2025-12-05 ウースター工科大学 (WPI)
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.wpi.edu/news/carbon-negative-building-material-developed-worcester-polytechnic-institute-published-matter
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2590238525006071
毛細管懸濁法による耐久性と高強度を備えた炭素陰性酵素構造材料 Durable, high-strength carbon-negative enzymatic structural materials via a capillary suspension technique
Shuai Wang, Pardis Pourhaji, Dalton Vassallo, Sara Heidarnezhad, Suzanne Scarlata, Nima Rahbar
Matter Available online: 3 December 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102564
Highlights
- Enzyme-catalyzed mineralization enables bioinspired composite formation
- Secondary phase controls porosity and mechanical properties
- Hydrochar microstructure improves structural strength and environmental sustainability
- Thermal curing yields strong CaCO3-bridged ternary composites
Progress and potential
Production of strong structural material is energy intensive. We present a strong, cost-effective, carbon-negative building material, named enzymatic structural material (ESM), that integrates enzymatically formed CaCO3 crystals into a hydrochar scaffold via capillary suspension. This enables versatile fabrication, rapid molding into various structures within hours, and scalability for mass production, bypassing the 28-day curing required for conventional concrete. ESM exhibits superior water durability and an average compressive strength of 25.8 MPa, exceeding the minimum strength for structural concrete, while requiring lower curing temperatures and reducing labor and environmental costs. Production of ESM sequesters 6.1 kg CO2/m3, while conventional concrete emits +330 kg CO2/m3. Its repairability extends material lifespan, lowers maintenance needs, and reduces construction waste, positioning ESM as a sustainable alternative for applications such as roof decks and wall bricks. Future work will focus on improving mechanical properties, large-scale production, durability, and ecological efficiency. Continued development may enable reinforced and functional structural applications while maintaining or further reducing CO2 emissions.
Summary
The low-energy production of strong, carbon-negative construction materials is among the most challenging problems in materials science and a crucial step in addressing the climate crisis. Although incorporating biomaterials reduces carbon emissions, these products are not water resistant and require a protective layer. Herein, we describe an enzymatic structural material (ESM) that employs a capillary suspension technique combined with an enzyme mixture to integrate precipitated calcium minerals into a sand and carbon matrix. ESM exhibits high water stability with a minimal strength decrease compared to other biologically inspired construction materials, like hydrogel-based scaffolds, and its mechanical strength is close to the compressive strength of structural concrete. Importantly, ESM production consumes 6.1 kg CO2/m3, in contrast to traditional concrete production, which emits approximately 330 kg CO2/m3, thus aligning with the need for low-carbon building solutions. The physical characterization of ESM confirms its potential as a structural material for advancing sustainable construction technologies.
