High-Performing Carbon-Negative Concrete Using Low Value Byproducts from Biofuels Production
Project Innovation + Advantages:
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and partners will develop a carbon-negative, thermally insulating concrete that uses bio-based supplementary cementitious materials and concrete additives generated from low-value byproducts created during sustainable aviation fuel production. The NREL team will demonstrate that activated carbon, aerogels, and ash produced from biomass processing, as well as additional CO2 calcination of these materials, can replace a large portion of ordinary portland cement in common “ready-mix” concrete. Such plant derived intermediates can permanently sequester atmospheric CO2 in concrete in the form of solid carbon using this approach. This material can be ground and recycled at end of life for use as road base or aggregate with no risk of organic matter decomposition and CO2 secondary release.