(Carbon Upcycling Technologies: Calgary, AB) -- Carbon Upcycling Technologies (Carbon Upcycling), a leader in decarbonization and carbon capture and use (CCU) for hard-to-abate industries, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA), has successfully completed a three-year study on the use of low-carbon cement in highways. The results highlight Carbon Upcycling’s ability as a drop-in solution for reducing carbon-intensive cement in concrete.

The study, managed by Sutter Engineering LLC and sponsored by the NRRA, rigorously tested 16 unique concrete mixtures in real-world conditions on an active Minnesota highway to identify options that could reduce the carbon footprint of infrastructure without sacrificing strength or durability. Completed in early 2024, the study determined that Carbon Upcycling’s CO₂-enhanced mix achieved a 12.5% reduction in cement content while matching the workability of traditional concrete. This provided seamless handling, placement, and setting times for construction crews.

These findings provide valuable data to guide future low-carbon infrastructure projects across North America, because the seamless integration into existing workflows offers a drop-in, low-carbon alternative without compromising ease of use or performance.

Image credit: Carbon Upcycling, Minnesota DOT, and National Road Research Alliance (CNW Group/Carbon Upcycling Technologies Inc.)

The study revealed significant performance and environmental benefits of Carbon Upcycling’s concrete mix:
• Increased strength: 28% stronger at 28 days and 32% stronger at 56 days compared to the advanced control concrete.
• Reduced cement use: The CCU process allowed a 12.5% reduction in cementitious material, effectively reducing both carbon emissions and material costs.

“Infrastructure is the very foundation of a sustainable future, and at Carbon Upcycling we’re committed to creating materials that support this vision while establishing a secure, stable North American supply chain,” says Apoorv Sinha, CEO of Carbon Upcycling. “Our collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation highlights how Carbon Upcycling can transform captured emissions into local materials that strengthen our infrastructure. By focusing on resilience and sustainability, we’re contributing to a vision where our essential structures are clean and built to last.”

Carbon Upcycling partnered with BURNCO to deploy and test 140 m³ of its CCU-enhanced concrete mix, monitored by Larry Sutter, principal engineer at Sutter Engineering LLC, for strength, workability, and environmental impact on a Minnesota highway.

“Carbon Upcycling submitted a very impressive mixture design to the trial,” says Sutter, Minnesota DOT’s principal engineer and the project’s technical manager. “Their material not only achieved the highest reduction in cementitious content among all submissions but also demonstrated remarkable strength. By embedding CO₂ and reducing the reliance on portland cement, Carbon Upcycling’s technology addresses one of the concrete industry’s most pressing challenges—lowering its carbon footprint as global demand for cement is expected to double by 2050. This project data will be invaluable as the industry works toward its 2030 CO₂ reduction targets.”

Since 2021, Carbon Upcycling has deployed more than 3,000 tonnes of low-carbon cement and has attracted investment from some of the world’s largest cement industry players such as Cemex, CRH, and Titan Cement.