Bio-cementation & MICP materials

Bio-cementation and microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) replace the energy-intensive firing of Portland cement with biological or mineral binding at ambient temperature. Conventional cement is responsible for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions, and bio-cementation targets that footprint directly: micro-organisms precipitate calcium carbonate to bind loose aggregate into solid stone in days at room temperature, with no kiln. Biomason grows bacteria-fed biocement tiles industrially — its Mimmik tile, launched with Front in 2026, cuts emissions by at least 60% versus traditional cement; Prometheus Materials supplies ProZERO, an algae-derived carbon-negative cement selected for the New York Climate Exchange campus; Basilisk sells self-healing concrete in which bacteria seal micro-cracks autonomously; and Carbon8 turns captured CO2 into its CircaBuild aggregate for cement-free carbon-negative concrete blocks. Together these routes convert one of the world’s largest emitters into a stored-carbon product class.

The key directions of bio-cementation and MICP are:

1. Microbial carbonate precipitation biocement (MICP Biocement): ureolytic and alkaliphilic bacteria (Bacillus species) precipitate calcium carbonate to bind sand and aggregate into solid stone at room temperature, avoiding the kiln — Biomason.
2. Algae-derived carbon-negative cement (Carbon-Negative Cement): microalgal calcium carbonate and algal biomass used as a cement replacement that is net carbon-absorbing across its life cycle — Prometheus Materials (ProZERO).
3. CO2-mineralisation aggregates (CO2 Aggregate): accelerated carbonation turns a captured CO2 stream into stable carbonate aggregate for concrete blocks, displacing both Portland cement and natural aggregate — Carbon8 (CircaBuild).
4. Self-healing concrete via MICP (Self-Healing Concrete): bacteria embedded in the mix precipitate calcite to autonomously seal micro-cracks, extending service life and cutting lifetime cement demand — Basilisk.

Sectoral value chain#

[sand / aggregate / CO2 / biomass] ──> [biocementation / carbonation reactor]
                                              │
                                     (ambient-temp binding)
                                              │
                                              ▼
[carbon-negative concrete] <─── [tile / block / mortar / aggregate] <─────┘

Value chain levels#

Cross-cutting technologies of the sector:

• Ambient-temperature MICP binding (MICP Biocement): Biomason’s process grows biocement in a mould at room temperature, feeding bacteria calcium and water until loose sand cements into stone in roughly three days with no kiln.
• Self-healing calcite precipitation (Self-Healing Concrete): Basilisk embeds alkaliphilic Bacillus strains that precipitate calcite when cracks and moisture appear, repairing damage without external intervention.
• Accelerated CO2 carbonation (CO2 Aggregate): Carbon8’s CircaBuild route mineralises a captured CO2 stream into carbonate aggregate, enabling cement-free carbon-negative concrete blocks.

The stack couples biological or mineral carbonate binding at ambient temperature with robust carbon accounting against the Portland-cement baseline, producing a revenue-positive carbon-removal material.

1. Microbial carbonate precipitation (MICP Biocement):
   • Biomason grows biocement in a mould at room temperature: bacteria are fed calcium and water and bind loose sand into solid stone in roughly three days, with no kiln, avoiding the roughly 2,500-degree firing that makes conventional cement so carbon-intensive.
   • The Mimmik tile, launched with Front in 2026 and the first bacteria-grown tile believed to be industrially produced, cuts emissions by at least 60% versus traditional cement, addressing a material responsible for about 8% of global CO2.
2. Algae-derived carbon-negative cement (Carbon-Negative Cement):
   • Prometheus Materials’ ProZERO uses microalgal calcium carbonate and algal biomass as a net carbon-absorbing cement replacement, scaled through a 10-year partnership with Green Stream Algae.
   • ProZERO was selected for the New York Climate Exchange’s Climate Campus via a collaboration with SOM, Skanska USA and the D’Annunzio Group, chosen from more than 100 climate and resilience solutions.
3. CO2-mineralisation aggregates (CO2 Aggregate):
   • Carbon8’s CircaBuild aggregate mineralises a captured CO2 stream into stable carbonate, which CCP Ltd (SigmaRoc UK) uses in Greenbloc trials to produce cement-free carbon-negative concrete blocks.
   • Basilisk’s companion self-healing route embeds alkaliphilic Bacillus albus in the mix so calcite precipitates to seal micro-cracks autonomously, extending structural durability and lowering lifetime cement demand.