Not long ago, we introduced the world's first fully recyclable carbon-neutral concrete manufacturing technology developed in Japan. Click the link below to review:Pure green and recyclable, Japan develops carbon-neutral concrete

Meanwhile, the UK has also developed a technology that uses construction waste solidified with carbon dioxide to manufacture new building materials. In this issue, we will take you through it!

　　Carbon capture and reuse

　　The core technology of this process is called Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT), developed by the UK company O.C.O Technology.

　　This is a carbon capture and reuse technology that uses carbon dioxide gas as a resource to treat various wastes generated during industrial production, while solidifying the "captured" carbon dioxide, and then manufacturing it into sustainable new building materials, such as carbon-neutral artificial limestone aggregates.

　　Carbon solidification

　　Many wastes from construction and production processes naturally react with carbon dioxide in the presence of water. ACT technology accelerates this process through additives and controlled reaction conditions, forming artificial limestone in as little as a few minutes.

　　Waste treatment

　　ACT technology can treat industrial waste, transforming metal compounds and other substances through various chemical and physical mechanisms and stabilizing their properties. While reducing pollution, the treated waste can also serve as raw material for sustainable building materials.

　　Treatable wastes include:

　　■ Boiler ash and bottom ash;

　　■ Fly ash and flue ash;

　　■ Residues from air pollution control;

　　■ Scum in water sources;

　　■ Lime excavated from mining.

　　Sustainable building materials

　　This technology has already led to a process that uses carbon capture and reuse to treat residues generated from various construction wastes and convert them into artificial limestone (M-LS) aggregate, which can be used for earthworks, road paving, and more.

　　Technology applications

　　Manufacturing technology

　　Wastes such as fly ash react with carbon dioxide and are then solidified. Throughout the manufacturing process, harmful substances such as heavy metals are stabilized, and lightweight aggregate is produced through pelletizing and shaping.

　　Each ton of such aggregate used can save 1.4 tons of natural aggregate; the carbon dioxide captured per thousand tons of aggregate is equivalent to planting 4,000 trees per year.

　　Future outlook

　　At present, the company has partnered with Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation on a project using ACT technology to carbonize slag from steel processing plants; O.C.O Technology is also continuing to develop new sustainable products. The technology can be applied in many ways and is expected to be used to make bricks, tiles, components, panels, and more. It is expected to be put into use in Spain in 2024, by which time it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by thousands of tons per year.