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Gaia Engineering – An Economic Approach to Solving Planetary Problems

Gaia Engineering – An Economic Approach to Solving Planetary Problems

Developed Countries

Undeveloped Countries

Global population, consumption per capita and our footprint on the planet are exploding.

?

?

A Planet in Crisis

This presentation describes an economic approach to solving the greatest problems facing this planet.

John Harrison B.Sc. B.Ec. FCPA. FAICD Managing director of TecEco and Chair of AASMIC

Dem

ogra

phic E

xplo

sion

=>


Scientific consensus global warming

Emissions reduction

Efficiency

Cost of alternative energy

Cost of reducing emissions

Cost of not reducing emissions

WrongThink Again!

Earth is a homeostatic system

The impact of anthropogenic materials flows on planetary system slows

Runaway change? Risk management

A Holistic approach with nature as our mentor?

Gaia Engineering Presentation MessagesGaia Engineering Presentation Messages

The main natural sinks are oceans, plants etc.

AbatementSequestration

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

Albert Einstein


Our Ecological Footprint Exceeds CapacityOur Ecological Footprint Exceeds Capacity

Our footprint is exceeding the capacity of the planet to support it. We are not longer sustainable and the environment is no longer sustainable – we must change our ways to survive.

Source: WWF State of the Planet, 2005

View further to discover how


The Carbon Cycle and EmissionsThe Carbon Cycle and Emissions

After: David Schimel and Lisa Dilling, National Centre for Atmospheric Research 2003

Emissions from fossil fuels and cement production are a significant cause of global warming.

Units: GtC GtC/yr

4.5 billion years of geological sequestration have resulted in 7% of the crust being carbonate

We need to increase the sedimentary carbon sink


Global WarmingGlobal WarmingRises in the levels of greenhouse gases

Are thought to be causing a rapid rise in temperature

Correlation is not causation but---


CO2 and TemperatureCO2 and Temperature

Even if emissions reductions were to succeed we must still get the CO2 out of the air. There are thermodynamic limits. Carbon rationing is a frightening adjunct and alternative. Who will be the global police?

Source of graphic: Hansen, J et. al. Climate Change and Trace GasesThe correlation between temperature and CO2 in the

atmosphere over the last 450,000 years is very good. All things being equal the simple answer is usually the right answer (Occam’s razor)

The best plan is a holistic one that reduces emissions and profitably balances the inevitable releases from our activities with massive sequestration.


Global OxygenGlobal Oxygen

Bruce C. Douglas (1997). "Global Sea Rise: A Redetermination". Surveys in Geophysics 18: 279-292

Dr. Simon Torok CSIRO http://www.csiro.au/files/mediarelease/mr1999/OxygenMeasurements.htm

Oxygen levels have fallen .03% in the last 20 years and sea levels are rising.


WaterWater

Source of Graphic: Lean, Geoffrey, and Don Hinrichsen, 1994. Atlas of the Environment, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc.

“1/3 of the world’s population are presently living in water stressed countries. Depending on the emission scenarios, climate scenarios and population change, it is estimated that up to 2/3 of the world’s population will be living in water stressed countries by 2050 as a result of climate change”Source: Defra (2004). Scientific and Technical Aspects of Climate Change, including Impacts, Adaptation and Associated Costs. UK, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


Waste & PollutionWaste & Pollution

Ill health. Contamination of global

commons with dangerous molecules.

Increased traffic, noise, odours, smoke, dust, litter and pests.

There are various estimates. The consensus is that we produce about 5-600 billion tonnes of waste each year.

Tec and Eco-Cements use waste.


TecEco are in the BIGGEST Business on the Planet – Economic Solutions to our Energy, Global Warming, Water and Waste Problems.

One Planet, Many People, Many Interconnected ProblemsOne Planet, Many People, Many Interconnected Problems


Urgent Fixes are NeededUrgent Fixes are Needed

Water– 1/3 of world population stressed

for water– By 2050 2/3 due to global

warming Waste

– Around 600 million tonnes.– The underlying moleconomic

flow is poisoning our world CO2

– Causing global temperature rises Energy

– Peak oil has passed and fossil fuel energy costs set to rise.

To solve these problems we need to change the way we do things and what we do them with!

All these problems are interconnected


Correlation Between WIP and EmissionsCorrelation Between WIP and Emissions

World Industrial Product (deflated world `GDP' in real value - i.e. World physical production).

CO2 emissions (in CO2 mass units: Doubling time = 29 years. Data: CDIAC; statistics: GDI.

The correlation between the WIP and the CO2 emissions is very high. The correlation coefficient r= 0.995, i.e. practically 1 (total correlation).

Di Fazio, Alberto, The fallacy of pure efficiency gain measures to control future climate change, Astronomical Observatory of Rome and the Global Dynamics Institute


We are Hooked On Fossil Fuel EnergyWe are Hooked On Fossil Fuel Energy

Emissions targets are unlikely to be met whilst fossil fuels remain

Assuming Kyoto commitments are met (which is unlikely) it is estimated that global emissions will be 41% higher in 2010 than in 1990 ( Ford, M., Matysek, A, Jakeman, G., Gurney, A & Fisher B. S. 2006, Perspectives on International Climate Change, paper presented at the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics society 50th Annual Conference. www.aares.info/files/2006_matysek.pdf.

A solution is needed of the utmost urgency to preserve history for many, many generations to come.

Sir Richard Branson at the launch of the Virgin Earth Prize

Gaia Engineering is the way to do so – John Harrison


SynopsisSynopsis We are too many and our influence too great. We must therefore accept

our role of maintaining “spaceship earth” as planetary engineers and find ways of maintaining the level of carbon dioxide, oxygen and other gases in the atmosphere at desirable levels.

We are too hooked on fossil fuels and cannot possibly arrest the alarming increases in carbon dioxide currently occurring through efficiency, emissions reduction or substitution by renewables.

We have a good chance of preserving the future if we mimic nature by finding uses for carbon and other wastes.

Uses for carbon and other wastes must result in a real value that puts profit in the pocket of a large number who will as a consequence wish to engage otherwise they cannot be implemented on the massive scale required.

The markets created must be insatiable, large and indefinitely continuing.

