First Batch Released! CarbonMiner Produces Carbon-Fixed AAC
News Content:
Shenzhen CarbonMiner Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. has successfully produced the first batch of Carbon-Fixed autoclaved aerated concrete blocks （AAC）named O-Brick，at its Xi’an production facility, by leveraging the OCMC technology. This marks the commercial application of CO2 mineralization in AAC block production.
"Learning from nature" has long been the source of human invention. Cement-based materials, currently the most widely used man-made material, have a mineral composition similar to natural rocks. Research shows that cement-based materials undergo a carbonation reaction in natural environments, but the process is extremely slow. By mimicking the natural weathering of rocks, placing cement-based products in a specific CO2 environment allows the alkaline calcium and magnesium hydration products in cement-based materials to chemically react with CO2. This forms carbonate products within the concrete, enhancing its mechanical strength and durability, while also absorbing CO2 from the air, delivering significant environmental benefits.
The OCMC technology, which stands for "One-Stop Carbon Mineralization Concrete," is an innovative carbon fixation technique jointly developed by CarbonMiner and Chang’an University. It focuses on permanently storing CO2 in concrete throughout the entire cement-based material production process.
This project employs a chemical reaction between CO2 and pre-hardened materials, replacing traditional steam consumption and reducing production costs. The resulting AAC blocks offer several performance advantages, including a shorter hardening cycle, enhanced compressive strength, and a carbon fixation rate of approximately 10%.
Comparison of CO2 Mineralization Process Diagram for AAC Blocks
Estimates indicate that producing 1m³ of these aerated blocks can absorb and permanently sequester up to 50kg of CO2. Once fully operational, the project is expected to sequester more than 10,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to the amount absorbed by approximately 5 million trees each year. In addition to mineralizing and storing carbon, this process also reduces invisible carbon emissions.
