Title: Victorian Sustainability Conference
1Victorian Sustainability Conference
Earthship Brighton (UK) The first building
utilising TecEco eco-cements
I will have to race over some slides but the
presentation is always downloadable from the
TecEco web site if you missed something.
John Harrison B.Sc.
B.Ec. FCPA.
2The Problem A Planet in Crisis
TecEco are in the BIGGEST Business on the Planet
- Solving Sustainability Problems Economically
3Demographic Explosion?
?
Undeveloped Countries
Developed Countries
Global population, consumption per capita and our
footprint on the planet is exploding.
4Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
5Global Temperature Anomaly
6Ecological Footprint
Our footprint is exceeding the capacity of the
planet to support it. We are not longer
sustainable as a species and must change our ways
7Ecological Footprint
8Victoria Before Settlement
9Victoria Now
Forestry - Cover removal
Vehicles - carbon dioxide
Cows - methane
Immediate and polluted run-off.Pollution.Carbon
dioxide and other gases.Sewerage. Huge linkages
10Victoria with a Little Lateral Thinking Effort
TecEco technology provides ways ofsequestering
carbon dioxide and utilising wastes to create our
techno - world
Evolution away from using trees paperless office
Vehicles more efficient and using fuel cells
Porous pavement prevents immediate and polluted
run-off. Carbon dioxide and other gases absorbed
by TecEco eco-cements. Sewerage converted to
fertilizer and returned to soils. Buildings
generate own energy etc.
11Innovative New Materials Vital
- We need to think at the supply and waste end when
we design building materials not just about the
materials utility phase in the middle - Making the built environment not only a
repository for recyclable resources (referred to
as waste) but a huge carbon sink is an
alternative and adjunct that is politically
viable as it potentially results in economic
benefits. - Concrete, a cementitous composite, is the single
biggest material flow on the planet with over 2
tonnes per person produced and a good place to
start. - By including carbon, materialsare potentially
carbon sinks. - By including wastes many problems at the waste
end are solved.
12TecEco Integrated Processes
- Silicate ? Carbonate Mineral Sequestration
- Using either peridotite, forsterite or serpentine
as inputs to a silicate reactor process CO2 is
sequestered and magnesite produced. - Proven by others (NETL,MIT,TNO, Finnish govt.
etc.) - Tec-Kiln Technology
- Combined calcining and grinding in a closed
system allowing the capture of CO2. Powered by
waste heat, solar or solar derived energy. - To be proved but simple and should work!
- Direct Scrubbing of CO2 using MgO
- Being proven by others (NETL,MIT,TNO, Finnish
govt. etc.) - Eco-Cement Concretes in the Built Environment.
- TecEco eco-cements set by absorbing CO2 and are
as good as proven.
TecEco
EconomicunderKyoto?
TecEco
13The TecEco Total Process
Serpentine Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Olivine Mg2SiO4
Crushing
Crushing
Grinding
CO2 from Power Generation or Industry
Grinding
Waste Sulfuric Acid or Alkali?
Screening
Screening
Magnetic Sep.
Silicate Reactor Process
Iron Ore.
Gravity Concentration
Heat Treatment
Silicic Acids or Silica
Magnesite (MgCO3)
Simplified TecEco ReactionsTec-Kiln MgCO3 ? MgO
CO2 - 118 kJ/moleReactor Process MgO CO2 ?
MgCO3 118 kJ/mole (usually more complex
hydrates)
Solar or Wind Electricity Powered Tec-Kiln
CO2 for Geological Sequestration
Magnesium Thermodynamic Cycle
Magnesite MgCO3)
Magnesia (MgO)
Other Wastes after Processing
Oxide Reactor Process
CO2 from Power Generation, Industry or CO2
Directly From the Air
Tonnes CO2 Sequestered per Tonne Silicate with Various Cycles through the TecEco Process Chrysotile (Serpentinite) Billion Tonnes Forsterite (Mg Olivine) Billion Tonnes
Tonnes CO2 sequestered by 1 billion tonnes of mineral mined directly .4769 .6255
Tonnes CO2 captured during calcining .4769 .6255
Tonnes CO2 captured by eco-cement .4769 .6255
Total tonnes CO2 sequestered or abated per tonne mineral mined (Single calcination cycle). 1.431 1.876
Total tonnes CO2 sequestered or abated (Five calcination cycles.) 3.339 4.378
Total tonnes CO2 sequestered or abated (Ten calcination cycles). 5.723 7.506
MgO for TecEco Cements and Sequestration by
Eco-Cements in the Built Environment
14Why Mangesium Compounds
- Because magnesium has a low molecular weight,
proportionally a much greater amount of CO2 is
released or captured. - This, together with the high proportion of water
in the binder is what makes construction the
built environment out of CO2 and water so
exciting. - Imagine the possibilities if CO2 could be
captured during the manufacture of eco-cement!
