Saudi Arabia developing concrete that absorbs carbon dioxide ultrafast

RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology will be working with Partanna Global, a materials science company, to further develop concrete that not only avoids carbon emissions during production but also continues to absorb it over time.

The planned 12-month collaborative effort integrates Partanna’s proprietary concrete formula with KAUST’s Direct Air Capture technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

At the heart of this innovation is a binder composed of natural and recycled materials readily available in Saudi Arabia, including brine solution.

Unlike traditional concrete-production methods, this mixture is processed at room temperature, eliminating the need for energy-intensive clinker production or industrial heating.

The result is a concrete that not only avoids carbon emissions during production but also continues to absorb it over time.

Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi, a chemistry professor at KAUST, said: “We are not just creating sustainable building materials; we are pioneering a proactive approach to climate-change mitigation.

“Integrating the carbon-negative binder with current concrete manufacturing processes represents a quantum leap in sustainable construction practices.”

Rick Fox, CEO of Partanna Global, said the technology could transform buildings from environmental liabilities into assets that actively treat the natural environment.

“Our collaboration with KAUST maximizes the potential of the carbon-negative concrete formula, proving that we can fundamentally change how the world constructs its infrastructure.”