Building with anthropogenically created man made carbonate as promoted in this presentation is doable and most likely presents the only option we have for saving the planet from runaway global warming until such time as safe and reliable forms of energy alternative to fossil fuels can be developed, we more seriously take our relationship with the planet and our role as planetary engineers and custodians.


The Earth SystemThe Earth System

Anthropo-

sphere

The earth system consists of positive and negative feedback loops.

Small changes caused by man such as CO2 and other climate forcing as well as pollution impact right across all interconnected systems throughout the global commons.


Earth Systems ScienceEarth Systems Science

Source graphic: NASA

Earth system science treats the entire Earth as a system in its own right, which evolves as a result of positive and negative feedback between constituent systems (Wiki). These systems are ideally homeostatic.

Earth Systems

Atmospheric composition, climate, land cover, marine ecosystems, pollution, coastal zones, freshwater salinity etc.


The Techno-ProcessThe Techno-Process

Underlying the techno-process that describes and controls the flow of matter and energy through the supply and waste chains are molecular stocks and flows. If out of synch with earth systems these moleconomic flows have detrimental affects.

To reduce the impact on earth systems new technical paradigms need to be invented and cultural changes evolve that result in materials flows with underlying molecular flows that mimic or at least do not interfere with natural flows and that support rather than detrimentally impact on earth systems.

Detrimental affects on earth systems

Move 500-600 billion

tonnes

Use some 50 billion

tonnes

Take

Waste

Materials

Materials

I am contemplating profitable bottom up change of immense proportion and importance.

John Harrison, TecEco


Detrimental Impacts of the Techno-ProcessDetrimental Impacts of the Techno-Process

Take manipulate and make impacts

End of lifecycle impacts

Greater Utility Less Utility

Materials are everything between the take and waste and affect earth system flows.

There is no such place as “away”

Use impacts.Materials are in

the Techno-Sphere Utility

zone

Detrimental Linkages that affect earth

system flows


Under Materials Flows in the Techno-Processes are Molecular FlowsUnder Materials Flows in the Techno-Processes are Molecular Flows

Take → Manipulate → Make → Use → Waste [ ←Materials flow→ ]

[ ← Underlying molecular flow → ] If the underlying molecular flows are “out of tune” with

nature there is damage to the environmente.g. heavy metals, cfc’s, c=halogen compounds and CO2

Moleconomics is the study of the form of atoms in molecules, their flow, interactions, balances, stocks and positions. What we take from the environment around us, how we manipulate and make materials out of what we take and what we waste result in underlying molecular flows that affect earth systems. These flows should mimic, balance or minimally interfere with natural flows.

To fix the molecular flows that are impacting our planet we must first fix the materials flows in a bottom up approach


Building and Construction Represents an Insatiable, Large and Indefinitely Continuing Market.

Building and Construction Represents an Insatiable, Large and Indefinitely Continuing Market.

The built environment is made of materials and is our footprint on earth.– It comprises buildings and infrastructure.

Construction materials comprise– 70% of materials flows (buildings, infrastructure etc.)– 40-50% of waste that goes to landfill (15 % of new materials going to site

are wasted.) Around 25 billion tonnes of building materials are used

annually on a world wide basis. The single biggest materials flow (after water) is

concrete at around 17 billion tonnes or > 2 tonnes per man, woman and child on the planet.

Why not use magnesium carbonate aggregates and building components from Greensols and Eco-Cements from TecEco to bind them together?


Innovative New Materials - the Key to SustainabilityInnovative New Materials - the Key to Sustainability

Biosphere - Geosphere Techno - World

Materials are the substance of the techno-process, the link between the biosphere and techno-sphere and the key to sustainability. They are everything between and define the take and waste.

By changing how we make “things” and what we make them with we can fix the underlying molecular flows that are destroying the natural homeostasis of our planet

The choice of materials for building and construction controls emissions, lifetime and embodied energies, user comfort, use of recycled wastes, durability, recyclability and the properties of wastes returned to the bio-geo-sphere.


Economically Driven SustainabilityEconomically Driven Sustainability

New, more profitable technical paradigms are required that result in more sustainable and usually more efficient moleconomic flows that mimic natural flows or better, reverse our damaging flows.$ - ECONOMICS - $

Change is only possible economically. It will not happen because it is necessary or right.


Consider Sustainability as Where Culture and Technology MeetConsider Sustainability as Where Culture and Technology Meet

Increase in demand/price ratio for greater sustainability due to cultural change.

#

$

Demand

Supply

Increase in supply/price ratio for more sustainable products due to technical innovation.

Equilibrium

ShiftECONOMICSGreater Value/for impact (Sustainability) and economic growth

A measure of the degree of sustainability is where the demand for more sustainable technologies is met by their supply.

We must rapidly move both the supply and demand curves for sustainability


Changing the Technology ParadigmChanging the Technology Paradigm

“By enabling us to make productive use of particular raw materials, technology determines what constitutes a physical resource1”

1.Pilzer, Paul Zane, Unlimited Wealth, The Theory and Practice of Economic Alchemy, Crown Publishers Inc. New York.1990

It is not so much a matter of “dematerialisation” as a question of changing the underlying moleconomic flows. We need materials that require less energy to make them, do not pollute the environment with CO2 and other releases, last much longer and that contribute properties that reduce lifetime energies. The key is to change the technology paradigms

Or more simply – the technical paradigm determines what is or is not a resource!


Cultural Change is Happening!Cultural Change is Happening!

Al Gore (SOS) CSIRO reports STERN Report Lots of Talkfest IPCC Report Political change Branson Prize Live Earth (07/07/07)

The media have an important growing role


Recycle

Re-use

Take only renewables

Waste only what is biodegradable or can be re-assimilated

Manipulate Make Use

Reduce

Changing the Techno-ProcessChanging the Techno-Process

ReduceRe-useRecycle

=> Materials =>

Take => manipulate => make => use => waste

The Flow of Atoms and Molecules in the global commons

Driven by fossil fuel energy with take and waste impacts.

This is biomimicry!

By changing the technology paradigms we can change the materials flows and thus the underlying molecular flows.

Moleconomics


Nature is our Mentor (Biomimicry)Nature is our Mentor (Biomimicry)

All that is alive is very efficiently in balance with surrounding conditions including all else that is alive.

– The waste from one plant or animal is the food or home for another.– Photosynthesis balances respiration.– Growth balances disintegration.

