WHY THIS PROJECT
Start with a specific scientific bottleneck.
Frontier's published 2026 Innovation agenda seeks more effective surficial mineralization: low-pressure-drop contact systems, rock-pile design, reactive mineral preparation, and methods that improve reaction extent without unacceptable cost.
Research and engineering questions
- What minerals and particle-size distributions are genuinely reactive under atmospheric CO₂ concentrations?
- How do surface area, air distribution, moisture, temperature and residence time change the rate-limiting step?
- Where is the tradeoff between contacting area, reaction rate, pressure drop, fans, pumping, heat, water and CapEx?
- What physical carbon mass balance confirms atmospheric uptake rather than transient carbonate changes?
- Could measurements and verified data support a robust MRV approach without overclaiming removal?
Read the published funding priority ↗
INVENTOR-IN-THE-LOOP
Engineer the receiving system around the science.
The research cannot become a funded commercial opportunity until a scientific team, an appropriate feedstock or test environment, a credible testing plan, and a decision owner are authorized.
Participants to qualify, not claimed partners
- Scientific authority: mineral chemistry / geochemistry / reaction engineering inventor or principal investigator.
- Test environment: host controlling mineral feedstock, site access, utilities and safety conditions.
- Engineering: contacting geometry, fluid dynamics and mineral preparation.
- Market and independent validation: buyer qualification, TEA, LCA, MRV and third-party scientific review.
- Commercial development: Arns scopes partners, proof, rights and sponsor engagement; SpinOut U can support authorized university participation.
PROPOSED FIRST ENGAGEMENT
Six-week opportunity qualification.
WEEK 1Confirm feedstock, atmospheric-uptake mechanism and rights/authority.WEEK 2Identify principal investigator, site host, control case and measurement feasibility.WEEKS 3–4Preliminary process diagram, balances, kinetic hypotheses, contacting design and TEA/LCA.WEEK 5Obtain external scientific critique and buyer/program eligibility feedback.WEEK 6Deliver go/hold/stop dossier and, if justified, a research proposal outline. Commercial terms: a proposed $25K–$40K scoped opportunity-development engagement is an Arns pricing hypothesis, not an approved budget, published program award or research-cost estimate.
STOP RULES & NEXT CONVERSION
Funding follows evidence, not claims.
Stop or redesign if:
- Feedstock cannot be characterized or sourced with permission.
- Thermodynamics, reaction rates or process losses defeat a credible mass and energy balance.
- The system relies only on fossil point-source CO₂ and therefore cannot demonstrate net atmospheric removal for a carbon-removal buyer.
- Measurement, baseline, leakage, durability or lifecycle effects prevent credible net-removal quantification.
- There is no credible site host, scientific authority or realistic implementation economics.
Possible, not promised commercial conversions
- Paid qualification engagement approved by an industrial or institutional sponsor.
- Eligible joint scientific R&D application to Frontier's Innovation track, subject to scope and selection.
- Follow-on IP, validation studies, licensing, spinout or commercial CDR contracting, each separately negotiated.
