ESM bio-concrete: The first building material capable of absorbing carbon emissions.

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have just announced a new building material capable of removing more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases during production. This is seen as a solution to the climate change problem in the global construction industry.

 

1. What is ESM? The enzyme structural materials revolution.

Research published in the prestigious scientific journal Matter has introduced a material called Enzyme-Structural Materials (ESM) . ESMs are designed to achieve high strength, long lifespan, and full recyclability, while consuming significantly less energy to produce than traditional materials.

This project was led by Professor Nima Rahbar , Head of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at WPI. His team created ESM using a special enzyme that converts carbon dioxide (CO₂) into solid mineral particles.

 

Superior production process:

1. Biobonding: Mineral particles are bonded together and cured under moderate temperature conditions.
2. Exceptional speed: This process allows for the shaping of load-bearing components in just a few hours.
3. In contrast to concrete: Traditional concrete requires extremely high temperatures to produce and takes weeks to reach maximum hardness. ESM, on the other hand, sets quickly and leaves an extremely small carbon footprint.

2. Reduce emissions by "capturing" carbon.

The concrete manufacturing industry currently accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions . The introduction of ESM offers a potentially scalable alternative.

"Instead of just reducing emissions, our material actually absorbs carbon . Each cubic meter of ESM produced sequesters more than 6 kg of CO₂ , while conventional concrete releases up to 330 kg of CO₂ ," shared Professor Nima Rahbar.

3. Practical Applications and Recyclability

ESM is not just a lab experiment; it is designed to serve the real world with the following characteristics:

1. Customizable strength: The stiffness can be adjusted to suit roof slabs, partitions, and modular building systems.
2. Repairability: This material can be restored, which helps reduce long-term maintenance costs.
3. Circular economy: ESM is 100% recyclable, helping to minimize the amount of construction waste ending up in landfills.

4. Broad potential in many fields

In addition to civil engineering, ESM also promises to support:

1. Affordable housing: Thanks to a fast production process and low costs.
2. Climate-adaptive infrastructure: Lightweight components help accelerate post-disaster reconstruction.
3. Circular production: Based on renewable biological inputs and low-energy consumption processes.