Terra CO2 Technology announces results of their participation in the Minnesota Road Research Facility Project

Terra's innovative material science technology makes low-carbon concrete possible by creating cementitious materials from a wide variety of abundant local feedstocks and even waste products, dramatically reducing cement's GHG emissions. Terra’s proprietary manufactured SCM solution produces 70% lower CO₂ emissions and 90% lower NOx emissions than the Portland cement it replaces.

“There are thousands of miles of road within the public network of the United States alone, all of which require cement to create,” said Bill Yearsley, CEO of Terra CO₂. “With cement production as one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions globally, it’s urgent that we switch to a low carbon alternative, and the Minnesota highway is an important catalyst for making the switch.”

“The ongoing test at the MnROAD test facility, operated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and supported by the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA), focuses on materials that will enable sustainable construction. For mixture design, the project had a performance target rather than a prescribed concrete mixture allowing the additive suppliers to push the boundaries of cement substitution," said Larry Sutter, from Sutter Engineering LLC, who manages the technical aspects of this project which includes testing constructability and performance evaluation of concrete mixtures. "Terra’s OPUS SCM was utilised at the highest substitution level of all the products tested as an SCM in the project and met the target flexural strength."

Terra's concrete mixture had the highest substitution of Portland cement at 35%. Documented by both MnDOT and an independent lab, concrete made with Terra’s Opus SCM achieved project specification flexural and compressive strength easily, about half the usual time, making a strong case that higher substitution levels are possible above 35%.

“Braun Intertec Corporation is excited to partner with Terra CO₂ on the MnROAD Research project to help develop concrete with lower CO₂ footprints,” said Alfred Gardiner, Braun Intertec’s Director of Concrete Consulting. “With the ongoing shortage of fly ash in North America, the possibility of manufacturing fly ash from aggregate mining products and waste will help the concrete industry produce sustainable, durable concrete which will provide long term infrastructure for our nation. The material performed very well throughout qualification testing and in the construction phase.

Terra CO₂ recently announced a US$46 million Series A, bringing the company’s total funding to US$61 million. The funds are invested in accelerating research and development in low-carbon material science, scaling the organisation, and continuing commercialising plant technology to support manufacturing its first commercial products. Terra currently has plans to break ground on its first commercial plant in 2023, capable of producing 250 000 t of product annually.

To learn more about Terra CO₂, please visit here.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/02092022/terra-co2-technology-announces-results-of-their-participation-in-the-minnesota-road-research-facility-project/