CSTO2NE Biomimicry and carbon adsorbent eco-materials for a climate-neutral economy
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract
The European Commission (EC) launched the New European Bauhaus initiative to improve the well-being and health of citizens and
future generations. The initiative is an environmental, economic, and cultural project aiming to combine design, sustainability,
accessibility, affordability, and investment with helping deliver the European Green Deal. It aims at sustainable solutions that create a
dialogue between our built environment and the planet's ecosystems. CSTO2NE aims to provide the European community with
innovative solutions for recycling and valorising biowaste (biomass) and industrial waste into new eco-engineered materials through
industrial symbiosis waste co-utilisation, mineral carbonation, and biomimicry approach; namely, nature-inspired solutions and
technologies for improving carbon uptake and waste incorporation and design eco-engineered materials and, transference of the
emergent technologies through eco-innovation business models. In this context, CSTO2NE intends to (1) promote international and
inter-disciplinary collaboration through research and innovation staff exchanges, leading to extended networks and opportunities; (2)
Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase the
project's impact, (3) foster a shared culture of open access research an co-creation, that welcomes and rewards creativity and
entrepreneurship, inspired by the New European Bauhaus concept, fostering ideas into innovative prototypes and technologies for
the eco-materials circular economy
future generations. The initiative is an environmental, economic, and cultural project aiming to combine design, sustainability,
accessibility, affordability, and investment with helping deliver the European Green Deal. It aims at sustainable solutions that create a
dialogue between our built environment and the planet's ecosystems. CSTO2NE aims to provide the European community with
innovative solutions for recycling and valorising biowaste (biomass) and industrial waste into new eco-engineered materials through
industrial symbiosis waste co-utilisation, mineral carbonation, and biomimicry approach; namely, nature-inspired solutions and
technologies for improving carbon uptake and waste incorporation and design eco-engineered materials and, transference of the
emergent technologies through eco-innovation business models. In this context, CSTO2NE intends to (1) promote international and
inter-disciplinary collaboration through research and innovation staff exchanges, leading to extended networks and opportunities; (2)
Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase the
project's impact, (3) foster a shared culture of open access research an co-creation, that welcomes and rewards creativity and
entrepreneurship, inspired by the New European Bauhaus concept, fostering ideas into innovative prototypes and technologies for
the eco-materials circular economy
Publications
Liu M
(2024)
Effects of colloidal nanoSiO2 on the hydration and hardening properties of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)
in Construction and Building Materials
| Title | A new carbonation device was designed and commissioned at Brunel University London |
| Description | We designed and commissioned a new carbonation device for solid waste and supplementary cementitious materials at Brunel University London for CSTO2NE project. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | With the modified carbonation chamber, we can do CO2 curing/carbonation of solid waste and SCMs under different pressure to speed up the carbonation. |
| Description | Collaboration with Henan Polytechnic University, China |
| Organisation | Henan Polytechnic University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I and my two PhD students did our secondments at Henan Polytechnic University. We presented our research on the carbonation of magnesium cement, mining waste, and LC3 to our partners at Henan Polytechnic University. We helped them set up the carbonation chamber and engage the CSTO2NE consortium. We also helped them organize a Sino-Europe Symposium on Sustainable Built Environment: Waste Valorization & Carbon-absorbent Materials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners at Henan Polytechnic University hosted our secondment, provided accommodation to me during my stay, gave us the access of their research facilities and provided consumables for us to conduct research there. |
| Impact | A Sino-Europe Symposium on Sustainable Built Environment: Waste Valorization & Carbon-absorbent Materials is to be held at Henan Polytechnic University on 12-13 April 2024. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Beira Interior, Portugal |
| Organisation | University of Beira Interior |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I and two of my PhD students in my research team did our secondments at the University of Beira Interior sponsored by the CSTO2NE project EPSRC funding. We conducted collaborative research on the carbonation of mining waste and steel slags at the University of Beira Interior. We presented our research on the carbonation of magnesium-based cement and LC3 cement which impressed our partners at the University of Beira Interior. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Beira Interior gave the full access to their lab and facilities for us to conduct research during our secondments there. They also provided materials (estimated cost 500 euros) for our research. They also presented their research work to us and exchanged ideas on how to further advance carbonation of mineral products. |
| Impact | No published outcomes so far. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | A research talk at University of Jinan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk about the CSTo2NE project and findings so far from the project with a focus on carbonation technology for solid waste and supplementary cementitious materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | A talk at University of Henan Polytechnic University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk about the CSTo2NE project and findings so far from the project with a focus on carbonation technology for solid waste and supplementary cementitious materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | A talk at Zhongyuan University of Technology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk about the CSTo2NE project and findings so far from the project with a focus on carbonation technology for solid waste and supplementary cementitious materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Present CSTO2NE project at Qingdao University of Technology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk about the CSTo2NE project and findings so far from the project with a focus on carbonation technology for solid waste and supplementary cementitious materials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |