A University of Miami research team is trying to turn a coastal headache into a climate tool. Their idea is simple to describe but hard to pull off in practice, replace part of cement with algae derived biochar, then help the concrete absorb and store carbon dioxide as it hardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The timing matters because cement is one of the world\u2019s toughest climate problems hiding in plain sight. It is everywhere, from highways to seawalls to the sidewalks you pace while waiting out traffic, and it is responsible for a sizable share of global carbon pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concrete looks like a finished product, but the real climate impact starts earlier with cement, the \u201cglue\u201d that binds sand and gravel together. Making cement requires intense heat and it also releases carbon dioxide as limestone is chemically transformed, which is why the sector is considered \u201chard to abate\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estimates commonly place cement at roughly 5 to 8 percent of global human caused carbon dioxide emissions. Put it in a bigger frame and the buildings and construction sector as a whole contributes<\/a> roughly a third of global CO2 emissions, depending on what is included in the accounting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That scale is exactly why small sounding improvements can matter. In the VoLo Foundation write up about the project<\/a>, the team\u2019s adviser Dr. Ali Ghahremaninezhad argues that even modest gains can add up because of how much concrete the world uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The University of Miami group is working with algae grown locally in South Florida, then converting it into biochar, a charcoal like material that can be blended into cementitious mixes. In their case, the goal is not a novelty brick, it is a mix that can still meet real world performance demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biochar<\/a> is basically carbon rich material made when biomass is processed in low oxygen conditions, leaving behind a porous structure. That structure is part of the appeal, but it is also part of the risk, because porosity and chemistry can change how concrete flows and how it holds up over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also a very local reason this caught attention in Florida. The VoLo Foundation statement notes that algae growth has become a major environmental and disposal problem in the state, so using algae as a feedstock could tackle waste and emissions at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the catch most people never see when they hear \u201creplace cement<\/a>.\u201d Cement is doing a specific job in a concrete mix, and swapping it out too aggressively can chip away at strength, durability, or simple workability when the crew is trying to pour and finish the slab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team\u2019s approach tries to solve that problem head on by \u201cfunctionalizing\u201d the biochar, meaning they chemically treat its surface so it bonds better with cement. The VoLo Foundation article says they are targeting the known drawback of biochar in concrete, which can be reduced strength and durability, by improving bonding inside the matrix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One detail stood out because it puts a number on the challenge. The same statement says traditional biochar often replaces only about 10 percent of cement before strength and durability drop, and the team hopes to push that to about 20 to 30 percent through chemical treatment and pre carbonation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside cement replacement, the researchers are testing carbon curing, a family of techniques that expose fresh concrete to carbon dioxide so it can be absorbed and converted into more stable mineral forms. In plain terms, the concrete is encouraged to \u201cdrink in\u201d some CO2 while it is still curing, rather than only absorbing small amounts slowly over decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not just a theoretical idea. Recent peer reviewed work has explored faster carbonation approaches, including methods that inject CO2 into cement suspensions, with one study<\/a> reporting CO2 sequestration efficiency up to 45 percent while maintaining concrete strength in their experimental setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Miami project adds its own twist by pre carbonating the biochar first. In the VoLo Foundation description, the biochar is treated so it can act as an internal CO2 reservoir, capturing and storing carbon in solid form as calcium carbonate during cement hydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you build in Florida, you do not get gentle conditions. Heat, humidity, salt air, and coastal exposure can speed up corrosion and wear, which is why \u201cgreen\u201d concrete that fails early is not actually a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team says their next phase is extensive testing of long term performance, especially in Florida\u2019s coastal and marine environments<\/a>. That means thinking beyond lab strength tests and into the unglamorous world of corrosion, cracking, and how a material behaves after years of sun and storm season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They have also divided the work in a practical way. According to the same statement, Ozsut will focus on corrosion performance, Rezaeicherati will study self healing properties, and Rodriguez will continue analyzing carbon sequestration and storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project won the 2026 VISTA Award and a $25,000 research grant, money the team says will support continued experiments and equipment upgrades. Funding matters here because consistency in biochar production and treatment can make or break whether a mix behaves the same way every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One more thing to watch is the accounting, not just the chemistry. The VoLo Foundation article says the researchers plan a full life cycle assessment, which is essential because a climate claim only holds if the full supply chain, processing energy, transport, and curing inputs do not erase the gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So will algae based concrete become mainstream soon. Nobody should promise that yet, but it is a smart direction, especially because it aims to cut emissions and store carbon<\/a> while staying focused on durability. And if you have ever stared at a seawall or a busy overpass and thought \u201cthis is the future,\u201d this research is a reminder that the future may depend on what we mix into the most ordinary materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The official statement was published on University of Miami News<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A University of Miami research team is trying to turn a coastal headache into a climate tool. Their idea is … <\/p>\nA seaweed detour that could pay off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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