Partanna Global is a company dedicated to materials science and they have recently begun a new research and development partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The purpose of this partnership is to focus on increasing the rate at which CO2 can be removed by the concrete producing process that the company has created.

It has been planned that the R&D collaboration will last twelve months and within this time it will aim to integrate Partanna’s exclusive formula with KAUST’s Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. They plan to do this, in order to ensure that the ecological and structural advantages of Partanna’s product are maximised.

The benefits and advantages of Partanna’s process have been made clear, as it requires no Portland Cement, which is well-known as a material that is responsible for 9% of the world’s CO2 emissions. In place of this material, the project will use a binder that is manufactured from natural and recycled materials, such as brine, which are available throughout the Kingdom. The binder that is created, is cured at room temperature and it brings the added benefit of avoiding the need for the clinkering process or industrial heating. This works through initiating a chemical reaction, furthermore, Partanna’s binder involves compounds which react with and then proceed to absorb atmospheric CO2 molecules.

Currently there is research being conducted in support of the Saudi Vision 2030, as well as the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). The purpose of this research will be to further enhance the carbon removal capacity of Partanna’s concrete, whilst also deepening the understanding of the positive environmental impacts which will occur during and after this project. The benefits of having a better understanding, will mean that Partanna’s formula is able to expand and evolve further, meaning the project will ultimately be able to elevate its known positive carbon absorption effects.

The excellent partnership between Partanna and KAUST has occurred after the success seen on Partanna’s test-run at SRM. This is where the company displayed the integration of their innovative carbon-negative binder with existing concrete manufacturing processes. This combination showcased the technologies effectiveness and it also made a significant breakthrough when it comes to sustainable construction practices.

Partanna stated that its ‘Concrete 'breathes like a tree', pulling CO2 directly from the atmosphere over its lifecycle, while avoiding emissions during production.’

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at KAUST, Mohamed Eddaoudi, commented, “Concrete produced using this process can be considered carbon negative, and capable of generating carbon credits. We have been engaged with Partanna for quite some time and have been impressed by their innovation. We now hope to augment the environmental benefits we know Partanna’s formula delivers by integrating KAUST’s DAC technology alongside it. We are excited to accelerate the development of more efficient sustainable construction materials that capture CO2, showcasing a proactive approach to climate change mitigation.”