Carbonated concrete mineralization in 2026: overview
Carbonated concrete mineralization converts captured carbon dioxide into stable mineral carbonates inside concrete or cement-based materials. It can store CO2 while changing how materials cure and develop strength, and can support lower-carbon mixes that use industrial residues or recycled concrete. The main technical challenge is balancing CO2 transport and reaction with hydration, strength, durability and the conditions of real production.
Recent work is targeting more effective CO2 transport and better use of waste-derived feedstocks. In October 2026, the University of Manchester studied mechanochemical carbonation of recycled concrete fines with graphene oxide; in September 2026, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology reported a pilot-scale controlled curing system with real-time process monitoring. Other directions include internal CO2 delivery using biochar, machine-learning prediction of strength and uptake, and clearer tests for when carbonation curing delivers a net climate benefit.
- 1Research gains pace: Publication growth reached 10.1% last year, while patent growth was negative, pointing to a field where research momentum is not yet matched by increased patenting.
- 2CO2 transport matters: Biochar carriers, porous additives and mechanochemical treatment all target a core bottleneck: moving CO2 into reactive material without compromising strength.
- 3Waste becomes feedstock: Recycled concrete fines, steel slag and red mud are being tested as mineralizing inputs, connecting carbon storage with residue valorization.
Top organizations working on carbonated concrete mineralization
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to carbonated concrete mineralization. Showing 7 of 510 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Research · China |
Accelerated carbonation curing | PUB 59 | -3% | Recently, researchers investigated internal carbonation curing in biochar-based cement paste using amine-modified, CO2-loaded biochar as an activator, targeting strength losses associated with high biochar replacement. |
| 2 | 
Harbin Institute of Technology
Research · China |
CO2 injection during mixing | PUB 40 | +10% | Researchers have proposed integrated carbonation mixing and curing for cement paste, alongside internal curing approaches using CO2-reactive amino acid salts to improve carbon uptake and early-age performance. |
| 3 | 
Shenzhen University
Research · China |
Accelerated carbonation curing | PAT 1 · PUB 32 | -6% | Recently, researchers studied carbonization pre-curing of sintered sludge ash binders and carbonation-regulated interfacial filling in 3D-printed mortar; other work examines porous additives for accelerated carbonation curing. |
| 4 | 1U
12579Southeast University
Research |
Accelerated carbonation curing | PUB 53 | -44% | Research examines carbonation curing of magnesium oxychloride cement and low-calcium C2S-CS binders, including strategies to improve water resistance, mechanical properties, and CO2 sequestration. |
| 5 | QO
QingdaoUniversity of Technology
Research · China |
Accelerated carbonation curing | PAT 1 · PUB 25 | -14% | Recently, researchers investigated carbonization pre-curing of sintered sludge cement binders with seawater mixing. Their work also explores carbonation-cured lightweight calcium-carbide-slag materials and supercritical CO2 curing of low-carbon concrete. |
| 6 | 
Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology
Research · China |
Accelerated carbonation curing | PUB 32 | -12% | Recently, researchers examined biochar as an internal CO2 carrier to enhance carbonation in cement-based materials, focusing on how pore structure affects the process. Related work investigates CO2-cured sea-sand concrete. |
| 7 | 
Wuhan University of Technology
Research · China |
Mineralized binders and residues | PUB 39 | -5% | Recently, researchers developed layered γ-C2S composites with hydrogel interlayers to improve CO2 transport and carbonation kinetics. Other work assesses carbonated recycled cement powders as supplementary cementitious materials. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 2 total
CarbicreteCanadaIts cement-free concrete process replaces Portland cement with steel slag and uses carbonation activation to cure products while mineralizing CO2. A patent describes methods for monitoring and controlling curing of carbonated precast concrete.
CarbonBuilt Inc.United StatesA patented curing method stages steam contact with a calcium-containing reactant before CO2 exposure in a curing chamber, offering a controlled carbonation-curing sequence for concrete products.
Leading research institutions 450 total
- Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityChinaRecently, researchers investigated internal carbonation curing in biochar-based cement paste using amine-modified, CO2-loaded biochar as an activator, targeting strength losses associated with high biochar replacement.
- Harbin Institute of TechnologyChinaResearchers have proposed integrated carbonation mixing and curing for cement paste, alongside internal curing approaches using CO2-reactive amino acid salts to improve carbon uptake and early-age performance.
