Paving the Way: Carbon Sequestration in Concrete to Mitigate Environmental Impact

Concrete, the most extensively used manmade material worldwide, contributes an estimated 8 percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. With annual volume running 30 gigatonnes, concrete consumption is over 3.5 tonnes of per person. The majority of the GHG emissions (88.5 percent) emanate from production of portland cement, the essential ingredient in concrete. Carbon sequestration in concrete presents a promising avenue…

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NYSDOT gives Klaw Pantheon glass pozzolan the green light

Sources: Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y.; CP staff The New York State Department of Transportation is the first agency to approve the use of Pantheon, a waste glass-derived pozzolan with demonstrated potential for portland cement substitution, in concrete mix designs. Klaw Industries LLC of Binghamton, N.Y. processes the silicon dioxide-rich (> 70 percent) agent to a reactivity level yielding additional calcium…

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SCM-driven Queens Carbon lands $14.5M DOE grant, seeks cement partner

Sources: Queens Carbon, Pine Brook, N.J.; CP staff The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded Queens Carbon $14.5 million to help fund a pilot supplementary cementitious materials facility engineered for 10 metric tons/day output and built at an existing portland cement operation. The startup company applies hydrothermal technology to produce Q-SCM binder, milled…

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Progressive Planet plasma process extracts SCM from quartz silica

Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. of Kamloops, B.C., cites promising compressive strength performance of concrete specimens prepared with PozPyro, a supplementary cementitious material processed with plasma technology and abundantly available crystalline silica feedstock. Designed in collaboration with Pyrogenesis Canada, the binder exhibits potential as a partial portland cement replacement. Mortar cube testing on four separate PozPyro mix batches showed strength activity…

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Graphene for Carbon-Neutral Concrete

Graphene technology promises carbon-neutral ready mixed concrete. Those seeking to aggressively push a transition to carbon neutrality should look to Adam Smith, known as the father of capitalism, for guidance. According to the 18th-century Scottish philosopher and economist, “By pursuing his own interest [the individual] frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote…

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Cemex Ventures maps five sustainability verticals in construction tech ecosystem

Sources: Cemex Ventures, Monterrey, Mexico; CP staff Cemex Ventures’ 2024 Construction Cleantech Map delineates five companies in  Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS), Decarbonization Alternatives, Circularity & Waste Management, Water Efficiency, and Design & Architecture verticals. The venture capital arm of Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. released the graphic to spotlight startups and construction companies developing and implementing innovations augmenting the construction…

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Unilock EcoTerra series pavers sport cement-free face mixes

EcoTerra pavers are debuting in North America in Unilock’s Promenade Plank profile, 4- x 12- x 2.75-in., with shot-blast Revela surface and Light Steel Grey or Light Opal Blend colors. Commercial installations to date have included a residential driveway in Ontario, following a successful demonstration at Unilock’s Georgetown operation. In addition to face mixes with mineral binder, EcoTerra pavers also…

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Policy-minded startups charter Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance

Ten companies aiming to lower carbon dioxide emissions tied to cement production and finished concrete have launched a first-of-its-kind, U.S. coalition dedicated to growing awareness around policies that will accelerate the adoption of CO2-wise solutions in public construction. Founding Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance (DC2) members are commercializing technologies that a) offer organic or inorganic alternatives for full or partial…

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Precast Forte Group harnesses Recon Wall Systems, sister businesses

Leadership of licensing innovator Recon Wall Systems has unveiled The Precast Forte Group, a Minnesota-based parent entity affording clarity of purpose for each of four companies while sharing manufactured concrete domain expertise. On the strength of the Recon Wall Systems flagship, the Forte portfolio has grown to include proprietary product or structure designs, external licensing services, and marketing tools—each serving…

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Patio Drummond commercializes CarbiCrete block, CO2 metrics in tow

CarbiCrete, Montreal developer of a process where slag cement and carbon dioxide replace portland cement and steam in concrete masonry unit mixes and curing, has taken a critical step in commercialization thanks to its charter North American producer, Quebec-based Patio Drummond. After extensive testing and trials, the concrete hardscapes producer has begun selling CarbiCrete block directly from its Drummondville plant…

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