Glasgow Spinout Targets Carbon-Negative Construction

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A promising spinout from the University of Strathclyde is on a mission to turn low-value mineral waste into carbon-negative construction materials that can partially replace cement in concrete. This innovative technology has the potential to cut down emissions from cement production while securely storing captured carbon dioxide (CO2).

Founded by scientist Dr. Philip Salter, Ureaka is blending circular chemistry with mineral processing to create supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) from waste streams. These materials are specifically designed to work alongside traditional cement in concrete, allowing for a reduction in cement usage without requiring any changes to current manufacturing processes.

With support from the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Spin Out Fund and in collaboration with researchers at the University of Strathclyde, the project is moving from the lab towards commercial viability. The team is currently focused on factory-scale modeling and is gearing up for product testing and validation.

Cement and concrete production is responsible for about 8% of global CO2 emissions, largely due to the energy-intensive nature of the manufacturing process and the chemical reactions involved in making cement. This makes decarbonization a tough nut to crack for the industry.

In light of this challenge, Ureaka is concentrating on transforming mineral waste streams, including demolished concrete, into new materials that can replace cement. Their process recovers valuable elements like calcium and silica, and then uses captured CO2 to form stable carbonate minerals, effectively locking the carbon away in a solid state.

The end product, SCM, is designed to be a drop-in powder that can seamlessly blend into standard concrete mixes. This means manufacturers can lessen their dependence on traditional cement without altering their existing production methods. By utilizing waste streams instead of fresh raw materials, Ureaka is also aiming to offer a more cost-effective path to sustainable construction materials.

The company’s previous efforts in biocementation show promise for a variety of new uses, such as reinforcing soil for construction projects and mending existing concrete structures through mineral formation.

Ureaka is now concentrating on advancing its carbon-negative supplementary cementitious material (SCM) toward commercialization. Thanks to support from the IBioIC project, the technology has progressed from lab-scale experiments to factory-scale modeling and initial product validation.

To fuel team expansion and further development, the company is actively seeking additional grant funding and gearing up for a seed investment round. They’re also planning to conduct third-party testing of the material in a real manufacturing setting, marking a crucial step toward being market-ready.

Dr. Philip Salter, the founder and CEO of Ureaka, shared his thoughts:

“Cement is one of the toughest industries to decarbonize because, even with electrification of production, a significant portion of emissions still arises from the chemical reactions involved. Ureaka is taking a fundamentally different route: we’re starting with the mineral value already found in waste concrete, reacting it with captured CO2, and transforming it into a cement-replacement material that fits seamlessly into existing supply chains.

“A major focus for us has been ensuring that our process can integrate with current manufacturing systems. The supplementary cementitious material we’re developing is tailored to work alongside existing concrete production methods, allowing manufacturers to maintain their operations while still cutting down on the carbon footprint of their products.”

Caroline Kewney, the senior impact manager at IBioIC, shared her thoughts:

“Construction materials play a big role in global emissions, which highlights the urgent need for scalable alternatives that can help decarbonise the industry. This project showcases how industrial biotechnology can transform waste streams into valuable new materials, all while promoting carbon capture and more circular manufacturing practices. We’re really looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Ureaka as it moves closer to commercialisation.”