There is a strong need for similar efficiency and homeostatic balance in the techno process.

– To balance emissions of carbon dioxide with uses and waste nothing that has no natural role on the planet.

By studying Nature we learn who we are, what we are and how we are to be.” (Wright, F.L. 1957:269)

Nature provides us with survival knowledge from a four billion year old experiment. It is this knowledge, not our genetics that is the key.

John Harrison


Biomimicry - GeomimicryBiomimicry - Geomimicry

All natural processes are very economical. We must also be MUCH more economical

The term biomimicry was popularised by the book of the same name written by Janine Benyus

Biomimicry is a method of solving problems that uses natural processes and systems as a source of knowledge and inspiration.

It involves nature as model, measure and mentor. Geomimicry is similar to biomimicry but models geological rather

than biological processes.

The theory behind biomimicry is that natural processes and systems have evolved over several billion years through a process of research and development commonly referred to as evolution. A reoccurring theme in natural systems is the cyclical flow of matter in such a way that there is no waste of matter and very little of energy.Geomicry is a natural extension of biomimicry and applies to geological rather than living processes


Biomimicry - Ultimate RecyclersBiomimicry - Ultimate Recyclers As peak oil starts to cut in and the price of transport rises

sharply– We should not just be recycling based on chemical property requiring

transport to large centralised sophisticated and expensive facilities

– We should be including CO2 and wastes based on physical properties as well as chemical composition in composites whereby they become local resources.

Jackdaws and bower bird recycle all sorts of things they find nearby based on physical property. The birds are not concerned about chemical composition and the nests they make could be described as a composite materials.

TecEco cements are benign binders that can incorporate all sort of wastes without reaction problems and bind strongly to them by polar bonding with them. We can do the same as the Jackdaw or bower bird


Localized Low Transport Embodied Energy MaterialsLocalized Low Transport Embodied Energy Materials

No longer an option?

As the price of fuel rises past peak oil, the use of localised low embodied energy materials for construction will have to be considered. We will have to mimic the jackdaw or bower bird.


Utilizing Carbon and WastesUtilizing Carbon and Wastes During earth's geological history large tonnages of carbon

were put away as limestone and other carbonates and as coal and petroleum by the activity of plants and animals.

Sequestering carbon in calcium and magnesium carbonate materials and other wastes in the built environment mimics nature in that carbon is used in the homes or skeletal structures of most plants and animals.

In eco-cement concretes the binder is carbonate and the aggregates are preferably carbonates and wastes. This is “geomimicry”

CO2

C

CO2

Waste

CO2

CO2

Pervious pavement


GeomimicryGeomimicry There are 1.2-3 grams of magnesium

and about .4 grams of calcium in every litre of seawater.

There is enoughcalcium and magnesiumin seawater with replenishmentto last billions of years at current needs for sequestration.

To survive we must build our homes like these seashells using CO2 and alkali metal cations. This is geomimicry

Carbonate sediments such as these cliffs represent billionsof years of sequestrationand cover 7% of the crust.


Geomimicry for Planetary Engineers?Geomimicry for Planetary Engineers? Large tonnages of carbon (7% of the crust) were put

away during earth’s geological history as limestone, dolomite and magnesite, mostly by the activity of plants and animals.– Orders of magnitude more than as coal or petroleum!

Shellfish built shells from carbon and trees turn it into wood.

These same plants and animals wasted nothing– The waste from one is the food or home for another.

Because of the colossal size of the flows involved the answer to the problems of greenhouse gas and waste is to use them both in an insatiable, large and indefinitely continuing market.

Such a market exists for building and construction materials.


Geomimicry for Planetary Engineers?Geomimicry for Planetary Engineers? Such a paradigm shift in resource usage will

not occur because it is the right thing to do. It can only happen economically. To put an economic value on carbon and

wastes– We have not choice but to invent new technical paradigms

such as offered by TecEco and the Global Sustainability Alliance (Gaia Engineering).

– Evolving culturally to effectively use these technical paradigms

By using carbon dioxide and other wastes as building materials we can economically reduce their concentration in the global commons.

Materials are very important!


Why Magnesium Carbonates?Why Magnesium Carbonates? Because of the low molecular weight of

magnesium, it is ideal for scrubbing CO2 out of the air and sequestering the gas into the built environment:

More CO2 is captured than in calcium systems as the calculations below show.

At 2.09% of the crust magnesium is the 8th most abundant element

Sea-water contains 1.29 g/l compared to calcium at .412 g/l

Magnesium compounds have low pH and polar bond in composites making them suitable for the utilisation of other wastes.

%5284

44

3

2

MgCO

CO%43

101

44

3

2

CaCO

CO

Seawater Reference Data

g/l H20

Cation

radius

(pm)

Chloride (Cl--) 19 167

Sodium (Na+) 10.5 116

Sulfate (S04--) 2.7 ?

Magnesium (Mg++) 1.29 86

Calcium (Ca++) 0.412 114

Potassium (K+) 0.399 152


Making Carbonate Building Materials to Solve the Global Warming Problem

Making Carbonate Building Materials to Solve the Global Warming Problem

Magnesium materials from Gaia Engineering are potential low cost. New kiln technology from TecEco will enable easy low cost simple non fossil fuel calcination of magnesium carbonate to make binders with the CO2 recycling to produce more carbonate building material to be used with these binders.

How much magnesium carbonate would have to be deposited to solve the problem of global warming?

– The annual flux of CO2 is around 12 billion tonnes ~= 22.99 billion tonnes magnesite– The density of magnesite is 3 gm/cm3 or 3 tonne/metre3

22.9/3 billion cubic metres ~= 7.63 cubic kilometres of magnesite would have to be deposited each year.

Compared to the over seven cubic kilometres of concrete we make every year, the problem of global warming looks surmountable.

If magnesite was our building material of choice and we could make it without releases as is the case with Gaia Engineering, we have the problem as good as solved!

We must build with carbonate and waste


Only the Built Environment is Big EnoughOnly the Built Environment is Big Enough

Source of graphics: Nic Svenningson UNEP SMB2007

The built environment is our footprint, the major proportion of the techno-sphere and our lasting legacy on the planet. It comprises buildings and infrastructure


Building is Going Balistic!Building is Going Balistic!

