Australians test carbon dioxide-capturing carbonate production

Sources: University of Newcastle; CP staff

A new method for permanently storing carbon dioxide emissions generated from fossil fuels and other industrial processes is at the heart of a mineral carbonation pilot plant to be built at the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Energy and Resources.

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Coal operator Alpha takes stake in Class C ash-based cement purveyor Ceratech

Sources: Alpha Natural Resources, Abingdon, Va.; CP staff

A major coal producer has acquired a 10.3 percent position in Alexandria, Va.-based Ceratech Inc., whose Ekkomaxx technology can yield concrete binding agents with performance characteristics reportedly matching ASTM C150 Types I–V powder.

Alpha Natural Resources can increase its Ceratech stake to 28.3 percent under certain future terms. It becomes the second coal producer to invest in prospective concrete technology offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from either portland cement production or fossil fuel-fired power generation. In April 2010, market leader Peabody Energy took a $15 million interest in Calera Corp., whose calcium carbonate precipitation processes—applied to power plants’ flue gas streams—are netting concrete-grade fine aggregate.

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SCM, aggregate processor Calera eyes concrete pilots for CO2-sequestering carbonate

Sources: CP staff; Calera Corp., Los Gatos, Calif.

Two years after outlining research aimed at commercial processes for carbon dioxide-capturing aggregate or cementitious materials, Calera has announced a series of prospective concrete applications testing a mix agent from its Mineralization via Aqueous Precipitation technology. An initial carbonate product, Partial Cement Substitute (PCS), is derived from the flue gas of the Moss power plant in northern California, coupled with naturally occurring, water-based calcium or magnesium sources.

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CO2-Capturing Aggregate Processor Calera Lands $19.8 Million DOE Grant

Los Gatos, Calif.-based Calera Corp. is poised to design, build and operate a system that mineralizes carbon dioxide from flue gas, yielding carbonate-bearing aggregate for construction fill or cement mill raw feed

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