An Emirati innovation that turns carbon and desalination waste into sustainable building materials

A joint research team from Zayed University and the United Arab Emirates University has succeeded in developing an innovative technology that holds a US patent, allowing the transformation of three of the most prominent environmental and industrial wastes in the region into sustainable, low-carbon building materials, by taking advantage of brine solutions resulting from water desalination, carbon dioxide, and accumulated sulfur from oil refining and natural gas processing operations.

Innovation is an advanced model for circular economy applications, as it combines the treatment of industrial waste, carbon sequestration, and the production of highly efficient construction materials, which supports the UAE’s goals of sustainability, climate neutrality, and reducing the carbon footprint of the industrial and construction sectors.

The achievement was the result of a research partnership between Dr. Maysa Al-Jamal, from Zayed University, Dr. Ali Al-Marzouqi, Dr. Amira Mohammed, and Dr. Nouran Hussein Musa from the United Arab Emirates University, after years of laboratory studies, applied experiments, and specialized research in which researchers and students participated, which resulted in the development of an integrated technology that transforms industrial waste into value-added economic resources and provides practical solutions to growing environmental challenges.

Dr. Maysa Al-Jamal, from Zayed University, told Emirates Al-Youm that the project was launched from one of the most prominent environmental challenges facing the region, which is the continuous increase in the quantities of brine solutions resulting from water desalination operations, explaining that the research team sought to repurpose these wastes in accordance with the principles of the circular economy, and transform them into raw materials used in the manufacture of sustainable, low-carbon building materials.

She added that years of studies and research have proven the possibility of transforming brine solutions from a costly environmental burden into a promising industrial resource, in line with the UAE’s trends towards sustainability and enhancing the efficiency of use of natural resources.

For his part, Professor Dr. Ali Al Marzouqi, from the United Arab Emirates University, confirmed that the essence of the innovation depends on the “water carbonization” technology, which allows us to benefit from carbon dioxide by introducing it into chemical reactions with alkaline materials and salts extracted from industrial waste, which leads to the formation of stable carbonate minerals that permanently retain carbon within a solid structure.

He explained that the technology turns carbon itself into a productive element with economic value, which can be used in the manufacture of building materials and various construction applications.

In turn, Dr. Amira Muhammad said that the project succeeded in expanding the scope of benefiting from industrial waste, to include sulfur resulting from oil refining and natural gas processing operations, which is one of the materials available in large quantities in the region, noting that the research team was able to integrate it into the manufacture of advanced sulfur concrete that has advanced engineering and environmental properties. She added that this integration between brine solutions, carbon dioxide and sulfur contributed to building an integrated industrial system, which invests several types of waste within one production chain, And transforming them into sustainable construction products with high economic value.

Dr. Nouran Hussein Musa explained that the preliminary results showed that the produced sulfur concrete has a high resistance to corrosion, salinity, and harsh environmental conditions, making it a promising option for use in coastal facilities, sewage networks, industrial infrastructure, waste containment systems, and other applications that require construction materials capable of withstanding aggressive environments.

The researchers explained to Emirates Today that the project is of special strategic importance to the UAE due to its reliance on raw materials available locally in large quantities, stressing that the technology’s obtaining an American patent represents international recognition of the originality of the innovation and its scientific and applied value, and opens the way for expanding the scope of its use in the future in industrial and commercial applications.