Project description
Scaling carbon-negative magnesium oxide binders for net-zero construction
Cement manufacture is responsible for 8 % of global CO2 emissions. The use of reactive magnesium oxide binders coupled with carbon capture, utilisation and storage technology provides an excellent carbon-neutral solution. However, such binders require fundamental and practical validation. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Carbon-X project aims to address this by fine-tuning the carbonation kinetics, monitoring phase evolution and ensuring long-term durability in field conditions. This will all be coupled with pilot plant demonstrations using CO2 from industrial sources. Carbon-X will create open datasets, prediction models and suitable curing procedures, paving the way towards negative-emission construction materials.
Objective
Annual global cement production is ~4.5 billion tonnes and contributes about 8% of global CO2 emissions, making it one of the most pressing challenges for climate neutrality. Among decarbonisation pathways, Carbon Capture and Utilisation/Storage (CCUS) are widely recognised as having the greatest potential to bridge the ‘emissions gap’ toward net zero goals. Integrating CCUS into construction materials is impactful, enabling carbon sequestration at scale while creating durable infrastructure. Among candidate materials, reactive magnesium oxide (MgO) binder (RMB) stands out as a promising solution. Produced at lower calcination temperatures (700–1000 ºC versus 1450 ºC for conventional cement), it absorbs more CO2 than it emits, making it a TRUE carbon-negative binder. But its adoption has been limited by critical gaps: incomplete carbonation leaving unreacted MgO, formation of metastable phases prone to transformation, and poor understanding of long-term durability and scale-up performance under real environmental and industrial conditions.
Carbon-X has the ambition to bridge a significant portion of the ‘emissions gap’ (X) preventing the construction sector from reaching net zero targets. The project addresses the mentioned barriers through four work packages: (1) optimising carbonation kinetics to achieve rapid and complete reactions, (2) controlling phase evolution toward stable carbonates, (3) testing long-term durability under environmental stresses, and (4) integrating data into predictive models and pilot-scale proof-of-concept demonstrations using industrially relevant CO2 streams.
The project will deliver open datasets, predictive models, and practical curing protocols for industry. Wider benefits include advancing EU Green Deal and net zero targets by enabling scalable carbon-negative construction materials, reducing billions in potential CO2 emissions, and positioning EU as a global leader in sustainable construction innovation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- engineering and technology environmental engineering carbon capture engineering
- engineering and technology civil engineering architecture engineering sustainable architecture sustainable building
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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LS2 9JT Leeds
United Kingdom
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