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These lab grown bricks can fight against climate change

2 min read

Sustainable Planet
Source: None

North Carolina-based company, bioMASON, has developed a technology using microorganisms to grow biocement™ based construction materials.

An estimated 1.23 trillion bricks are manufactured worldwide every year

This results in approximately 800 million tons of carbon emissions, due to the fossil fuels required in the firing process. This new technology aims to counter that.

The strength of biocement™ materials is comparable to traditional masonry The company's products make it possible to manufacture on-site in ambient temperatures using locally available materials, without using fuel for firing the material. Source: Facebook/ExploristScience

The process of growing bricks similar to hydroponics

The company say on their website– ‘the process of growing bricks is similar to hydroponics, whereby units mixed with the microorganism are fed an aqueous solution to harden the bricks to specification. Traditional bricks are formed in brick units and then fired for hardening.’

bioMASON’s process simply eliminates the need for firing by replacing the curing/hardening process with the formation of biologically controlled structural cement.

Source: bioMASON

'Replace traditional methods for manufacturing concrete and fired clay materials by growing ex-situ products using clean bio-chemical processes in ambient temperatures; without compromising the natural environment.'
The eco-minded company’s mission statement: ‘Replace traditional methods for manufacturing concrete and fired clay materials by growing ex-situ products using clean bio-chemical processes in ambient temperatures; without compromising the natural environment.’ Source: biomason.com

The company employs natural systems, eliminating waste while providing variation

bioMASON employs natural systems as industrial manufacturing, eliminating waste while providing virtually limitless variation.

Some of the key advantages of this technology are:

  • Made in ambient temperatures, no CO2 emissions, minimal dependency on natural fossil fuels, and can be made on site
  • No waste in manufacturing
  • Environmental points
  • Product customisation
  • Additive material performance such as increased insulation
  • Nutrients and minerals required in the process are obtained from natural, renewable sources, but may also be extracted from industrial waste streams.

To hear more about this technology, check out the video below of company founder and CEO, Ginger Krieg Dosier, speaking at TEDx in Dubai.

Source: bioMASON

Growing brick, not another brick in the wall: Ginger Krieg Dosier at TEDxWWF bioMASON Inc. was founded in 2012 by founder and CEO, Ginger Krieg Dosier. bioMASON is a unique biotechnology start-up manufacturing company with a natural process that will revolutionise the building and construction industry. bioMASON employs natural microorganisms and chemical processes to manufacture biological cement-based masonry building materials. Source: youtube/biomason/tedx
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