Published by Todd Bush on December 30, 2024
Scientists have developed a new 3D concrete printing method that captures carbon, enhancing the material’s strength and sustainability.
This innovation significantly reduces the construction sector’s carbon emissions by incorporating CO2 directly into the concrete, promising a greener future for construction technologies.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have created a 3D concrete printing method that captures carbon, offering a new way to reduce the construction industry’s environmental impact.
This method targets cement’s significant carbon footprint, which accounts for around eight percent of global CO2 emissions.
Detailed in the journal Carbon Capture Science & Technology, the technique focuses on lowering emissions by reducing material usage, speeding up construction, and cutting labor needs.
The process works by injecting steam and CO2 — captured as by-products from industrial processes — into the concrete mix during printing. This innovative method allows the concrete to trap and store CO2 within its structure, improving both its sustainability and strength.
Tests showed that this approach not only sequesters carbon but also strengthens the concrete. The printed material demonstrated greater mechanical strength compared to conventional 3D-printed concrete.
Members of the research team from the NTU School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), and NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP), include (L-R) Dr. Suvash Paul, Senior Research Fellow; Dr. Daniel Tay, Research Fellow; Lim Sean Gip, PhD candidate; Prof Tan Ming Jen, Principal Investigator; Dr. Lee Junghyun, Research Fellow. Credit: NTU Singapore
>> In Other News: Avina Clean Hydrogen and Gov. Pritzker Announce Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility in Southwest Illinois
Principal investigator of the study, Professor Tan Ming Jen, from NTU School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP), stated, “The building and construction sector causes a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Our newly developed 3D concrete printing system offers a carbon-reducing alternative by not only improving the mechanical properties of concrete but also contributing to reducing the sector’s environmental impact.”
The method demonstrates how CO2 produced by industries can be repurposed for sustainable construction.
The research team believes their innovation represents a promising contribution toward achieving global sustainable development goals and reducing the industry’s reliance on energy-intensive processes.
To develop their 3D concrete printing system, the research team connected the 3D printer to CO2 pumps and a jet that sprays steam. This setup allows CO2 to react with the components in the concrete mix, turning into a solid form that stays locked within the material.
The steam improves CO2 absorption into the printed structure, enhancing its properties and contributing to more sustainable construction processes.
In lab tests, the printed concrete structure showed a 50 percent improvement in printability, allowing it to be shaped and printed more efficiently. The material was up to 36.8 percent stronger in compression and 45.3 percent stronger in bending compared to traditional 3D-printed concrete.
The method also absorbed and trapped 38 percent more carbon dioxide than traditional 3D printing processes, further emphasizing its environmental benefits.
First author Lim Sean Gip, PhD candidate from NTU School of MAE, remarked, “We are at a critical time where the world is accelerating efforts to meet climate change targets. We believe our technology could contribute to making the construction industry more sustainable.”
Co-author Dr. Daniel Tay, Research Fellow from NTU School of MAE, added, “Our proposed system shows how capturing carbon dioxide and using it in 3D concrete printing could lead to stronger, more eco-friendly buildings, advancing construction technology.”
A US patent application for the innovation has been filed jointly by NTU and collaborators. Future research will aim to optimize the 3D printing process for greater efficiency and explore the use of waste gases instead of pure carbon dioxide.
Reference: “Carbon capture and sequestration with in-situ CO2 and steam integrated 3D concrete printing” by Sean Gip Lim, Yi Wei Daniel Tay, Suvash Chandra Paul, Junghyun Lee, Issam T. Amr, Bandar A. Fadhel, Aqil Jamal, Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, and Ming Jen Tan, 26 September 2024, Carbon Capture Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccst.2024.100306
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Inside This Issue 🔋 Plug Closes Loan Guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy 🗺️ USGS Releases First-ever Map of Potential for Geologic Hydrogen in U.S. 🌎 Constellation to Acquire Calpine; Cre...
Inside This Issue 🌍 Plug Seals Monumental Deal with Allied Green Ammonia for a Mega 3 GW Electrolyzer System 💰 DOE Invests $101 Million to Establish Carbon Capture, Removal, and Conversion Test Ce...
Inside This Issue 💰 $3.1 Billion in Carbon Management Funding: What It Means for the Future 🛳️ Value Maritime-led Onboard Carbon Capture Project Aims to Capture 80% of CO2 Emissions ✈️ Hydrogen Hy...
OMAHA, Neb. -- Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced that key milestones for the ‘Advantage Nebraska’ carbon strategy have been met, and the project remains on track for operation in the ...
Catona Climate Partners with Tencent to Deliver High-Quality Nature-Based Carbon Removal Solutions
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Catona Climate, a climate finance company, has partnered with Tencent, a leading technology and entertainment company, to support Tencent's decarbonization...
VANCOUVER, British Columbia & OMAHA, Neb. — (Business Wire) — Svante Technologies Inc. (Svante), a leading innovator in carbon capture and removal technology, and Tenaska, a prominent CO2 trans...
USGS Releases First-ever Map of Potential for Geologic Hydrogen in U.S.
The first-of-its-kind map highlights areas of interest for this potential future source of energy and chemical supply RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) today published the first map ...
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.