KAUST and Partanna, a materials science company that is building carbon-neutral products for the construction industry, have agreed to a research and development partnership. The partnership aims to accelerate the CO2 removal properties of concrete manufacturing using Partanna’s patented process. 

The initiative is set to last 12 months and will integrate Partanna’s exclusive formula with KAUST’s Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to maximize the ecological and structural advantages of the company’s product. Partanna describes its concrete to “breathe like a tree”, extracting CO2 directly from the atmosphere over its lifecycle while avoiding emissions. 

Partanna’s patented process does not require Portland Cement, a material attributed to causing 9% of the world’s CO2 emissions. Instead, the process relies on a binder made from natural and recycled materials that are available throughout Saudi Arabia, including brine. The binder cured at room temperature, thus avoiding the clinkering process or industrial heating. Further, following a chemical reaction, the binder contains compounds that react with and absorb atmospheric CO2.  

“Concrete produced using this process can be considered carbon negative and capable of generating carbon credits,” said KAUST Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Mohamed Eddaoudi. “We have been engaged with Partanna for quite some time and have been impressed by their innovation. We now hope to augment the environmental benefits we know Partanna’s formula delivers by integrating KAUST’s DAC technology alongside it. We are excited to accelerate the development of more efficient sustainable construction materials that capture CO2, showcasing a proactive approach to climate change mitigation.” Rick Fox, the CEO of Partanna Global, concurred. 

 “This partnership is all about amplifying what we do best – advancing materials to advance society – and in the case of our concrete, turning buildings into structures that heal, rather than harm, our natural environment. By working with KAUST to optimize our already carbon negative concrete formula, we’re continuing to build the case for changing the way the world builds.”