Glasgow spinout targets carbon-negative future for construction materials

River Gowans, Philip Salter, and Parvez Patel

A prospective University of Strathclyde spinout is developing a process that turns low-value mineral waste into carbon-negative cement replacement materials, helping reduce emissions from cement production while permanently storing captured carbon dioxide (CO2).

Founded by scientist Dr Philip Salter, Ureaka is developing a process that combines circular chemistry – using waste and renewable inputs to replace raw materials and keep resources in continuous use – with mineral extraction and controlled carbonation to produce carbon-negative cement-replacement materials from waste streams such as demolished concrete.

The project is supported by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Spin Out Fund, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Strathclyde, as it seeks to move the technology from laboratory research towards commercial application, including factory-scale process modelling.

Cement and concrete production are responsible for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions due to the energy-intensive nature of the manufacturing process[1]. While the construction sector continues to pursue decarbonisation, emissions associated with the underlying chemical reactions in cement production remain particularly difficult to eliminate.

Against this backdrop, Ureaka’s current focus is on converting low-value mineral waste, including demolished concrete, into supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that can partially replace traditional cement. The process extracts and re-forms useful mineral components such as calcium and silica, while using captured CO2 to create stable carbonate minerals that permanently store carbon.

The resulting SCM is designed as a drop-in powder for concrete mixes, allowing manufacturers to reduce clinker and cement use without major changes to existing production methods. By starting from waste mineral streams rather than virgin raw materials, Ureaka aims to create a lower-cost route to carbon-negative construction inputs.

The company’s earlier biocementation work also points to wider future applications, including ground stabilisation and the repair of existing concrete structures. These applications are particularly well suited to biocementation because its water-like treatment fluids can flow into pores, cracks and hard-to-reach spaces that conventional cement and concrete cannot easily penetrate, before mineralising in place to strengthen or repair the material from within.

Looking ahead, Ureaka is now focused on progressing its carbon-negative SCM towards commercialisation. The IBioIC-supported project has been particularly important in taking the process beyond lab experiments into factory-scale modelling and product validation planning. The company is seeking additional grant funding and preparing for a seed investment round to support team growth and further development, while also working towards third-party validation of its supplementary cementitious material in a live manufacturing environment – a key step towards market readiness.

Dr Philip Salter, founder and chief executive of Ureaka, said: “Cement is one of the hardest industries to decarbonise because, even if you electrify production, a large share of emissions still comes from the chemical reactions involved. Ureaka is taking a fundamentally different approach: starting with the mineral value already present in waste concrete, reacting it with captured CO2, and turning it into a cement-replacement material that can work within existing supply chains.

“A key priority for us has been ensuring the process can plug into existing manufacturing systems. The supplementary cementitious material we’re developing is designed to work with current concrete production methods, so manufacturers don’t need to change how they operate, but can still reduce the carbon footprint of their products.”

Caroline Kewney, senior impact manager at IBioIC, added: “Construction materials are a significant contributor to global emissions, so there is a clear need for scalable alternatives that can support decarbonisation across the sector. This project demonstrates how industrial biotechnology can turn waste streams into valuable new materials, while also supporting carbon capture and more circular approaches to manufacturing. We’re excited to see what’s next for Ureaka as it progresses towards commercialisation.”

[1] https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/09/cement-production-sustainable-concrete-co2-emissions/