CarbonCure Technologies and MIT ‘s Masic Lab are joining forces to explore the intricacies of carbon dioxide (CO2) injection and mineralization within concrete.
This partnership aims to further understand this promising approach to reducing emissions from the concrete industry, a sector known for its significant carbon footprint.
Professor Admir Masic, of MIT’s Civil and Environmental Engineering department and a lead investigator at the Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), will spearhead this joint effort.
His Masic Lab specializes in the nanochemomechanics of mineralization and biomineralization, examining materials from construction components to archaeological artifacts and biological specimens.
The research will also leverage the resources of the CSHub, a collaborative platform uniting academic, industry, and government leaders focused on creating sustainable infrastructure solutions.
For over ten years, CarbonCure‘s research team has been at the forefront of investigating carbon utilization technologies and the characteristics of concrete where carbon has been mineralized.
Relevant: CarbonCure, Abdin And Gulf Cryo To Advance Carbon Utilization In Saudi Arabia
The Masic Lab’s work will expand on this foundation, utilizing cutting-edge analytical methods, such as in-situ and operando Raman spectroscopy and microscopy, to examine the core processes of carbon mineralization during concrete production.
The research scope ranges from analyzing concrete samples at the nanoscale to observing industrial-scale concrete production. It will encompass studies of CO2 mineralization rates within concrete, the amount, stability, density, and distribution of calcium carbonates formed, and ways to enhance cement hydration efficiency.
“CarbonCure aims to strengthen the industry’s scientific understanding of the intersection between mineralization and concrete properties, with a constant focus on enhancing the performance benefits of our technologies and innovating on behalf of our concrete producer partners,” stated CarbonCure Chief Technology Officer Dean Forgeron.
Read more: DAC Startup NeoCarbon Produced Its First Batch Of Concrete With Captured CO2
