SOTERIA - Carbon Negative Bioconcrete Unit Production Concept
Technology Description:
Biomason will develop a carbon negative cementitious materials production process that may replace most product classes now served by carbon-intensive traditional cement. Traditional cement (the binder element in concrete) requires carbon-intensive, fossil fuel kilning (1,400°C) of limestone, leading to carbon emissions from the high temperature and CO2 burned off the limestone. Biocementation, or microbial induced calcite precipitation, is a viable technology for manufacturing concrete materials with significantly reduced energy, carbon, and logistical footprints. Biomason’s retooling of bioconcrete production processes and material combinations will (1) eliminate synthetic urea as biocement carbon source, (2) incorporate carbon-loaded, biomass, and/or recycled base aggregate materials, and (3) tune biocement speciation for enhanced carbon inclusion.
Potential Impact:
HESTIA projects will facilitate the use of carbon storing materials in building construction to achieve net carbon negativity by optimizing material chemistries and matrices, manufacturing, and whole-building designs in a cost-effective manner.