Eliminating Carbon Emissions at the Source
Carbon Lock is a patent-pending enzyme-catalyzed mineralization technology that permanently converts industrial flue gas CO₂ into valuable solid carbonates, on-site, without pipelines or storage wells.
The Carbon Emissions Challenge
Global CO₂ emissions continue to rise as power demand surges, driven by AI data centers, industrial growth, and reconsidered coal plant retirements. Existing carbon capture approaches face critical barriers.
Power Demand Is Rising
AI, data centers, and industry are rapidly increasing global electricity demand.
Fossil Assets Remain Critical
36B+ tonnes — Global CO₂ emissions annually from fossil fuels.
Carbon Cannot Wait
Point-source emissions need practical solutions.
Why Our Solution Is Superior
(because existing solutions fall short)
Capture ≠ Solution
Most technologies only concentrate on CO₂.
Very Large Capex & Opex
Building and operating CO₂ pipeline infrastructure.
2–5+ years
Typical Class VI well permitting timeline in the U.S.
Carbon Lock, A New Approach
Patent-Pending Enzyme-Catalyzed Carbon Mineralization
Carbon Lock uses proprietary high-performance enzymes derived from extremophilic microbes to capture CO₂ directly from industrial flue gas and permanently mineralize it into solid calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), all on-site.
Flue Gas Utilized
Captures CO₂ directly from point-source industrial emissions
Coal Ash Utilized
Converts industrial waste into a key process input
Pure Carbonate Output
Produces cement-ready calcium carbonate material
Pipelines Required
Eliminates the need for CO₂ transportation infrastructure
How Carb EnZero Works
A streamlined four-step process that transforms industrial CO₂ emissions into valuable solid carbonates, all on-site.
Capture
Industrial flue gas containing CO₂ enters the Carbon Lock unit directly at the emission source.
Enzyme Reaction
Proprietary enzymes from extremophilic microbes catalyze the conversion of CO₂ into carbonate ions at accelerated rates.
Mineralization
Carbonate ions react with calcium from coal ash to form solid calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), permanently locking the carbon.
Output
Clean air is released. Solid carbonates are collected as a cement-ready material for the construction industry.
Why Carbon Lock
Carbon Lock offers a fundamentally different approach compared to traditional Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC).
Targets Point-Source Flue Gas
Reduces Coal Ash / Industrial Waste
No CO₂ Purification, Compression, or Transport
No Class VI Storage Wells Needed
Enzyme-Catalyzed Mineralization
On-Site Permanent Mineral Storage
Revenue from Saleable Solid Output
Revenue from Carbon Credit Markets
Market Opportunity
Carbon Lock addresses a massive global market of fossil-fueled power plants, while its byproduct taps into the rapidly growing strengthened concrete market.
U.S. Power Plants
~200 coal-fired and ~800 natural gas-fired plants
European Plants
Fossil-fueled power plants across Europe
Asian Plants
Fossil-fueled power plants across Asia
Economic Byproducts
Every ton of coal burned creates coal ash. Carbon Lock transforms this liability into opportunity, producing calcium carbonate that strengthens concrete.
$508B
Projected concrete market by 2034
Up from $126B in 2024
+20%
Concrete strength increase
With calcium carbonate integration
100M
Tons of coal ash produced annually in the U.S.
With 3 billion tons stored in legacy ponds
Our Roadmap
2025 - Foundation
- Patent-pending technology development
- 7 years of extremophilic bioprocessing research
- South Dakota School of Mines academic foundation
2026 - Beta Launch
- Design and fabrication of mobile pilot demo units
- Field demonstrations with potential partners
- Raising capital for pilot deployment
2027 - Commercial Launch
- Full commercial launch of Carbon Lock systems
- Engineering firm partnerships established
- Commercial-scale unit deployment
2028+ - Scale
- Full-scale enzyme production facility in Rapid City, SD
- International market expansion
- Continuous technology optimization
Leadership
Deep scientific expertise combined with decades of business leadership, built from the ground up at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.
Dr. Tanvi Govil
Founder & CTO
- Ph.D Chemical & Biological Engineering
- 7 Years Extremophilic Bioprocessing Research
- Assistant Professor, South Dakota Mines
Merle Symes
Co-Founder & CEO
- 50 Years Business Experience
- MBA, Wharton School of Business
- BS Chemical Engineering, South Dakota Mines
- Published Author, The Innovation Edge
Governor's Giant Vision Competition
The Carbon EnZero founding team has been recognized by the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), winning First Prize in the Open Category of the Governor's Giant Vision Competition for this technology. During the competition, judges described the platform as a "game-changing innovation" with the potential to convert fossil fuel emissions into green energy solutions.
Get in Touch
Interested in partnering, investing, or learning more about Carbon Lock? We're actively seeking partners and investors for our 2026 pilot phase. Reach out directly.
Carb Enzero is based in Rapid City, South Dakota, home to the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.