Carbon Mineralization Concrete Curing — PatSnap Eureka
Carbon Mineralization Concrete Curing 2026
Accelerated carbonation curing and mineral carbonation of industrial wastes permanently sequester CO₂ within cementitious materials while improving mechanical performance. Industrial-scale demonstration at 10,000 ton-CO₂/y has already been achieved in China.
Four Technical Domains Converging on Carbon-Negative Concrete
Carbon utilization mineralization for concrete curing spans four domains: accelerated carbonation curing (ACC) of fresh or precast concrete in controlled CO₂ chambers; mineral carbonation of industrial solid wastes such as fly ash and slag; CO₂ mineralization of wash water and demolition waste; and bio-mediated mineral carbonation using calcite-precipitating bacteria. All pathways convert calcium or magnesium silicate phases into stable CaCO₃ polymorphs.
CO₂ uptake potential varies substantially by approach. Direct ACC of Portland cement paste achieves 10–25% uptake by binder mass under optimized conditions; alkali-activated slag blocks reach 12.8% uptake at 5 bar; and industrial-scale mineralization curing processes have demonstrated CO₂ conversion ratios exceeding 98%. Key process parameters include CO₂ concentration, pressure ranging from atmospheric to 150 bar for supercritical applications, temperature, and relative humidity.
The field has matured from foundational conceptual work in 2010 through a development and differentiation phase from 2018 to 2021, into a convergence and commercialization phase from 2022 to 2024. Industrial demonstration at Jiaozuo, China in 2022 marked the transition from pilot to commercial scale, achieving greater than 98% CO₂ conversion with a temperature rise to 140°C from exothermic carbonation and a 182 kg CO₂-Eq/m³ reduction versus autoclaved curing.
In this dataset, patent filings originate from the US, India, South Korea, and China, while the literature corpus spans institutions in China, South Korea, Brazil, Switzerland, Canada, UAE, Japan, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. Innovation in retrieved records is distributed across many small assignees and research institutions rather than concentrated among a few large corporations, consistent with the early-to-mid commercialization stage of the technology.
Technology Clusters and Geographic Distribution in Retrieved Records
Within this dataset, patent activity is distributed across the US, India, South Korea, and China, while literature contributions span more than ten countries. The following charts illustrate the distribution of technology clusters and jurisdictional filing activity in retrieved records.
Technology Cluster Distribution — Retrieved Records
Accelerated carbonation curing accounts for the largest share of records in this dataset, followed by mineral carbonation of industrial wastes and aqueous/supercritical approaches.
↗ Click bars to explorePatent Filings by Jurisdiction — Dataset Snapshot
US and India each account for 2 patent filings in this dataset, with South Korea and China each contributing 1 filing among the identified assignee records.
↗ Click bars to exploreFrom Precast Blocks to Demolition Waste: Where Carbonation Curing Is Being Deployed
Within this dataset, carbonation curing technologies are being demonstrated and commercialized across five principal application domains, ranging from centralized precast manufacturing facilities to distributed ready-mix plants and underground infrastructure.
Precast Block and Masonry Plants
Concrete masonry blocks are the dominant application domain in this dataset, with centralized precast facilities offering ideal conditions for CO₂ curing chamber retrofits. A 2023 study demonstrated 12.8% CO₂ uptake by binder mass for alkali-activated slag non-load-bearing CMBs at 5 bar. A São Paulo Region feasibility study (2022) quantified chamber retrofit costs, CO₂ supply logistics, and curing conditions for industrial implementation in Brazil.
Precast ManufacturingJiaozuo Industrial CMC Plant, China
An industrial-scale CO₂ mineralization curing plant in Jiaozuo, China reported in 2022 operates at 10,000 ton-CO₂/y capacity with greater than 98% CO₂ conversion. The exothermic carbonation reaction drives temperatures to 140°C, and lifecycle analysis showed a 182 kg CO₂-Eq/m³ reduction compared with autoclaved curing. This deployment marked the transition from pilot to commercial scale for the CMC process.
Industrial DemonstrationCalgary Ready-Mix CO₂ Treatment
The NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE project (2021) demonstrated commercial-scale CO₂ treatment of wash water from ready-mix concrete plants in Calgary, Canada. CO₂ treatment causes CaCO₃ coating of suspended particles, preventing further cement hydration and stabilizing wash water for re-use as mix water. This approach eliminates a waste stream while achieving CO₂ fixation without pressurized chamber infrastructure.
