14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers from Stanford University are one step closer to implementing a new kind of highly-sustainable cement. Its manufacturing process has been inspired by natural coral reefs. Corals absorb minerals and CO2 to secrete calcium carbonate.
This natural cycle has been observed and copied by scientists, to come up with an effective, eco-friendly replacement for common cement, whose production triggers a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, the Inhabitat informs.
Brent Constanz from Stanford thinks he is ready to share the secret formula. Apparently, a new generation of cement can collect CO2 from the atmosphere and dissolve it into seawater, eventually obtaining calcium carbonate.
This element can be used in construction and could easily make the suppliers of Portland cement, its traditional competitor, go out of business.
This invention has a lot of potential, mostly due to its beneficial environmental impact. Scientists say that the production of each ton of Portland cement generates almost one ton of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, once this new green technology is fully tested and scientists give the green light to this project, it could revolutionize the entire construction industry, making it much more eco-friendly.
Scientists from Stanford University seem very optimistic, since they guarantee their new kind of coral-inspired cement is a durable material with a green purpose: to liberate the atmosphere from an enormous amount of carbon dioxide emissions.
Besides its green mission, the invention is considered a potential gold mine, especially nowadays, when architects are interested in the most sustainable options provided by developers.
Firmly believing that his new technology can bring a considerable profit, Constanz has launched Calera, a company that is going to expand the research and market the innovative product.
At this point in time, the enterprise depends on a plant from California’s Monterrey Bay exploiting waste CO2 gas to obtain calcium carbonate. If this method proves its efficiency, it would definitely be implemented on a large commercial scale.