Aussie tech converts CO2 into concrete

Australian based start-up, Mineral Carbonation International (MCi), has unveiled its ambitious carbon conversion research program recently at the University of Newcastle’s Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) facility.

The demonstration of the research pilot plant is the first opportunity for many to see carbon utilisation technology at pilot scale, demonstrating the potential to transform carbon dioxide produced by industrial activity into building products.

MCi is jointly owned by the University of Newcastle, Australian mining services provider Orica and carbon innovation company GreenMag Group.

The MCi mineral carbonation pilot plant works by reacting carbon dioxide emissions captured from Orica’s nearby Kooragang Island operations with minerals, which permanently binds the carbon dioxide in solid carbonates. MCi says carbonates and silica by-products have the potential to be used in building products such as concrete and plasterboards.

A first-generation batch plant has been in operation at the site since the beginning of 2016, and both plants are now operational.

“By investing in this technology, Orica seeks to help our own business and those of our customers to deal positively with carbon dioxide emissions by providing a long term, safe, storage and utilisation option, which can also create valuable products,” says Orica Chief Scientist, Jez Smith.

“The MCi technology may eventually help entire supply chains lower their carbon intensity.”

MCi CEO, Marcus Dawe, says climate change needs to be addressed and MCi’s technology can help.

“Like adoption of renewables in energy production, our technology aims to help decarbonise industries like cement, steel and chemical production,” he says.

The MCi team is currently conducting intensive research to refine the process and generate carbonated materials for product testing.

The success of the MCi research pilot plant has allowed the project to extend its focus into flue gas carbonation this year with a $2.4million grant from the Commonwealth Government. This project could see mineral carbonation applied in a wider variety of industrial settings, creating valuable products directly from flue gas without the need for carbon dioxide purification.

MCi is also continuing to develop more global partnerships in the industry as it moves into its commercialisation phase and the development of a demonstration scale plant.