Ready-Mix PlantsSwiss Negative-Emission Concrete Chain
A 2021 Swiss technological demonstration and life cycle assessment showed that biogenic CO₂ mineralization into recycled concrete aggregate can be integrated into existing recycling processes to achieve net-negative GHG balances at industrial scale. The study provided a full LCA of the negative emission value chain in the Swiss concrete sector, validating circular economy integration of demolition waste carbonation with new concrete manufacture.
GHG Flux MonitoringLeading Patent Assignees in CO₂ Mineralization Concrete Curing (Retrieved Records)
In this dataset, six named patent assignees were identified across US, Indian, South Korean, and Chinese jurisdictions. US-based assignees LIXIVIA, INC. and The Regents of the University of California hold the only active patents in retrieved records, while filings from India, South Korea, and China carry inactive status, suggesting early-stage IP activity.
Patent Filings by Named Assignee — CO₂ Mineralization Concrete (Dataset Snapshot)
↗ Click bars to exploreLIXIVIA, INC.
LIXIVIA, INC. holds one active US patent filed in 2023 covering compositions and methods for improved carbonation curing of concrete. The patent introduces a lixiviant species that solubilizes calcium from oxides and silicates, accelerating CaCO₃ precipitation and creating a CO₂ concentration gradient that enables uptake from ambient air, removing dependence on pressurized CO₂ supply infrastructure. This active patent status signals a commercial IP strategy targeting the US market.
United StatesRegents of Univ. of California
The Regents of the University of California hold one active US patent filed in 2022 covering formulations and processing of cementitious components to meet target strength and CO₂ uptake criteria. The patent describes a portlandite-based cementitious slurry shaped and exposed to a CO₂ waste stream, covering the manufacture of low-carbon concrete products. The university-origin status of this active patent suggests licensing intent for commercial deployment.
United StatesFrontier Signals in CO₂ Mineralization Concrete (2022–2024 Dataset Records)
The most recent filings and publications in this dataset from 2023 and 2024 converge on four frontier directions: bio-mediated carbonation, novel CO₂-reactive binder systems, lixiviant-enhanced ambient CO₂ uptake, and standardized carbon accounting protocols.
Bacteria-Integrated Concrete Blocks for Passive CO₂ Adsorption
A 2024 Korean patent from Kyonggi University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation describes porous aggregate impregnated with alkali bacteria forming glycocalyx that enables atmospheric CO₂ adsorption regardless of curing conditions. This is the most recent patent in this dataset and represents convergence between microbially induced carbonate precipitation and passive ambient CO₂ uptake, entirely eliminating dependence on controlled CO₂ chamber infrastructure. Commercial scale-up challenges including bacterial culture consistency, cost, and shelf life remain unresolved in this dataset.
Calcium Silicate and CAF Novel CO₂-Hardening Binders
A 2023 South Korean study demonstrated calcium silicate cement (CSC) as a CO₂-hardening binder in which CO₂ sequestration rate increases with CSC content, offering a direct Portland cement replacement that hardens exclusively via carbonation. A companion 2023 study on calcium-aluminate-ferrite (CAF) ternary systems showed 11.01% calcite content after 3 hours of carbonation, with sintering temperatures as low as 1100°C representing a lower-energy binder alternative. Both directions address the need to reduce clinkering energy while retaining carbonation-based hardening.
