest including real estate developers, architects and engineers, and the concrete manufacturer?
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