The relative impact of the built environment is rising as the East catches up with the West!

Source of graphic: Rick Fedrizzi SMB 2007


Huge Potential for Sequestration and Waste Utilisation in the Built Environment

Huge Potential for Sequestration and Waste Utilisation in the Built Environment

Reducing the impact of the take and waste phases of the techno-process by.– including carbon in materials

they are potentially carbon sinks.– including wastes for

physical properties aswell as chemical compositionthey become resources.

– re engineering materials toreduce the lifetime energyof buildings

A durable low pH high bondingbinder system is requiredfor effective waste utilisationsuch as TecEco Tec andEco-Cements

Many wastes including CO2 can contribute to physical properties reducing lifetime energies

CO2

C

CO2

Waste

CO2

CO2

Pervious pavement

Built Environment

Gaia Engineering FlowchartGaia Engineering Flowchart

MgCO3

and CaCO3

“Stone”

Extraction

Valuable Commodity Salts or hydrochloric acid.

Industrial CO2 MgO

TecEco

Tec-Kiln

Eco-Cements

Buildingcomponents & aggregates

TecEcoCementManufacture

CaO

Clays

Portland CementManufacture

Brine or Seawater

Tec-Cements

Building waste

Other waste

WasteAcid or Bitterns

Fresh Water

Extraction inputs and outputs depending on method chosen


The Gaia Engineering TececologyThe Gaia Engineering Tececology

Industrial Ecologies are generally

thought of as closed loop systems with

minimal or low impacts outside the

ecology

The Gaia Engineering tececology could be

thought of as an open technical

ecology designed to reverse major

damaging moleconomic and

other system flows outside the tececology

The Gaia Engineering tececology is not closed and is designed to reverse damaging moleconomic flows outside the ecology - LIKE A GIANT ECOLOGICAL PUMP


The Gaia Engineering ProcessThe Gaia Engineering Process

Extraction Process

Fossil fuels

Solar or solar derived energy

Oil

MgO

CO2

Coal

CO2

CO2

CO2

Inputs:

Atmospheric or industrial CO2,brines, waste acid or bitterns, other wastes

Outputs:

Carbonate building materials, potable water, valuable commodity salts.

Carbon or carbon compoundsMagnesium compounds

1.29 gm/l Mg.412 gm/l Ca

Gaia Engineering delivers profitable outcomes whilst reversing underlying undesirable moleconomic flows from other less sustainable techno-processes outside the tececology.

TecEco MgCO2

Cycle

Carbonate building components

Eco-Cement

TecEcoKiln

MgCO3


Gaia Engineering IntroductionGaia Engineering Introduction Gaia engineering is a combination of new technologies

including– A Carbon capture process– TecEco’s Tec-Kiln technology and cements – Carbon dioxide scrubbing technologies – TecEco' Eco-Cements

Gaia engineering profitably geomimics past planetary geological processes and adopted on a large scale will:– Sequester significant amounts of atmospheric CO2 – Produce valuable by-products– Convert large volumes of waste to valuable resource


Carbon Capture Front EndCarbon Capture Front End Gaia Engineering starts with a process to sequester carbon

dioxide using the magnesium contained in bitterns, seawater or brine and to date there are many candidate methods that all require further research and development.– The Greensols process which involves chemical precipitation– A pyrohydrolysis process that can be run in association with salt manufacture– An ultra high speed centrifuge process and a– Biomimetic process.

Outputs will vary according to the ultimate process selected for the concentration of CO2 needed for both Gaia Engineering and “Clean Coal” and are as hereunder:– Greensols - sodium bicarbonate, mineral salts, carbonate building materials

and aggregates, Eco-Cements and fresh water– Ultra Centrifuges - provided materials can be found to withstand the forces

involved, potentially similar outputs as the Greensols process.– Hydropyrolysis - magnesium oxide and hydrochloric acid. The magnesium

oxide can be used for sequestration and hydrochloric acid is used in industry.– Biomimetic Routes – calcium and magnesium carbonates.


CO2 from power generation, industry or out of the air

Magnesia (MgO)

Other Wastes

Simplified TecEco ReactionsTec-Kiln MgCO3 → MgO + CO2- 118 kJ/moleReactor Process MgO + CO2 → MgCO3

+ 118 kJ/mole (usually more complex hydrates)

(MgCO2) Cycle

Waste Acid

1.354 x 109 km3 Seawater containing 1.728 1017 tonne Mg or suitable brines from other sources

Tonnes CO2 sequestered per tonne magnesium with various cycles through the TecEco Tec-Kiln process. Assuming no leakage MgO to built environment (i.e. complete cycles).

Billion Tonnes

Tonnes CO2 sequestered by 1 billion tonnes of Mg in seawater 1.81034

Tonnes CO2 captured during calcining (same as above) 1.81034

Tonnes CO2 captured by eco-cement 1.81034

Total tonnes CO2 sequestered or abated per tonne Mg in seawater (Single calcination cycle).

3.62068

Total tonnes CO2 sequestered or abated (Five calcination cycles.) 18.1034

Total tonnes CO2 sequestered or abated (Ten calcination cycles). 36.20

Gypsum (CaSO4)

Gypsum + carbon waste (e.g. sewerage) = fertilizers

Sewerage compost

Magnesite (MgCO3)Solar Process to

Produce Magnesium Metal

Bicarbonate of Soda (NaHCO3)

Eco-CementTec-Cement

Other salts Na+,K+, Ca2+,Cl-

CO2 from power generation or industry

Sequestration Table – Mg from Seawater

CO2

CO2 + H2O =>Energy rich biomass using blue green algae

Greensols Seawater

Carbonation Process.

Tec-Reactor Hydroxide / Carbonate

slurry process

MgO Production using solar energy

Gaia Engineering – Greensols Front EndGaia Engineering – Greensols Front End


Gaia Engineering – Greensols Front EndGaia Engineering – Greensols Front End

InputsBrinesWaste AcidWastesCO2

OutputsGypsum, Sodium bicarbonate, Salts, Building materials, Potable water


Greensols Carbon CaptureGreensols Carbon Capture The hydrogen bonding in water keeps oppositely charged

ions from combining. Water “dissolves” them. Strongly charged ions such as calcium, magnesium and

carbonate attract hydration shells of water around them. For example magnesium and calcium ions polar bond to oxygen and the negative carbonate ion polar bonds to hydrogen. These bonds can propagate through several layers of water and are strong enough to prevent the formation of calcium and magnesium carbonates even from supersaturated solutions.

