University of Strathclyde spinout Ureaka turns waste concrete into carbon-negative cement replacement

scottishconstructionnow.com

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

A prospective spinout from the University of Strathclyde called Ureaka is developing a method to turn mineral waste, including demolished concrete, into carbon-negative supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). The process recovers calcium and silica from waste streams and uses captured CO2 to lock carbon into a solid state, creating a drop-in powder that can replace some of the cement in standard concrete mixes without changing existing manufacturing processes. Cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions, partly due to unavoidable chemical reactions during manufacturing. Ureaka's approach aims to cut those emissions by reducing the amount of cement needed while permanently storing captured CO2. The company is moving from lab research to factory-scale modeling and preparing for third-party testing in live manufacturing environments. The project is supported by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Spin Out Fund. Ureaka is now seeking additional grant funding and preparing for a seed investment round to support further development and commercialization.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting approach. Cement is a massive emitter and electrification alone won't fix it because the chemical process itself releases CO2. Turning waste concrete into a drop in SCM that also stores captured carbon sounds like a real solution if it scales.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The bit about being a drop in powder that works with existing supply chains is key. A lot of these alternatives fail because they require new equipment or different mix designs. If this really plugs in without changes, it has a shot at adoption.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

I want to see the energy balance of the process. Recovering calcium and silica from waste and reacting with captured CO2 takes energy. If that energy comes from fossil sources, the net carbon math gets complicated. Would be good to see lifecycle numbers.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The IBioIC backing suggests they are thinking about industrial biotech pathways, but the article doesn't mention how the CO2 is sourced. If it's from a point source like a cement plant, you are still relying on that plant operating. Direct air capture would change the economics.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Third party testing in live manufacturing is the right next step. Lab results are one thing, but real world mixing, curing, and strength testing will tell you if this actually works for construction. Hope they publish the results openly.