Using seawater, electricity and carbon dioxide (CO2), Northwestern University scientists have developed a new carbon-negative building material. The material holds over half their weight in CO2 to become a carbon sink. It could replace sand in concrete and be used in other construction materials while trapping CO2.
  • Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    16·
    3 days ago

    Rotta Loria likens the process to the technique coral and mollusks use to form their shells, which harnesses metabolic energy to convert dissolved ions into calcium carbonate. But, instead of metabolic energy, the researchers applied electrical energy to initiate the process and boosted mineralization with the injection of CO2.

    Neat

    • Cocodapuf@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Ok, that’s a pretty different idea…

      I wonder how feasible it is to run current through a whole chunk of drying concrete on a build site… It does sound potentially difficult, but on the other hand, carbon negative concrete might just be worth the added difficulty.

      Now the trick will be to convince anyone to use a material that is even slightly more expensive, sometimes achievable, but always a challenge.