- Shenzhen UniversityChinaRecently, researchers studied carbonization pre-curing of sintered sludge ash binders and carbonation-regulated interfacial filling in 3D-printed mortar; other work examines porous additives for accelerated carbonation curing.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where carbonated concrete mineralization innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 510 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated carbonation curing | Controlled CO2 exposure accelerates carbonate formation and curing, but requires careful management of moisture, gas delivery and product-specific conditions. | 848 |
Harbin Institute of Technology, QingdaoUniversity of Technology, Shenzhen University |
| CO2 injection during mixing | Adding CO2 to the fresh mix distributes mineralization through the material, but makes uniform reaction and early hydration harder to control. | 66 |
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, c5Lab Sustainable Construction Materials Association, University of Texas at Arlington |
| Carbonated recycled aggregates | Carbonation treats recycled concrete aggregates or fines for reuse and CO2 storage, but variable composition and water demand can limit performance. | 276 |
La Rochelle Université, Tongji University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
| Mineralized binders and residues | CO2 reacts with calcium-rich industrial residues to form useful binders, but feedstock variability and strength development remain key constraints. | 410 |
University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology |
| Enzyme-assisted mineralization | Enzymes can accelerate carbonate formation under milder conditions, but effective delivery and integration into concrete production remain challenges. | 397 |
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shenzhen University, Wuhan University of Technology |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
FACTS records $61,012,325 across 23 grants since 2020. In January 2026, NEWS reported that Carbonaide raised €3.7 million to commercialize CO2 curing and permanent carbon storage in concrete.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Sep 2026Concrete usually adds to the world’s carbon burden, but a new formula absorbed CO2 while becoming stronger than a conventional mix. Researchers at Mepco Schlenk Engineering College in India developed the concrete by…SciTechDaily
- Sep 2026Abstract The prevailing narrative of seaweed carbon as a possible climate change mitigation solution overlooks the central challenge that climate change itself is adversely impacting seaweed forests worldwide…PLOS Biology
- Jul 2026News provided byGroundwork BioAg Jul 14, 2026, 06:35 ET - New strategic partnership combines advanced biological crop performance and soil health solution with carbon credit program - Carbon program to be launched in…All Environment
- Jun 2026The Australian government has agreed to invest almost $53 million in a north Tasmanian company that will upgrade its coal-fired kiln to burn wood “waste” and used tyres for cement manufacturing. The Federal Minister for…English – The Conversation
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about carbonated concrete mineralization
What companies are working on carbonated concrete mineralization?
Carbicrete and CarbonBuilt Inc. are the named startups working on carbonated concrete mineralization. Carbicrete replaces Portland cement with steel slag and uses carbonation activation to cure products while mineralizing CO2. CarbonBuilt has a patented curing sequence that uses steam contact with a calcium-containing reactant before CO2 exposure. Both focus on controlled carbonation curing for concrete products.
Which carbonated concrete mineralization startups are the most promising in 2026?
Carbicrete and CarbonBuilt Inc. stand out in the available company information for distinct carbonation-curing processes. Carbicrete uses steel slag in a cement-free concrete process, while CarbonBuilt stages steam treatment before CO2 exposure. These profiles indicate different routes to product curing and carbon storage; the available facts do not establish a comparative performance ranking.
Which universities and research centers lead carbonated concrete mineralization research?
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Harbin Institute of Technology and Shenzhen University are prominent research contributors in the available facts. Their work includes internal carbonation using CO2-loaded biochar, integrated carbonation mixing and curing, and carbonation treatments for binders and 3D-printed mortar. Wuhan University of Technology and ETH Zurich also investigate mineralized materials and enzyme-assisted approaches.
How much funding has carbonated concrete mineralization received?
FACTS records $61,012,325 across 23 grants since 2020. Separately, NEWS reported that Carbonaide raised €3.7 million in January 2026 to commercialize CO2 curing and permanent carbon storage in concrete. These are distinct funding figures and should not be treated as a single directly comparable total.
What were the latest carbonated concrete mineralization funding rounds?
Carbonaide’s €3.7 million raise, reported in January 2026, is the latest named funding event in NEWS. The report says the funding is intended to commercialize CO2 curing and permanent CO2 storage in concrete. The funding-round entries in FACTS do not provide a clearly attributable, more recent round for a carbonated-concrete company.
Who holds the most carbonated concrete mineralization patents?
DENKA has the highest listed patent count, with 3 patents. Waseda University, Takenaka Corporation, Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., CarbonCure Technologies, Carbicrete, CarbonBuilt Inc. and COCOONCO2 Pte. Ltd. each have 2 listed patents. The counts describe the patent-holder data in FACTS and do not indicate the scope or commercial status of each patent.
Is carbonated concrete mineralization patent activity growing?
No: FACTS records 26 patents in the 24-month window and negative patent growth. Publication activity moved in the opposite direction, with publications last year growing by 10.1%. This split suggests that research activity is expanding more strongly than patenting, although patent counts alone do not show how widely a process is used commercially.
What are the latest developments in carbonated concrete mineralization?
Recent developments include the University of Manchester’s October 2026 study of mechanochemical carbonation of recycled concrete fines with graphene oxide and a September 2026 pilot-scale controlled CO2 curing system from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology. Other recent work investigates biochar as an internal CO2 carrier, machine-learning prediction of strength and uptake, and carbonation of red mud mortars.
What are the applications of carbonated concrete mineralization?
FACTS identifies precast building products, ready-mix and cast-in-place construction, concrete masonry, and infrastructure and transportation as applications. Controlled curing can fit precast production, while carbonation treatments also target recycled aggregates and materials used in construction. The approach depends on the product and process: a curing method designed for precast products may not transfer directly to on-site concrete placement.