Pollution-Reducing Cement

A Concrete Step Toward Cleaner Air (Businessweek.com, 11/8/2006) reports on the use of concrete formulated with photocatalytic agents in the construction of walls and slabs at the Italian Pavilion of the Venice Biennale. In the presence of light, Italcementi Group's TX Active proprietary cement used in the concrete mix breaks down carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, benzene, and other pollutants into less harmful compounds such as water, nitrates, and carbon dioxide. The basic ingredient in TX Active, a blend of titanium dioxide, can be added to cement, mortar, paints, and plaster. Full-scale tests of the product in repaving projects in other locales have resulted in up to 60% reduction in measured pollutants.

The Vatican's Jubilee Church in Rome, 2003, (image above) was the first project to use TX-Active cement concrete.

Smog-Eating Concrete May Soon Cover US Buildings (ENR March 5, 2007) reports on the anticipated arrival TX-Active cement products in the United States via Italcementi Group's US subsidiary Essroc Cement Corp, though no specific projects are named. According to ENR, the titanium dioxide cement mix was first formulated to produce concrete with a brilliant white color, and it's pollution reducing properties were only appreciated later.

Superabsorber (transmaterial, March 8, 2007) describes the Superabsorber system designed by Douglas Hecker and Martha Skinner of fieldoffice that combines sound absorbing and photocatalytic air pollution reducing properties in sponge-like highway sound barrier walls. 

See also: Anti-Pollution Paint