A Novel Process of CO₂ Reduction and CO₂ Sequestration Through an Innovative Accelerated Carbonation Technique

Abstract

The effect of an innovative accelerated carbonation curing technique was evaluated on concrete containing natural zeolite powder and fine aggregate as partial replacement to alleviate the CO₂ emission up to a certain extent from the concrete production industry and improve sequestration of CO₂ into the concrete matrix in a stable form. An accelerated carbonation curing was accomplished by subjecting the concrete specimens to 0.5 and 0.75 M concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) solutions up to a curing age of 180 days after the initial 28 days of normal water curing. Tests for carbonation depth, pH value, compressive strength, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) content, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed to measure the extent of carbonation. The obtained results showed an increment in average compressive strength for the zeolite concrete (ZLC) mixes exposed to accelerated carbonation curing. The ZLC mixes exposed to increasing NaHCO₃ solution concentration and exposure period exhibited greater carbonation depth and decreased pH at each depth interval indicating higher CO₂ sequestration within the concrete matrix. The results obtained from the microstructural analysis (XRD, TGA, and FTIR) and CaCO₃ content measurements confirm that the higher amount of CaCO₃ formation provides a clear indication of the carbonation enhancement and CO₂ sequestration within the concrete matrix and in turn contributing to the global warming reduction.

Keywords

CO₂ sequestration / accelerated carbonation / natural zeolite / calcium carbonate

References

[1] Kumar S, Srivastava R, Koh J. Utilization Of Zeolites as CO₂ Capturing Agents: Advances and Future Perspectives[J]. J. CO2 Util., 2020, 41: 101 251.

[2] Jang JG, Kim GM, Kim HJ, et al. Review on Recent Advances in CO₂ Utilization and Sequestration Technologies in Cement-based Materials[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2016, 127: 762-773.

[3] Jo BW, Chakraborty S, Jo JH, et al. Effectiveness of Carbonated Lime as a Raw Material in Producing a CO₂-Stored Cementitious Material by the Hydrothermal Method[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2015, 95: 556-565.

[4] Faisal Alshalif A, Irwan JM, Othman N, et al. A Systematic Review on Bio-Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide in Bio-Concrete Systems: A Future Direction[J]. Eur. J. Environ. Civ., 2020, 8: 1-20.

[5] Liu B, Qin J, Shi J, et al. New Perspectives on Utilization of CO₂ Sequestration Technologies in Cement-Based Materials[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2021, 272: 121 660.

[6] Oa S, Kim BJ, Park JW. Effects of Carbonation on Carbon Dioxide Capture and the Mechanical Properties of Concrete with Amine Sorbents[J]. Adv. Cem. Res., 2020, 32: 502-509.

[7] Najimi M, Pourkhorshidi AR. Properties of Concrete Containing Copper Slag Waste[J]. Mag. Concr. Res., 2011, 63: 605-615.

[8] Valipour M, Pargar F, Shekarchi M, et al. Comparing a Natural Pozzolan, Zeolite, to Metakaolin and Silica Fume in Terms of their Effect on the Durability Characteristics of Concrete: A Laboratory Study[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2013, 41: 879-888.

[9] Ghafoori N, Najimi M. Structural-Grade Concrete Containing FBC and PCC Residues. Part II: Partial-Cement Concrete[J]. Mag. Concr. Res., 66: 387–396

[10] Najimi M, Sobhani J, Ahmadi B, et al. An Experimental Study on Durability Properties of Concrete Containing Zeolite as a Highly Reactive Natural Pozzolan[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2012, 35: 1023-1033.

[11] Ramezanianpour AA, Mousavi R, Kalhori M, et al. Micro and Macro Level Properties of Natural Zeolite Contained Concretes[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2015, 101: 347-358.

[12] Naiqian F, Changchen M, Xihuang J. Natural Zeolite for Preventing Expansion due to Alkali-Aggregate Reaction[J]. ASTM Cem. Concr. Aggr., 1992, 14(2): 93-96.

[13] Janotka I, Stevula L. Effect of Bentonite and Zeolite on the Durability of the Cement Suspension under Sulphate Attack[J]. ACI Mater. J., 1998, 95(6): 710-715.

[14] Feng N, Hao T. Mechanism of Natural Zeolite Powder in Preventing Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete[J]. Adv. Cem. Res., 1998, 18: 101-108.

[15] Quanlin N, Naiqian F. Effect of Modified Zeolite on the Expansion of Alkaline Silica Reaction[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2005, 35: 1784-1788.

[16] Ahmadi B, Shekarchi M. Use of Natural Zeolite as a Supplementary Cementitious Material[J]. Cem. Concr. Compos., 2010, 32: 134-141.

[17] Ghourchian S, Wyrzykowski M, Lura P, et al. An Investigation on the Use of Zeolite Aggregates for Internal Curing of Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2013, 40: 135-144.