Accelerated Carbonation Curing vs. Mineral Carbonation of Wastes
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| Dimension | Accelerated Carbonation Curing (ACC) | Mineral Carbonation of Industrial Wastes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Feedstock | Fresh or early-age concrete / precast elements (Portland cement, CSA cement, alkali-activated slag) | Fly ash, blast furnace slag, steel slag, carbide slag, recycled cement paste powder |
| CO₂ Uptake | 10–25% by binder mass (Portland); 12.8% for alkali-activated slag at 5 bar; >98% conversion at industrial CMC scale | Up to 0.19 g-CO₂/g-fines under atmospheric aqueous carbonation; high uptake in 2-hour industrial cycles for recycled cement paste |
| Process Conditions | 20–100% CO₂, 0.1–5 MPa, controlled humidity; hours to days in CO₂ chamber | Atmospheric to 150 bar (supercritical); ambient temperature or 40–80°C; 10 minutes (supercritical) to hours |
| Primary Product | Concrete masonry blocks, paving units, pipes, precast elements with improved compressive strength | Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), pozzolanic aggregate, stabilized wash water for re-use |
| Demonstrated Scale | 10,000 ton-CO₂/y industrial plant (Jiaozuo, China, 2022); São Paulo Region feasibility study (2022) | Commercial wash water treatment (Calgary, Canada, NRG COSIA, 2021); Swiss negative-emission LCA demonstration (2021) |
| Key Strength Outcome | >40 MPa compressive strength with calcium carbonate cement (2021); densified microstructure from CaCO₃ formation | Pozzolanic alumina-silica gel reusable as SCM; CaCO₃ coating stabilizes particles in wash water |
| IP Status (Dataset) | Active patents: LIXIVIA, INC. (US, 2023); Univ. of California (US, 2022); UAE University (US, 2023) | Active patent: Univ. of California (US, 2022) covers portlandite-based slurry with CO₂ waste stream |
| Carbon Accounting | 182 kg CO₂-Eq/m³ reduction vs. autoclaved curing; 33–50% sequestration effectiveness reported (2011 LCA benchmark) | 8–33% CO₂e reduction modeled for cement industry; up to €32/tonne additional profit per tonne of cement |
Frequently Asked Questions: Carbon Mineralization Concrete Curing
Accelerated carbonation curing places fresh or early-age concrete or precast elements in a CO₂-enriched chamber (typically 20–100% CO₂, 0.1–5 MPa, controlled humidity) for hours to days. CO₂ reacts with portlandite (Ca(OH)₂) and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) to form thermodynamically stable calcium carbonate (CaCO₃ polymorphs: calcite, vaterite, aragonite), permanently sequestering CO₂ in solid mineral form while densifying the microstructure and improving compressive strength.
CO₂ uptake varies by approach: direct ACC of Portland cement paste achieves 10–25% CO₂ uptake by binder mass under optimized conditions; alkali-activated slag blocks achieve up to 12.8% uptake by binder mass at 5 bar; industrial-scale CO₂ mineralization curing processes (CMC) at the Jiaozuo, China plant demonstrated greater than 98% CO₂ conversion; and aqueous carbonation of concrete fines at atmospheric pressure achieves 0.19 g-CO₂/g-fines.
Precast concrete products including masonry blocks, paving units, and pipes represent the clearest near-term commercialization pathway in this dataset. An industrial CMC plant in Jiaozuo, China reported in 2022 operates at 10,000 ton-CO₂/y, demonstrating commercial scale. A São Paulo Region feasibility study (2022) also quantified chamber retrofit costs and CO₂ supply logistics for concrete block industry implementation in Brazil.
In this dataset, six named assignees were identified: LIXIVIA, INC. (US, 2023, active patent on lixiviant-enhanced carbonation); The Regents of the University of California (US, 2022, active patent on portlandite-based cementitious slurry); United Arab Emirates University (US jurisdiction, 2023, active patent on CCR-OPC blended carbonation); KAZMI, MD ATHAR (India, 2022 and 2023, two inactive patents on CO₂ mineralization apparatus); Kyonggi University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (South Korea, 2024, inactive patent on bacteria-incorporating concrete blocks); and National Energy Group New Energy Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. (China, 2023, inactive patent on CO₂ mineralization of raw brick blanks).
The most recent filings and publications (2023–2024) in this dataset focus on: bio-mediated carbonation using bacteria that precipitate CaCO₃ regardless of curing conditions (Kyonggi University, KR, 2024); novel CO₂-reactive binder systems such as calcium silicate cement (CSC) and calcium-aluminate-ferrite (CAF) that harden exclusively via carbonation; lixiviant-enhanced ambient CO₂ uptake that removes dependence on pressurized CO₂ supply (LIXIVIA, US, 2023); and standardized CO₂ uptake accounting methods for carbon markets (2023).
A 2022 study modeled 8–33% CO₂e reduction potential for CO₂ mineralization in the cement industry, with up to €32/tonne additional profit per tonne of cement under favorable market conditions. Early life cycle analysis work from 2011 established economic benchmarks of $105–127/ton CO₂ avoided for mineral carbonation. The 2022 Jiaozuo industrial demonstration showed a 182 kg CO₂-Eq/m³ reduction versus autoclaved curing, providing a concrete cost-benefit reference point.
Data and insights on this page are based on a limited patent and literature dataset and are for reference only. Figures may not represent the complete technology landscape.