The Greensols process uses waste acid to de-polarise a statistical proportion of water molecules by attaching a proton to them whereby positively charged sodium, calcium or magnesium ions as well as negatively charged ions including carbonate ions are released, can combine and thus precipitate.


Greensols Carbon CaptureGreensols Carbon Capture

Hydration shelling of water occurs around calcium or magnesium ions because of the strong charge of especially magnesium to the oxygen end of waterSimilar hydration shelling occurs

around the negative carbonate ion through polar bonding to the hydrogen ends of water



The addition of a proton to water using strong waste acid results in its de polarisation whereby it no longer electronically holds as many ions (sodium, calcium, magnesium or carbonate etc.) statistically releasing them and allowing them to combine and precipitate as carbonates and other more valuable salts leaving behind essentially fresh water



The statistical release of both cations and anions results in precipitation of for example magnesium carbonate as shown above.

+ =

Mg++ + CO3

_ _ => MgCO3


Advantages of Greensols over Reverse OsmosisAdvantages of Greensols over Reverse Osmosis

GREENSOLS REVERSE OSMOSIS DE-SALINATION

Low energy costs- Does not work against the electronic forces in water.

Relatively high energy costs- Works against the hydrogen bonding of water to separate it from its ions

Low maintenance- The plant consists of low cost replaceable pumps

High Maintenance- The membranes need cleaning and changing at regular intervals.

No damaging or dangerous outputs

Highly saline water is potentially damaging

Value adds include fresh water, sequestration, valuable salts and building products

The only value add is fresh water

Tell somebody with influence today!


The Tec-Reactor Hydroxide CarbonateSlurry Process

The Tec-Reactor Hydroxide CarbonateSlurry Process

The solubility of carbon dioxide gas in seawater– Increases as the temperature approached zero and– Is at a maxima around 4oC

This phenomenon is related to the chemical nature of CO2 and water and

Can be utilised in a carbonate – hydroxide slurry process to capture CO2 out of the air and release it for storage or use in a controlled manner


The MgCO2 Process (Magnesium Thermodynamic Cycle)The MgCO2 Process (Magnesium Thermodynamic Cycle)

The MgCO2 (magnesium thermodynamiccycle) is very important for sequestration and results in the formation of valuable building product

Representative of other hydrated mineral carbonates

CO2

CarbonationMg(OH)2.nH2O +CO2 +2H2O => MgCO3.3H2OΔH = - 37.04 kJ.molΔG = - 19.55 kJ.mol

Eco-Cements

Nesquehonite

Magnesite

Dehydration

Carbonation

Brucite

TOTAL CALCINING ENERGYRelative to MgCO3Theoretical = 1480 kJ.KgWith inefficiencies = 1948 kJ.Kg-1

Magnesia

Calcination

Tec-Kiln

HydrationMgO + H2O => Mg(OH)2.nH2OΔH = - 81.24 kJ.molΔG = - 35.74 kJ.mol

CalcificationMgCO3 => MgO + CO2

ΔH = 118.28 kJ.mol-1

ΔG = 65.92 kJ.mol-1

Tec, Eco and Enviro-Cements

CO2 + H2O =>Hydrocarbons compounds using algae


The TecEco Tec-Kiln TechnologyThe TecEco Tec-Kiln Technology

Runs at low temperatures minimising the development of lattice energy.

Can be powered by various non fossil sources of energy such as solar energy or waste heat.

Grinds and calcines at the same time thereby operating 25% to 30% more efficiently.

Captures CO2 for return to the Greensols process, bottling or use for fuel manufacture using algae and other life forms or other purposes.

The products – CaO and/or MgO can be used to sequester more CO2 in the MgCO2 process which can be repeated.

Suitable for making the reactive MgO used in TecEco cements.

CO2 + H2O =>Hydrocarbons compounds using algae

MgO Production using solar energy


Eco-Cement – With Capture during Manufacture

Eco-Cement – No Capture during Manufacture

Eco-Cement CO2 Release and CaptureEco-Cement CO2 Release and Capture

CO2

CO2 from atmosphere

CO2 capture

(Greensols process

etc)

Carbon neutral except for carbon from process emissions

Net sequestration less carbon from process emissions

Use of non fossil fuels => Low or no process emissions

MgO MgO

Mg(OH)2H2OH2O

H2O

Mg(OH)2

MgCO3.3H2O H2O

H2O H2OMgCO3.3H2O


Gaia Engineering will Modify the Carbon CycleGaia Engineering will Modify the Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis by plants and

algae

Consumed by heterotrophs

(mainly animals)

Organic compounds made by autotrophs

Organic compounds made by heterotrophs

Cellular Respiration

Cellular Respiration burning and

decay

Limestone coal and oil

burning

Gaia Engineering, (Greensols, TecEco

Kiln and Eco-Cements)

Decay by fungi and bacteria

CO2 in the air and water


Outcomes from Gaia EngineeringOutcomes from Gaia Engineering

Global CO2 in the Atmosphere

2,900

3,100

3,300

3,500

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025M

ass

of C

O2

(Gt)

Mass CO2 in the atmosphere without "CarbonSafe"sequestration (Gt)Mass CO2 in the atmosphere with "CarbonSafe"sequestration (Gt)Upper CO2 limit (Gt)

MgO Component Used in Cement

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025

MgO component used (Mt)

Cement sales (Mt)Trendline (Mt)

CO2 in the atmosphere will start to fall.

As the proportion of man made carbonate used in the built environment increases.

These figures are obviously rubbery, but we hope you get the idea!

Critical 450 ppm, level =>


TecEco Binder SystemsTecEco Binder Systems

Hydration of the various components of Portland cement for strength.

SUSTAINABILITY

DURABILITY STRENGTHTECECO CEMENTS

Reaction of alkali with pozzolans (e.g. lime with fly ash.) for sustainability, durability and strength.

Hydration of magnesia => brucite for strength, workability, dimensional stability and durability. In Eco-cements carbonation of brucite => nesquehonite, lansfordite and an amorphous phase for sustainability.