[18] Zhang J, Wang Q, Zhang J. Shrinkage of Internal Cured High Strength Engineered Cementitious Composite with Pre-Wetted Sand-Like Zeolite[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2017, 134: 664-672. 2017

[19] Barnat-Hunek D, Siddique R, Klimek B, et al. The Use of Zeolite, Lightweight Aggregate and Boiler Slag in Restoration Renders[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2017, 142: 162-174.

[20] Vejmelková E, Koňáková D, Kulovaná T, et al. Engineering Properties of Concrete Containing Natural Zeolite as Supplementary Cementitious Material: Strength, Toughness, Durability, and Hygrothermal Performance[J]. Cem. Concr. Compos., 2015, 55: 259-267.

[21] Sufian Badar M, Kupwade-Patil K, Bernal SA, et al. Corrosion of Steel Bars Induced by Accelerated Carbonation in Low and High Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer Concretes[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2014, 61: 79-89.

[22] Ramesh BA, Kondraivendhan B. Effect of Accelerated Carbonation on the Performance of Concrete Containing Natural Zeolite[J]. J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 2020, 32: 04 020 037.

[23] Ramesh BA, Kondraivendhan B. An Alternative Technique for Accelerated Carbonation of Normal Concrete[J]. IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2020, 829: 012 019.

[24] Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Ordinary Portland Cement, 53-Grade Specfication[S]. IS 12269: 2013, 2013

[25] ASTM Int. Standard Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete[S]. ASTM C 618, 2014

[26] Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Indian Standard Coarse and Fine Aggregate for Concrete- Specification[S]. IS: 383-2016, India, 2016

[27] Stefanoni M, Angst U, Elsener B. Corrosion Rate of Carbon Steel in Carbonated Concrete-A Critical Review[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2018, 103: 35-48.

[28] Bakharev T, Sanjayan JG, Cheng YB. Resistance of Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete to Carbonation[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2001, 31: 1277-1283.

[29] Haselbach LM, Thomle JN. An Alternative Mechanism for Accelerated Carbon Sequestration in Concrete[J]. Sustain. Cities. Soc., 2014, 12: 25-30.

[30] Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Method of Tests for Strength of Concrete[J]. IS 516: 2014, India, 2014

[31] Kaliyavaradhan SK, Ling TC, Mo KH. CO₂ Sequestration of Fresh Concrete Slurry Waste: Optimization of CO₂ Uptake and Feasible Use as a Potential Cement Binder[J]. J. CO2 Util., 2020, 42: 101 330.

[32] Ji YS, Wu M, Ding B, et al. The Experimental Investigation of Width of Semi-Carbonation Zone in Carbonated Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2014, 65: 67-75.

[33] Shaheen F, Pradhan B. Role of Chloride Ion and Cation Type Accompanied by Sulfate Ion on Durability Performance of Concrete in Conjoint Chloride-Sulfate Environment[J]. J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 2020, 32: 04 020 264.

[34] Li N, Farzadnia N, Shi C. Microstructural Changes in Alkali-Activated Slag Mortars Induced by Accelerated Carbonation[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2017, 100: 214-226.

[35] Ho LS, Nakarai K, Ogawa Y, et al. Effect of Internal Water Content on Carbonation Progress in Cement-Treated Sand and Effect of Carbonation on Compressive Strength[J]. Cem. Concr. Compos., 2018, 85: 9-21.

[36] Mo L, Panesar DK. Effects of Accelerated Carbonation on the Microstructure of Portland Cement Pastes Containing Reactive MgO[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2012, 42: 769-777.

[37] Abdel-Gawwad HA, Hassan HS, Vásquez-García SR, et al. Towards a Clean Environment: The Potential Application of Eco-Friendly Magnesia-Silicate Cement in CO₂ Sequestration[J]. J. Clean. Prod., 2020, 252: 119 875.

[38] Jain S, Pradhan B. Effect of Cement Type on Hydration, Microstructure and Thermo-Gravimetric Behaviour of Chloride Admixed Self-Compacting Concrete[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2019, 212: 304-316.

[39] Sharma D, Goyal S. Accelerated Carbonation Curing of Cement Mortars Containing Cement Kiln Dust: An Effective Way of CO₂ Sequestration and Carbon Footprint Reduction[J]. J. Clean. Prod., 2018, 192: 844-854.

[40] Black L, Breen C, Yarwood J, et al. Structural Features of C-S-H(I) and Its Carbonation in Air-A Raman Spectroscopic Study. Part II: Carbonated Phases[J]. J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2007, 90: 908-917.

[41] Bura A R, Kondraivendhan B. An Accelerated Carbonation and Its Effect on Concrete Containing Natural Zeolite[J]. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut., 2022, 7: 194.

[42] Dung NT, Unluer C. Performance of Reactive Mgo Concrete Under Increased CO₂ Dissolution[J]. Cem. Concr. Res., 2019, 118: 92-101.

[43] Das JK, Pradhan B. Effect of Cation Type of Chloride Salts on Corrosion Behaviour of Steel in Concrete Powder Electrolyte Solution in the Presence of Corrosion Inhibitors[J]. Constr. Build. Mater., 2019, 208: 175-191.