A comprehensive review on carbon utilization pathways in concrete from conventional to improved strategies
2025
Diego Aceituno | Xihong Zhang | Hong Hao
The concrete industry is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, primarily due to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production. This review explores Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies aimed at reducing the sector’s environmental impact, focusing on the carbonation of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), waste cement powders (WCP), and alternative non-hydraulic cements. It discusses recent advances in carbonation techniques, the integration of CCU with sustainable binders, and the challenges of industrial scalability. The distinct chemical and mineralogical characteristics of OPC-based materials and industrial byproducts significantly influence both their structural applicability and carbonation potential. While carbonated RCA and WCP offer limited CO2 mitigation, greater reductions may be achieved by combining CCU with supplementary cementitious materials and low-carbon clinkers. Further research is needed to optimize carbonation processes, validate structural performance, and evaluate life cycle impacts in synergy with other decarbonisation strategies.
Show more [+] Less [-]Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Directory of Open Access Journals