Kelpcrete - San Diego
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Hey everyone,
My focus is in sustainable development and climate change mitigation. If you have any interest in kelp infused concrete please drop me a line.
Giant kelp is one of the fastest growing organisms on the planet. If we Incorporate it into future construction projects, it serves as one of our best options as a global community for carbon pulldown and sequestration.
@ian_mcfarland - Hi! I'm also a SD person
Love the idea of using kelp in construction, would love to be a part of this.
@charli_seyler -
Nice to meet you Charli! We should definitely get in touch
@ian_mcfarland -What a neat idea. Does this impact the performance of the concrete at all?
@joyanne_lizotte -
It’s looking very promising https://doi.org/10.1063/1.500546
@charli_seyler -
Nice to meet you Charli! We should definitely get in touch
@joyanne_lizotte -
It’s looking very promising https://doi.org/10.1063/1.500546
@ian_mcfarland -What a cool idea. Hemp concrete was supposed to be everywhere by now. Now that the CBD market established the hemp fiber itself is a waste product.
@joe_githler - I wonder if it needs as much processing as the seaweed to make durable concrete. Good potential for carbon pull down with those crops I’d think
@ian_mcfarland - @sam_gar Has done some research into using purple urchins in concrete, this sounds related and perhaps of interest!
@lindsay_olsen - @sam_gar
Very interesting! I’ll check that out
@ian_mcfarland - We were looking into the possibility of incorporating purple urchin shells into concrete either as a substitute for lime or as a sort of tabby-style decorative option. We never got anyone to take up the torch on that project, but there are plenty of shells that need a home up in Fort Bragg, if you're interested in getting your hands on some!
@lindsay_olsen - @sam_gar
Amazing! After we finish our prototype brick, I would love to explore this possibility. Thanks for sharing
@lindsay_olsen - @sam_gar
Very interesting! I’ll check that out
@joe_githler - I wonder if it needs as much processing as the seaweed to make durable concrete. Good potential for carbon pull down with those crops I’d think
@ian_mcfarland -Is this a concept that has already been tested? What other components go into the concrete (i.e. how environmentally friendly is the rest of the process)? Thanks!
@hailey_lampe -Material scientists at University of Melbourne figured out how to make kelp bricks without cement which is ideal if striving for sustainability. The research I've found usually includes kelp as an aggregate in concrete mixes, which isn't perfect but it's still a great means of capturing carbon removed from the ocean and air.
@ian_mcfarland Are you hoping to set up more research on this front? What is your time table? Do you know much kelp you are looking for from growers?
@hailey_lampe - We’re still in early research stages of what this could become. Hopefully by the end of Summer we are able to make a brick durable enough for use in construction. I’ll get a website or some social media up and running in the near future for updates.
@hailey_lampe -Material scientists at University of Melbourne figured out how to make kelp bricks without cement which is ideal if striving for sustainability. The research I've found usually includes kelp as an aggregate in concrete mixes, which isn't perfect but it's still a great means of capturing carbon removed from the ocean and air.
@ian_mcfarland - We were looking into the possibility of incorporating purple urchin shells into concrete either as a substitute for lime or as a sort of tabby-style decorative option. We never got anyone to take up the torch on that project, but there are plenty of shells that need a home up in Fort Bragg, if you're interested in getting your hands on some!
@lindsay_olsen - @sam_gar
Amazing! After we finish our prototype brick, I would love to explore this possibility. Thanks for sharing
@ian_mcfarland Are you hoping to set up more research on this front? What is your time table? Do you know much kelp you are looking for from growers?
@ian_mcfarland -We are interested in being on a mailing list or something if you are putting one together. We are kelp farmers in Alaska but giant kelp is starting to appear (wild) in places it never was before. It's fascinating to watch, and we'd love to learn more about what your project develops into. adelia.myrick1@gmail.com
Adelia
@adelia_myrick - hey Adelia! Sounds like the giant kelp is migrating to colder waters. We’ve been experiencing the opposite due to warming ocean temps and out of control sea urchin populations. Nothing at the moment as far as a newsletter but I’ll be sure to keep you posted!
@hailey_lampe - We’re still in early research stages of what this could become. Hopefully by the end of Summer we are able to make a brick durable enough for use in construction. I’ll get a website or some social media up and running in the near future for updates.
@adelia_myrick - hey Adelia! Sounds like the giant kelp is migrating to colder waters. We’ve been experiencing the opposite due to warming ocean temps and out of control sea urchin populations. Nothing at the moment as far as a newsletter but I’ll be sure to keep you posted!
@ian_mcfarland -Sounds very interesting Ian! I'm definitely keen to learn more
@ian_mcfarland - Hi Ian, this is indeed very interesting! I just returned from a trip to the Yucatan peninsula where blooms of Sargassum seaweed are becoming a major environmental and economic problem as it washes up and inundates beaches and bays. Local communities are trying to turn this problem into solutions by finding uses for the Sargassum, and mixing with concrete and making construction bricks is one of those uses! Here's a link to a recent news article about it, in which they call the new concrete mix "Sargacreto" ‘Sargacreto’, the new construction material made of sargassum – The Yucatan Times
Also here's a few pictures of Sargassum being cleaned off beaches in Akumal, Mexico. Unbelievable how much biomass washes up on the shores each day!
@michael_doall -
These guys have the potential to sequester a lot of carbon.
Looks like that 40% seaweed to cement ratio works for their crete as well.
Thanks for sharing Michael!
@michael_doall -
These guys have the potential to sequester a lot of carbon.
Looks like that 40% seaweed to cement ratio works for their crete as well.
Thanks for sharing Michael!