PORTLAND POZZOLAN

REACTIVE MAGNESIA

TecEco concretes are a system of blending reactive magnesia, Portland cement and usually a pozzolan with other materials and are a key factor for sustainability.


Emissions from Cement ProductionEmissions from Cement Production

Chemical Release– The process of calcination involves driving off chemically bound

CO2 with heat.

CaCO3 →CaO + ↑CO2

Process Energy– Most energy is derived from fossil fuels.

– Fuel oil, coal and natural gas are directly or indirectly burned to produce the energy required releasing CO2.

The production of cement for concretes accounts for around 10% of global anthropogenic CO2.

– Pearce, F., "The Concrete Jungle Overheats", New Scientist, 19 July, No 2097, 1997 (page 14).

Arguments that we should reduce cement production relative to other building materials are nonsense because concrete is the most sustainable building material there is. The challenge is to make it more sustainable.

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2


Embodied Energy of Building MaterialsEmbodied Energy of Building Materials

Downloaded from www.dbce.csiro.au/ind-serv/brochures/embodied/embodied.htm (last accessed 07 March 2000)

Concrete is relatively environmentally friendly and has a relatively low embodied energy


Average Embodied Energy in BuildingsAverage Embodied Energy in Buildings

Downloaded from www.dbce.csiro.au/ind-serv/brochures/embodied/embodied.htm (last accessed 07 March 2000)

Because so much concrete is used there is a huge opportunity for sustainability by reducing the embodied energy, reducing the carbon debt (net emissions), incorporating waste and improving properties that reduce lifetime energies.

Most of the embodied energy in the built environment is in concrete.


Cement Production ~= Carbon Dioxide EmissionsCement Production ~= Carbon Dioxide Emissions

0

500,000,000

1,000,000,000

1,500,000,000

2,000,000,000

2,500,000,000

Metric Tonnes

YearTec, Eco and Enviro-Cements TecEco can provide a viable much more sustainable alternative.

Source data: USGS Minerals Yearbook

Exponential growth


Tec & Eco-Cement TheoryTec & Eco-Cement Theory Portlandite (Ca(OH)2) is too soluble, mobile and

reactive.– It carbonates, reacts with Cl- and SO4

- and being soluble can act as an electrolyte.

TecEco generally (but not always) remove Portlandite using the pozzolanic reaction and

TecEco add reactive magnesia– which hydrates, consuming significant water and

concentrating alkalis forming Brucite which is another alkali, but much less soluble, mobile or reactive than Portlandite.

In Eco-Cements brucite carbonates forming hydrated compounds with greater volume


TecEco CementsTecEco Cements Tec-cements (Low MgO)

– contain more Portland cement than reactive magnesia. Reactive magnesia hydrates in the same rate order as Portland cement forming Brucite which uses up water reducing the voids:paste ratio, increasing density and possibly raising the short term pH.

– Reactions with pozzolans are more affective. After all the Portlandite has been consumed Brucite controls the long term pH which is lower and due to it’s low solubility, mobility and reactivity results in greater durability.

– Other benefits include improvements in density, strength and rheology, reduced permeability and shrinkage and the use of a wider range of aggregates many of which are potentially wastes without reaction problems.


TecEco CementsTecEco Cements Eco-cements (High MgO)

– contain more reactive magnesia than in tec-cements. Brucite in permeable materials carbonates forming stronger fibrous mineral carbonates and therefore presenting huge opportunities for waste utilisation and sequestration. The low pH and high hydrogen bonding make Eco-Cements ideal for binding other materials including most wastes.

Enviro-cements (High MgO)– contain similar ratios of MgO and OPC to eco-cements but in

non permeable concretes brucite does not carbonate readily.– Higher proportions of magnesia are most suited to toxic and

hazardous waste immobilisation and when durability is required. Strength is not developed quickly nor to the same extent.


Strength with Blend & PorosityStrength with Blend & Porosity

0

50

100

150

100-150

50-100

0-50

High OPC High Magnesia

High Porosity

STRENGTH ON ARBITARY SCALE 1-100

Tec-cement concretes

Eco-cement concretes

Enviro-cement concretes


Converting Waste to ResourceConverting Waste to Resource TecEco cements represent a cost

affective option for using localised low impact materials and wastes– Reducing transports costs and emissions

Magnesium hydroxide in particular and to some extent the carbonates are less reactive and mobile and thus result in much more durable concretes– Lower solubility– Lower reactivity– Bleed less– Lower pH

The incredible stick as a result of polar bonding also adds to their ability to bind wastes.

TecEco Technology - Converting Waste to Resource


Carbonation of Eco-CementsCarbonation of Eco-Cements Have high proportions of reactive magnesium oxide Carbonate like lime but generally used in a 1:5-1:12 paste

basis because much more carbonate “binder” is produced. Consider nesquehonite the main phase:

MgO + H2O <=> Mg(OH)2 + CO2 + 2H2O <=> MgCO3.3H2O40.31+ liquid <=> 58.31 + gas <=> 138.36 molar mass (at least!)11.2 + liquid <=> 24.29 + gas <=> 74.77 molar volumes (at least!)

668% expansion relative to MgO or 308 % expansion relative to Mg(OH)2 (ex water or gas volume reduction)

Total volumetric expansion from magnesium oxide to lansfordite is even more at 811%.MgO + H2O <=> Mg(OH)2 + CO2 + 4H2O <=> MgCO3.5H2O

Because magnesium has a low molecular weight, proportionally a much greater amount of CO2 is captured per mole of MgO than lime or any other carbonate.

Carbonation adds considerable strength and some steel reinforced structural concrete could be replaced with fibre reinforced permeable carbonated concrete.

As Fred Pearce reported in New Scientist Magazine (Pearce, F., 2002), “There is a way to make our city streets as green as the Amazon rainforest”.

Mostly CO2 and water


Carbonation is Proportional to Porosity an TimeCarbonation is Proportional to Porosity an Time

CarbonationRate

Macro Porosity

% Carbonation

Time


Eco-Cement Strength DevelopmentEco-Cement Strength Development

Eco-Cements gain early strength from the hydration of PC.

Later strength comes from the carbonation of brucite forming an amorphous phase, lansfordite and nesquehonite.

