What is the new building material developed by WPI?

The new building material is called enzymatic structural material (ESM), which captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

How does WPI's ESM reduce carbon emissions?

ESM uses an enzyme to turn carbon dioxide into solid mineral particles, sequestering more carbon than is emitted during production.

How is ESM different from traditional concrete?

ESM cures in hours using low energy and captures CO2, while traditional concrete requires high temperatures and emits significant carbon.

Home / Science / New Material Eats CO2, Builds the Future

New Material Eats CO2, Builds the Future

21 Jan

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Summary

New building material sequesters over 6 kilograms of CO2 per cubic meter.
Enzymatic structural material cures in hours, unlike conventional concrete.
Material offers a scalable alternative to traditional concrete production.

New Material Eats CO2, Builds the Future

A groundbreaking building material, enzymatic structural material (ESM), has been developed by researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). This innovation, detailed in the journal Matter, offers a solution that captures more carbon dioxide than it produces during its creation.

The ESM process, led by Professor Nima Rahbar, utilizes an enzyme to convert carbon dioxide into solid mineral particles. These particles are then rapidly bonded and cured within hours, providing a significant advantage over traditional concrete, which requires high temperatures and weeks to set.

One cubic meter of ESM sequesters over 6 kilograms of CO2, vastly outperforming conventional concrete, which emits approximately 330 kilograms of CO2 per cubic meter. This carbon-negative characteristic positions ESM as a potentially transformative material for the construction industry.