<
https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/03/1084734/sublime-systems-cement-climate-change-carbon-footprint/>
"Cement hides in plain sight—it’s used to build everything from roads and
buildings to dams and basement floors. But there’s a climate threat lurking in
those ubiquitous gray slabs. Cement production accounts for more than 7% of
global carbon dioxide emissions—more than sectors like aviation, shipping, or
landfills.
Humans have been making cement, in one form or another, for thousands of years.
Ancient Romans used volcanic ash, crushed lime, and seawater to build the
aqueducts and iconic structures like the Pantheon. The modern version of
hydraulic cement—the sort that hardens when mixed with water and allowed to
dry—dates back to the early 19th century. Derived from widely available
materials, it’s cheap and easy to make. Today, cement is one of the most-used
materials on the planet, with about 4 billion metric tons produced annually.
Industrial-scale cement is a multifaceted climate conundrum. Making it is
energy intensive: the inside of a traditional cement kiln is hotter than lava
in an erupting volcano. Reaching those temperatures typically requires burning
fossil fuels like coal. There’s also a specific set of chemical reactions
needed to turn crushed-up minerals into cement—and those reactions release
carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
One solution to this climate catastrophe might be coursing through the pipes at
Sublime Systems. Founded by two MIT battery scientists, the startup is
developing an entirely new way to make cement. Instead of heating crushed-up
rocks in lava-hot kilns, Sublime’s technology zaps them in water with
electricity, kicking off chemical reactions that form the main ingredients in
its cement."
Via
What Could Go Right? January 11, 2024:
https://theprogressnetwork.org/dog-meat-bans-south-korea-asia/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
