Oregon Patent of the Year – 2024/2025

Terra CO2 Technology Holdings Inc. has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for their innovative approach to sustainable cement production. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 11161786, titled ‘Alkali sulfate-activated blended cement’, introduces a method for creating high-performance cementitious materials from abundant, non-industrial feedstocks.

This novel process involves producing microspheroidal glassy particles with a mean roundness greater than 0.7 and a Sauter mean diameter between 1 and 20 micrometers. These particles are synthesized through an in-flight melting and quenching technology, where solid particles are suspended, melted, and rapidly cooled to form glassy structures. The resulting material is then combined with Portland cement, metakaolin, and an alkali sulfate activator to create a blended cement.

One of the key advantages of this method is its ability to produce high-quality cementitious materials without relying on industrial by-products like fly ash, which are becoming increasingly scarce. The use of abundant raw materials reduces dependence on limited resources and enhances the sustainability of concrete production.

Terra CO2’s innovative approach offers a promising solution to the environmental challenges associated with traditional cement manufacturing, paving the way for more sustainable construction practices.