Turning atmospheric carbon into building materials
MAR 24, 2016
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029685
New Scientist : Several proposed projects would work to alleviate climate change by removing carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere. One research group in Australia is combining CO2 with calcium- or magnesium-containing minerals to create inert carbonates similar to baking soda. That material can then be used to create construction materials, such as cement and drywall. The process, called mineral carbonation, already takes place naturally on Earth in the form of weathering. A pilot plant has been built at the University of Newcastle near Sydney to see whether the process can be scaled up enough to be commercially viable.
© 2016 American Institute of Physics
