Science Behind the Solution: CarbonCure and MIT’s Masic Lab Launch Research Collaboration on Carbon Mineralization in Concrete

CarbonCure Technologies and The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Masic Lab have agreed to collaborate on new research to delve deeper into the science of injecting and mineralizing carbon dioxide (CO₂) within concrete—a promising and pragmatic solution for mitigating this essential industry’s hard-to-abate emissions. 

The collaborative research will be led by Admir Masic, MIT Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and principal investigator at MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub). The Masic Lab investigates the nanochemomechanics of mineralization and biomineralization processes of materials ranging from construction materials to archeological and biological materials. The research will also be conducted at the CSHub that brings together leaders from academia, industry and government to develop solutions for sustainable infrastructure. The CSHub includes a multi-year collaboration with the National Ready Mix Concrete Association and state ready mix concrete associations to help the concrete industry accelerate its drive to carbon neutrality.

Cement and concrete generate an estimated 7% of the world’s carbon emissions. To reduce this carbon footprint—three times the emissions of global aviation—industry net zero roadmaps project that more than a third of its emissions reductions will require carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) solutions, including CO₂ mineralization. 

For more than a decade, CarbonCure’s Research team has conducted field leading research, detailing our carbon utilization technologies and the properties of carbon mineralized concrete. The Masic Lab will build on this research, employing advanced analytical techniques—such as in-situ and operando Raman spectroscopy and microscopy—to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of carbon mineralization in concrete manufacturing. 

From nanoscale analysis of concrete samples to observation of large-scale industrial concrete production, the research will include exploration of the kinetics of CO₂ mineralization within concrete, the quantity, stability, density and spatial distribution of calcium carbonates and improvements in cement hydration efficiency. 

“CarbonCure aims to strengthen the industry’s scientific understanding of the intersection between mineralization and concrete properties, with a constant focus on enhancing the performance benefits of our technologies and innovating on behalf of our concrete producer partners,” said CarbonCure Chief Technology Officer Dean Forgeron. “CarbonCure is committed to advancing scientific discovery through such research investments, empowering the concrete industry with the tools required to meet its decarbonization goals.”

“We look forward to gaining new insights from Professor Masic and his team at MIT,” added Dr. Yogiraj Sargam, Senior Director of Research at CarbonCure “This exciting collaboration will further illuminate the underlying mechanisms of CO₂ mineralization in cementitious systems with the potential to accelerate acceptance and adoption of this solution by the concrete industry and wider construction sector.”

Learn more about the Masic Lab and MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub.

Learn more about CarbonCure’s technologies.