High-Strength Biomineralized Construction Materials and Fertilizers out of Urine

The production of the most widely used construction material – cement – relies on the thermal decomposition of limestone (CaCO₃), releasing large amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Current mitigation strategies often focus on capturing and storing the released CO₂ elsewhere or allowing materials to gradually reabsorb it over time through processes such as re-carbonation. But what if the construction material itself could serve as both a structural element and a carbon storage medium right from the moment of its production?

In the SimBioZe project, bioconcrete production is integrated into the wastewater–fertilizer cycle. This creates synergy effects that contribute to CO₂ reduction in both the construction materials and fertilizer industries.