Strength gain in Eco-Cements is mainly microstructural because of– More ideal particle packing (Brucite particles at 4-5 micron are

under half the size of cement grains.)– The natural fibrous and acicular shape of magnesium carbonate

minerals which tend to lock together.– Both the carbonates and hydroxide of magnesium have strong

polar bonding.


Cements Net Emissions/Sequestration ComparedCements Net Emissions/Sequestration Compared

Net Emissions (Sequestration) per kg Cement

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00P

ortla

nd C

emen

t

Mag

nesi

a

Lim

e

Tec

-Cem

ent

Eco

-Cem

ent

Lim

e M

orta

r

Env

iro-C

emen

t

kg CO2-e/kgNet Emissions(Sequestration) per kgCement


CO2 Abatement in Eco-Cement BlocksCO2 Abatement in Eco-Cement Blocks

Eco-cements in permeable products absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Brucite carbonates forming lansfordite, nesquehonite and an amorphous phase, completing the thermodynamic cycle.

No Capture11.25% mass% reactive magnesia, 3.75 mass% Portland cement, 85 mass% aggregate.

Emissions.37 tonnes to the tonne. After carbonation. approximately .241 tonne to the tonne.

Portland Cements15 mass% Portland cement, 85 mass% aggregate

Emissions.32 tonnes to the tonne. After carbonation. Approximately .299 tonne to the tonne.

.299 > .241 >.140 >.113Bricks, blocks, pavers, mortars and pavement made using eco-cement, fly and bottom ash (with capture of CO2 during manufacture of reactive magnesia) have 2.65 times less emissions than if they were made with Portland cement.

Capture CO211.25% mass% reactive magnesia, 3.75 mass% Portland cement, 85 mass% aggregate.

Emissions.25 tonnes to the tonne. After carbonation. approximately .140 tonne to the tonne.

Capture CO2. Fly and Bottom Ash11.25% mass% reactive magnesia, 3.75 mass% Portland cement, 85 mass% aggregate.

Emissions.126 tonnes to the tonne. After carbonation. Approximately .113 tonne to the tonne.

For 85 wt% Aggregates

15 wt% Cement

Greater Sustainability


TecEco Technology in PracticeTecEco Technology in PracticeBy Taus Larsen, (Architect, Low Carbon Network Ltd.)The Low Carbon Network (www.lowcarbon.co.uk) was established to raise awareness of the links between buildings, the working and living patterns they create, and global warming and aims to initiate change through the application of innovative ideas and approaches to construction. England’s first Earthship is nearly completed in southern England outside Brighton at Stanmer Park and TecEco technologies have been used for the floors and some walling.

Earthships are exemplars of low-carbon design, construction and living and were invented and developed in the USA by Mike Reynolds over 20 years of practical building exploration. They are autonomous earth-sheltered buildings independent from mains electricity, water and waste systems and have little or no utility costs.

For information about the Earthship Brighton and other projects please go to the TecEco web site.

=> Earthship Brighton, UK


Earthship BrightonEarthship Brighton

The first building in the world made with Eco-Cement which sets by absorbing CO2 and wastes


Tec-Cement Slab Whittlesea, Vic. AustraliaTec-Cement Slab Whittlesea, Vic. Australia

On 17th March 2005 TecEco poured the first commercial slab in the world using tec-cement concrete with the assistance of one of the larger cement and pre-mix companies.

– The formulation strategy was to adjust a standard 20 MPa high fly ash (36%) mix from the company as a basis of comparison.

– Strength development, and in particular early strength development was good. Interestingly some 70 days later the slab is still gaining strength at the rate of about 5 MPa a month.

– Also noticeable was the fact that the concrete was not as "sticky" as it normally is with a fly ash mix and that it did not bleed quite as much.

– Shrinkage was low. 7 days - 133 micro strains, 14 days - 240 micro strains, 28 days - 316 micros strains and at 56 days - 470 microstrains.

Strength Development of Tec-Cement Concrete

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Days w ater cured

Str

en

gth

, M

Pa

CompressiveStrength

=> Tec-Cement Concrete Slabs


TecEco Technology in Practice - Whittlesea, Vic. Australia

TecEco Technology in Practice - Whittlesea, Vic. Australia

First Eco-cement mud bricks and mortars in Australia

– Tested up twice as strong as the PC controls

– Mud brick addition rate 2.5%

– Addition rate for mortars 1:8 not 1:3 because of molar ratio volume increase with MgO compared to lime.

=> Eco-Cement Mud Bricks


TecEco Technology in Practice – AMC Hire Tilt Up PanelsTecEco Technology in Practice – AMC Hire Tilt Up Panels

=> Tec-Cement Tilt Ups

Our Tec-Cement concrete tilt ups are free of plastic cracking, obvious bleed marking and other defects.


Tec & Eco Cement Foamed ConcretesTec & Eco Cement Foamed Concretes

BUILD LITE CELLULAR CONCRETE4 Rosebank Ave Clayton Sth MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 3169PH 61 3 9547 0255 FX 61 3 9547 0266

Foamed TecEco cement concretes can be produced to about 30% weight reduction in concrete trucks using cellflow (or equivalents) or to about 70% weight reduction using a foaming machine with mearlcrete (or equivalents).

=> Foamed Concretes


Tec & Eco Cement Foamed ConcreteTec & Eco Cement Foamed Concrete

=> Foamed Concretes Slabs


Foam infill in steel frames.

Tec & Eco Cement Foamed ConcretesTec & Eco Cement Foamed Concretes=> Foamed Concretes


TecEco Technology in PracticeTecEco Technology in Practice

Tec-Cement concretes exhibit little or no shrinkage. At 10% substitution of MgO for PC the shrinkage is less than half normal. At 18% substitution with no added pozzolan there was no measurable shrinkage or expansion.

The above photo shows a tec-cement concrete topping coat (with no flyash) 20mm thick away from the door and 80 mm thick near the door. Note that there has been no tendency to push the tiles or shrink away from the borders as would normally be the case.

=> Topping Coats



The Clifton Surf Life Saving Club was built by first pouring footings, On the footings block walls were erected and then at a later date concrete was laid in between.

As the ground underneath the footings was sandy, wet most of the time and full of salts it was a recipe for disaster.

Predictably the salty water rose up through the footings and then through the blocks and where the water evaporated there was strong efflorescence, pitting, loss of material and damage.