15TecEco Kiln Technology
- Grinds and calcines at the same time.
- Runs 25 to 30 more efficiency.
- Can be powered by solar energy or waste heat.
- Brings mineral sequestration and geological
sequestration together
- Captures CO2 for bottling and sale to the oil
industry (geological sequestration). - The products CaO /or MgO can be used to
sequester more CO2 and then be re-calcined. This
cycle can then be repeated. - Suitable for making reactive reactive MgO.
16A Post Carbon Age
We all use carbon and wastes to make our homes!
17TecEco Cements
TecEco concretes are a system of blending
reactive magnesia, Portland cement and usually a
pozzolan with other materials and are a key
factor for sustainability.
18Eco-Cement compared to Carbonating Lime Mortar.
- The underlying chemistry is very similar however
eco-cements are potentially superior to lime
mortars because - The calcination phase of the magnesium
thermodynamic cycle takes place at a much lower
temperature - Magnesium minerals are generally more fibrous and
acicular than calcium minerals and hence a lot
stronger. - Water forms part of the binder minerals that
forming making the cement component go further. - Magnesium hydroxide in particular and to some
extent the carbonates are less reactive and
mobile and thus much more durable. - A less reactive environment with a lower long
term pH. (around 10.5 instead of 12.35) - Because magnesium has a low molecular weight,
proportionally a much greater amount of CO2 is
captured. - Carbonation in the built environment would result
in significant sequestration because of the shear
volumes involved. - Carbonation adds considerable strength and some
steel reinforced structural concrete could be
replaced with fibre reinforced porous carbonated
concrete.
19TecEco Binders - Solving Waste Problems
- There are huge volumes of concrete produced
annually ( 2 tonnes per person per year ) - The goal should be to make cementitious
composites that can utilise wastes. - TecEco cements provide a benign environment
suitable for waste immobilisation - Many wastes such as fly ash, sawdust , shredded
plastics etc. can improve a property or
properties of the cementitious composite.
There are huge materials flows in both wastes and
building and construction. TecEco technology will
lead the world in the race to incorporate wastes
in cementitous composites
20TecEco Binders - Solving Waste Problems (2)
- TecEco cementitious composites represent a cost
affective option for both use and immobilisation
of waste. - Lower reactivity (less water, lower pH).
- Reduced solubility of heavy metals (lower pH).
- Greater durability.
- Dense.
- Impermeable (tec-cements).
- Homogenous.
- No bleed water.
- Are not attacked by salts in ground or sea water.
- Are dimensionally more stable with less cracking.
TecEco Technology Converting Waste to Resource
21Lower Solubility of Metal Hydroxides
There is a 104 difference
22Change
- It is not the strongest of the species that
survives, nor the most intelligent it is the one
that is most adaptable to change (Darwin, C.,
1859). - Drivers for Change
- The necessity of converting waste to resources
- The demand for sustainability
- The introduction of robotics into construction.
- Improved materials.
- More economic materials
23Drivers
24The Solution must be Economic.
- With record energy prices the argument of Hawken
and Lovins in the book Natural Capitalism that
sustainability makes good business sense has
never been more vindicated - Moves towards ensuring a sustainable future by
changing the materials we use have to be more
economic than not changing them. - Otherwise, given human nature, they will not
happen
25Economically Driven Sustainability
The challenge is to harness human behaviours
which underlay economic supply and demand
phenomena by changing the technical paradigm in
favour of making carbon dioxide and other wastes
resources.
ECONOMICS
Sustainable processes are more efficient and
therefore more economic. What is needed are
sustainable process that also deliver sustainable
materials and innovation will deliver these new
technical paradigms.
26Cultural Change and Paradigm Shifts in Technology
Increase in demand/price ratio for sustainability
due to educationally induced cultural drift.
Supply
Greater Value/for impact (Sustainability)
Equilibrium shift
ECONOMICS
Demand
Increase in supply/price ratio for more
sustainable products due to innovative changes in
the technical paradigm.
27To Make Carbon and Wastes Resources the Key is To
Change the Technology Paradigm
- By enabling us to make productive use of
particular raw materials, technology determines
what constitutes a physical resource1 - Pilzer, Paul Zane, Unlimited Wealth, The Theory
and Practice of Economic Alchemy, Crown
Publishers Inc. New York.1990
Changing the technical paradigm will affect the
supply of and demand for more sustainable
materials
28Materials The Key to Sustainability
29A Killer Application for Waste?
