Fossil-free limestone with CO₂ capture in the sea

FlowMinerals is developing new Danish technology that can remove CO₂ directly from sea water and at the same time produce fossil-free limestone for use in the building industry. The technology exploits the fact that sea water naturally contains both dissolved CO₂ and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These raw materials are currently used in large quantities in cement and concrete.

By means of a patented electrochemical process, sea water is channelled through a system that gently adjusts the pH of the water in a way that mimics natural ocean processes. CO₂ is then bonded in stable minerals, which are collected and processed into calcium carbonate (limestone). The treated sea water is subsequently returned without disturbing the marine environment.

Globally, the cement and construction industries are among the largest sources of CO₂ emissions, and at the same time dependent on huge quantities of limestone. There is therefore an increasing demand for fossil-free building materials, and a need for solutions that can be integrated directly in existing value chains and scaled to an industrial volume.

“With the help of the Vissing Foundation we can take a decisive step towards introducing CO₂ removal as an integrated part of a large, existing industrial market. Our goal is to combine fossil-free production of materials with use of green energy in a solution that can be scaled up where the need is greatest,” says Rasmus Borgstrøm, CEO and co-founder of FlowMinerals.