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World-first pilot plant to turn carbon dioxide into rock for bricks

World-first pilot plant to turn carbon dioxide into rock

23 Aug 2013

Read More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-2...o-rock/4908324

Quote:

A research pilot plant in Newcastle will trial world-first technology that turns carbon emissions into bricks and pavers for the construction industry. The mineral carbonation technology copies and accelerates the earth's own way of sinking carbon.

The University of Newcastle, chemical giant Orica and carbon innovation company GreenMag Group have spent six years researching how to permanently and safely dispose of carbon dioxide. Mineral Carbonation International (MCi) will spend $9 million over the next four years establishing the pilot plant at the University of Newcastle. MCi chief executive Marcus St John Dawe says the solid product could be turned into various things including building materials.

"We could be making millions of tonnes of bricks and pavers which really could be green products for the future," he said. He says the project is about permanently transforming carbon dioxide, not just storing it in the ground. Orica chief executive Ian Smith says the technology will enable every power station in the world to capture carbon dioxide emissions and turn them into rock.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/490...x2-340x227.jpg

I've read about this before, great to see a demonstration plant is now finally in the works. This will be huge if proven to be economically viable.

This could provide housing for billions, combat global warming,end the fear of losing too much trees and other things all at the same time. Nobel Prize if this turns out to be very easily done.

I'm waiting for the auto version of this technology. My car will shit bricks.

The processing was always there. I think it was just a matter of making something useful of it. I know the auto industry was capturing and filtering emissions from foundries since the early 90's and then burying them on site because there wasn't much practical use. It's expensive equipment and the auto companies spent a fortune to retrofit factories since It's not just about capturing carbon but ensuring no other nasty or toxic chemicals make it into the air and are also captured, separated and properly disposed of. I mean, you wouldn't want something like mercury making it into your bricks!

I just hope such equipment gets cheaper so it isn't just limited to power plants but smaller manufacturing.

It could even lead to more graceful concrete highrises with setbacks, carved lettering, and other things worth looking at if the concrete becomes a lot cheaper and readily available.

That looks interesting. Have they made any more details on their process public? That might be good paired with a direct capture source of CO2, like this one:

• Video Link
http://nytimes.com/2013/01/06/busine...html?seid=auto

Kilimanjaro Energy and Global Thermostat are two others who are currently building direct capture test facilities with their own technologies, btw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K (Post 6245932)

It could even lead to more graceful concrete highrises with setbacks, carved lettering, and other things worth looking at if the concrete becomes a lot cheaper and readily available.

Fly ash from coal plants has been used for years in concrete production, it actually allows for more compression strength in the concrete mix. The big break through of course will be solidifying carbon without mercury, arsenic or other pollutants which may be released during the burning of coal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn (Post 6247450)

Fly ash from coal plants has been used for years in concrete production, it actually allows for more compression strength in the concrete mix. The big break through of course will be solidifying carbon without mercury, arsenic or other pollutants which may be released during the burning of coal.

Which is why direct air capture might be a good technology to pair with this brick making process.

Fly ash is a pozzolan, btw, which means that it has the properties you described.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pozzolan