Title:
Inspired by Nature: A Deep Dive into the Future of Bio-Concrete
Author(s):
Leo Atencio
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_S24_LeoAtencio.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/24/2024
Abstract:
Concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth and is the most widely used construction material. The global cement and concrete products market is a $394 billion industry in 2023, with the world’s building stock projected to double by 2060. Today, traditional cement and concrete production pumps 11 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every day, causing 8% of the world’s annual CO2 emissions. Prometheus Materials has developed a groundbreaking zero-carbon bio-cement by combining microalgae with sunlight, water and ambient CO2. When mixed with aggregate, it forms a zero-carbon bio-concrete with mechanical, physical and thermal properties that are comparable or, in some cases, superior to traditional portland cement-based concrete. In addition to being zero-carbon, virtually all of the water used in its production is returned to the earth. Loren Burnett will share the origin of Prometheus Materials’ microalgae-based bio-cement, including how it was originally developed under a Department of Defense grant at the University of Colorado Boulder, to the many benefits it affords today for our built environment. He will discuss the technology’s technical properties, industry certifications and potential for carbon sequestration. Loren will also address several key challenges associated with traditional cement and concrete production and how Prometheus Materials circumvents these, such as by reducing supply chain constraints by using locally sourced microalgae and less/recycled water.