The TecEco solution was to make up a formulation of eco-cement mortar which we doctored with some special chemicals to prevent the rise of any more moisture and salt.

The solution worked well and appears to have stopped the problem.

=> Waterproofing Render



Mike Burdon, Builder and Plumber.

Mike works for a council interested in sutainability and has been involved with TecEco since around 2001 in a private capacity helping with large scale testing of TecEco tec-cements at our shack.

Mike is interested in the potentially superior strength development and sustainability aspects.

To date Mike has poured two slabs, footings, part of a launching ramp and some tilt up panels using formulations and materials supplied by John Harrison of TecEco. Mike believes that research into the new TecEco cements essential as he has found:

1. The rheological performance even without plasticizer was excellent. As testimony to this the contractors on the site commented on how easy the concrete was to place and finish.

2. The formulations are extremely easy to pump and place. Once in position they appeared to “gel up” quickly allowing stepping for a foundation to a brick wall.

3. Strength gain was more rapid than with Portland cement controls from the same premix plant and continued for longer.

4. The surfaces of the concrete appeared to be particularly hard and Mike attributes this to the fact that much less bleeding was observed than would be expected with a Portland cement only formulation

=> Our First Slab Ever!



TecEco Tec and Eco-Cement bricks, blocks and pavers are now being made commercially in Tasmania and with freight equalization may be viable to ship to the mainland for your “green” project. Otherwise we may be able to get a local manufacturer to make them for you.

=> Concrete Bricks, Blocks and Pavers


TecEco Eco-Cement PermecocreteTecEco Eco-Cement Permecocrete

Allow many mega litres of good fresh water to become contaminated by the pollutants on our streets and pollute coastal waterways

Capture and cleanse the water for our use?

Or

=> Permecocrete

TecEco have now perfected pervious pavements that can be made out of mono-graded recycled aggregates and other wastes and that sequester CO2.

Permecocrete

It does not get much greener!

TecEco Eco-Cement Permecocrete - Mimicking Nature

TecEco Eco-Cement Permecocrete - Mimicking Nature

Permecocrete is made with Eco-Cements that set by absorbing CO2 and can use recycled aggregates. It does not get any greener!

Freedom from water restrictions – forever!

Pure fresh water from your own block.

Filtration through Permecocrete and water feature in garden will keep water pure and fresh.

Cooler house and garden (cycle under slab for house cooling/heating option).

Lower infrastructure costs for local council.

Water storage e.g. under drive

Permecocrete pervious pavement

Water featurekeeps water

clean

Pump

All rainwater redirected to pavement filter


TecEco Permecocrete – Biomicking NatureTecEco Permecocrete – Biomicking Nature

Optional impervious layer, underground drainage and storage. Dual water supply or parks etc. only.

Optional groundwater recharge

The substrate must be properly designed

Moisture retention

Cleansing microbial activity and oxygenation

Cooling Evaporation

Pavements are not just for vehicles. They must do much more

CO2 CO2CO2 CO2 CO2

CO2

Sequestration


Holistic Roads for the FutureHolistic Roads for the Future

Foamed Eco-Cement concrete root redirectors and pavement protectors. Roots will grow away from the foamed concrete because of its general alkalinity. It will also give to some extent preventing surface pavement cracking.

Conventional bitumen or concrete footpath pavement

Impermeable layer (concrete or plastic liner) angling for main flow towards collection drains

Pervious Eco-Cement concrete pavement (Permecocrete) surface using recycled aggregates

Pervious gravel under for collection, cleansing and storage of water

Collection drains to transport drain or pipe in service conduit at intervals

Services to either side of the road. All in same trench of conduit

Possible leakage to street trees and underground aquifers

Its time for a road re think!

Service conduit down middle of road

In Australia we run many duplicate services down each side of a road. Given the high cost of installing infrastructure it would be smarter to adopt a system whereby services run down the middle of a road down what amount to giant box culverts.


So Far - Has Anything Really Changed?So Far - Has Anything Really Changed? Building materials and methods have not really changed

much in spite of all the pretense about sustainability.– So far mostly green wash.

Big improvements in our understanding of the importance of design but

No real paradigm shifts in technology with perhaps a few exceptions– Neon light globes– Solar panels etc.

To solve sustainability problems of the magnitude we have we must change the paradigm from the bottom up.– We have to do things very differently!!

TecEco’s answer is to convert waste and CO2 to resource by building with them.

There is enormous scope for change in the built environment


What is Stopping Us?What is Stopping Us? A lack of awareness The conservative nature of players in the industry Prescription standards, regulation etc. Lack of government leadership

– Politics– Legacy subsidies for non sustainable materials and practices

Failure by leaders in the market to buy sustainability– Economies of scale– Short term rather than long term

A disconnect between builders and users A chronic lack of skills in the industry to take up

new more sustainable technologiesWe are holding ourselves down!

We must change from the bottom up!


A Sustainable Built EnvironmentA Sustainable Built Environment

MAGNESIUM CARBONATE

ECO-CEMENTCONCRETES

SUSTAINABLE CITIES

CO2

PERMANENT SEQUESTRATION & WASTE UTILISATION (Man made carbonate rock incorporating wastes as a building material)

Pareto’s principle -80% of the build environment in non structural and could be carbonate from Greensols held together by Eco-Cements

CO2

MgOTECECO KILN

RECYCLED BUILDING MATERIALS

OTHERWASTES

“There is a way to make our city streets as green as the Amazon rainforest”. Fred Pearce, New Scientist Magazine

CO2 + H2O =>Hydrocarbons compounds using bacteria

GREENSOLS

CO2

Made with manufactured carbonate and waste!


A Post – Carbon AgeA Post – Carbon Age

Prehistoric Classic Renaissance Industrial Revolution Contemporary Post Carbon Age

Recyclable Recyclable

CO2

Wattle & daub Stone Mud brick Etc.

Stone

Stone Brick

Concrete Concrete Steel Aluminium

Eco-cements

As Fred Pearce reported in New Scientist Magazine (Pearce, F., 2002), “There is a way to make our city streets as green as the Amazon rainforest”.

downloadable from & 1 gaia engineering – an economic approach to solving planetary problems...

Documents

economic approach

planetary problems

greatest problems

director of tececo

john harrison