A carbon capture method that converts carbon dioxide into metal oxalates – a precursor for cement production – has been developed by a team of researchers.
Concrete is the most widely used manufactured material on earth. It has quite literally created the foundations of our built environment, but it comes with a massive environmental cost.
The production of cement, the key ingredient of concrete, generates around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 every year – about 8% of the global total.
Cement's lack of sustainability is well known. When producing clinker – a precursor to cement – the calcining process converts calcium carbonate to calcium oxide, releasing carbon dioxide. In addition, the reaction itself takes place at close to 1,400°C, which involves burning large quantities of fossil fuel.
The most common type of cement is Portland cement, which is typically made from limestone and minerals such as calcium silicates.
To reduce the environmental impact of producing Portland cement, a research...