- Wastes
- Utilizing wastes based on their chemical
composition involves energy consuming transport. - Wastes could be utilized as resources depending
on their class of properties rather than chemical
composition. - in vast quantities based on broadly defined
properties such as light weight, tensile
strength, insulating capacity, strength or
thermal capacity in composites. - Many wastes contain carbon and if utilized would
result in net carbon sinks. - TecEco binders enable many wastes to be converted
to resources. Two examples - Plastics
- Sawdust and wood waste
30Sustainability Summary
- A more holistic approach is to reduce energy
consumption as well as sequester carbon. - To reduce our linkages with the environment we
must convert waste to resource (recycle). - Sequestration and recycling have to be economic
processes or they have no hope of success. - We cannot stop progress, but we can change and
historically economies thrive on change. - What can be changed is the technical paradigm.
CO2 and wastes need to be redefined as resources. - New and better materials are required that
utilize wastes including CO2 to create a wide
range of materials suitable for use in our built
environment.
31Policy Summary
- Governments cannot easily legislate for
sustainability, it is more important that ways
are found to make sustainability good business. - Feel good legislation does not work.
- Deposit Legislation works but is difficult to
implement successfully. - Carbon rationing would be difficult to achieve
globally. - Need to underpin Kyoto with a real price for
carbon. - It is therefore important for governments to make
efforts to understand new technical paradigms
that will change the techno-process so it
delivers sustainable outcomes
32The Largest Material Flow - Cement and Concrete
- Concrete made with cement is the most widely used
material on Earth accounting for some 30 of all
materials flows on the planet and 60 - 70 of all
materials flows in the built environment. - Global Portland cement production is in the order
of 2 billion tonnes per annum. - Globally over 14 billion tonnes of concrete are
poured per year. - Thats over 2 tonnes per person per annum
TecEco Pty. Ltd. have benchmark technologies for
improvement in sustainability and properties
33Embodied Energy of Building Materials
Concrete is relatively environmentally friendly
and has a relatively low embodied energy
Downloaded from www.dbce.csiro.au/ind-serv/brochur
es/embodied/embodied.htm (last accessed 07 March
2000)
34Cement Production Carbon Dioxide Emissions
35Emissions from Cement Production
- Portland cement used in construction is made from
carbonate. - The process of calcination involves driving off
chemically bound CO2 with heat. - CaCO3 ?CaO ?CO2
- ?
- Heating also requires energy.
- 94 of energy is still derived from fossil fuels.
- Fuel oil, coal and natural gas are directly or
indirectly burned to produce the energy required
releasing CO2. - The production of cement for concretes accounts
for around 10(1) of global anthropogenic CO2. - (1) Pearce, F., "The Concrete Jungle Overheats",
New Scientist, 19 July, No 2097, 1997 (page 14).
36Average Embodied Energy in Buildings
Most of the embodied energy in the built
environment is in concrete.
But because so much is used there is a huge
opportunity for sustainability by reducing the
embodied energy, reducing the carbon debt (net
emissions) and improving properties.
Downloaded from www.dbce.csiro.au/ind-serv/brochur
es/embodied/embodied.htm (last accessed 07 March
2000)
37Landfill The Visible Legacy of Not Recycling
Landfill is the technical term for filling large
holes in the ground with waste. Landfills release
methane, can cause ill health in the area, lead
to the contamination of land, underground water,
streams and coastal waters and give rise to
various nuisances including increased traffic,
noise, odours, smoke, dust, litter and pests.
38TecEco Binders - Utilising Wastes
- An important objective should be to make
cementitious composites that can utilise wastes. - TecEco cements provide a benign environment
suitable for waste immobilisation. - Many wastes such as fly ash, sawdust , shredded
plastics etc. can improve a property or
properties of the cementitious composite.
There are huge materials flows in both wastes and
building and construction. TecEco technology
leads the world in the race to incorporate wastes
in cementitous composites
39The Impact of TecEco Technology
- TecEco magnesian cement technology will be
pivotal in bringing about sustainability in the
built environment. - Tec-Cements Develop Significant Early Strength
even with Added Supplementary Materials. Around
25 30 less binder is required for the same
strength. - Eco-cements carbonate sequestering CO2
- Both tec and ecocements provide a benign low pH
environment for hosting large quantities of waste - The CO2 released by calcined carbonates used to
make binders can be captured using TecEco kiln
technology.
40TecEco Challenging the World
- The TecEco technology is new and not yet fully
characterised. - TecEco cement technology offers
- a new tool
- sustainability in the built environment not
previously considered possible. - The world desperately needs a way of sequestering
large volumes of CO2 such as made possible by
eco-cements. - Formula rather than performance based standards
are preventing the development of new and better
materials based on mineral binders. - TecEco challenge universities governments and
construction authorities to quantify performance
in comparison to ordinary Portland cement and
other competing materials. - We at TecEco will do our best to assist.
- Negotiations are underway in many countries to
organise supplies to allow such scientific
endeavour to proceed.