The manufacture of cement is one of the single largest sources of carbon emissions in the world. As a result, the industry is working to develop viable manufacturing strategies to produce green cement and progress is being made.
And one small company in New York is doing its part to help. Glenwood Mason Supply - in conjunction with CarbonQuest – are using a clever technique to capture carbon dioxide within cement blocks.
The strategy involves turning the carbon dioxide into dry ice, then mixing it with the cement. The mixture causes a chemical reaction which transforms the CO2 into calcium carbonate. Once in it’s mineral form, it can be contained within the cement blocks forever.
The CO2 is sourced from high-rise heating systems. A series of pipes, filters, and condensers siphon the carbon dioxide from a boiler’s flue line, then turns it into a liquid. The process helps building owners adhere to Local Law 97 which defines New York City’s new energy-efficiency requirements for buildings over 250,000 square feet.
CarbonQuest developed injection technology four years ago and is currently operating the systems at five locations. As other cities tighten up their environmental building codes, they plan to expand beyond New York. They also hope to leverage the process to replace petroleum in chemical and jet-fuel production.
According to CarbonQuest the process reduces the cement’s carbon footprint by 5%. It doesn’t solve the problem, but it puts a bit of a dent into it.