Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions

Concrete is a key building material around the world due to its excellent strength and durability. Recycling demolished concrete for new construction materials may play a significant role in sustainable development. Producing recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) from waste concrete is one approach for...

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Main Authors: Hossein Sousanabadi Farahani, Amin Hosseini Zadeh, Jiong Hu, Chris Hawkins, Seunghee Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Cleaner Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277239762500005X
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author Hossein Sousanabadi Farahani
Amin Hosseini Zadeh
Jiong Hu
Chris Hawkins
Seunghee Kim
author_facet Hossein Sousanabadi Farahani
Amin Hosseini Zadeh
Jiong Hu
Chris Hawkins
Seunghee Kim
author_sort Hossein Sousanabadi Farahani
collection DOAJ
description Concrete is a key building material around the world due to its excellent strength and durability. Recycling demolished concrete for new construction materials may play a significant role in sustainable development. Producing recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) from waste concrete is one approach for such an initiative. However, using RCA may pose challenges, such as reduced density, lower elastic modulus and strength, and increased water absorption. Recently, the carbonation of RCA has emerged as a method to address those concerns. This study explores the carbon sequestration capacity of RCA through carbonation, examining various parametric conditions, including initial CO2 pressure, relative humidity, temperature, and pre-treatment approach. Both lab-scale and large-scale carbonation tests were conducted. Additionally, a cost analysis and CO2 footprint assessment were performed. The findings showed that applying higher initial CO2 pressures (e.g., 40–60 psi) and optimal relative humidity (∼55 %) could significantly enhance the carbonation efficiency of RCA. Elevating temperature also led to accelerated CO2 consumption, being more effective on the lab scale. The economic analysis presented potential cost benefits when substituting natural aggregates with CO2-treated RCA. All in all, these results suggest that the carbonation of RCA may provide significant environmental benefits through carbon sequestration, promoting sustainable construction practices.
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issn 2772-3976
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-0a9064c9719142b78fb8863d8aab7e722025-08-20T02:06:22ZengElsevierCleaner Materials2772-39762025-03-011510029610.1016/j.clema.2025.100296Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditionsHossein Sousanabadi Farahani0Amin Hosseini Zadeh1Jiong Hu2Chris Hawkins3Seunghee Kim4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE USAHawkins Construction Company Omaha NE USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE USA; Corresponding author.Concrete is a key building material around the world due to its excellent strength and durability. Recycling demolished concrete for new construction materials may play a significant role in sustainable development. Producing recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) from waste concrete is one approach for such an initiative. However, using RCA may pose challenges, such as reduced density, lower elastic modulus and strength, and increased water absorption. Recently, the carbonation of RCA has emerged as a method to address those concerns. This study explores the carbon sequestration capacity of RCA through carbonation, examining various parametric conditions, including initial CO2 pressure, relative humidity, temperature, and pre-treatment approach. Both lab-scale and large-scale carbonation tests were conducted. Additionally, a cost analysis and CO2 footprint assessment were performed. The findings showed that applying higher initial CO2 pressures (e.g., 40–60 psi) and optimal relative humidity (∼55 %) could significantly enhance the carbonation efficiency of RCA. Elevating temperature also led to accelerated CO2 consumption, being more effective on the lab scale. The economic analysis presented potential cost benefits when substituting natural aggregates with CO2-treated RCA. All in all, these results suggest that the carbonation of RCA may provide significant environmental benefits through carbon sequestration, promoting sustainable construction practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277239762500005XCO2 utilizationRecycled concrete aggregatesCarbonationCarbon sequestrationSustainable construction materialsReuse of waste materials
spellingShingle Hossein Sousanabadi Farahani
Amin Hosseini Zadeh
Jiong Hu
Chris Hawkins
Seunghee Kim
Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
Cleaner Materials
CO2 utilization
Recycled concrete aggregates
Carbonation
Carbon sequestration
Sustainable construction materials
Reuse of waste materials
title Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
title_full Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
title_fullStr Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
title_full_unstemmed Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
title_short Carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA): CO2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
title_sort carbonation reaction of recycled concrete aggregates rca co2 mass consumption under various treatment conditions
topic CO2 utilization
Recycled concrete aggregates
Carbonation
Carbon sequestration
Sustainable construction materials
Reuse of waste materials
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277239762500005X
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AT aminhosseinizadeh carbonationreactionofrecycledconcreteaggregatesrcaco2massconsumptionundervarioustreatmentconditions
AT jionghu carbonationreactionofrecycledconcreteaggregatesrcaco2massconsumptionundervarioustreatmentconditions
AT chrishawkins carbonationreactionofrecycledconcreteaggregatesrcaco2massconsumptionundervarioustreatmentconditions
AT seungheekim carbonationreactionofrecycledconcreteaggregatesrcaco2massconsumptionundervarioustreatmentconditions