Carbon dioxide fixation via accelerated carbonation of cement-based materials: Potential for construction materials applications

Abstract

This study evaluated the CO2 absorption capacity of various inorganic materials commonly used as construction materials. This study compared and examined changes in the physicochemical properties of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag, research cement (RC), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), and circulating fluidized-bed combustion (CFBC) ash in carbonation reactions. The carbon capture capacity was determined for all four materials. CFBC possessed the highest CO2 uptake (wt%), followed in descending order by RC, AOD slag, and GGBFS. However, the paste that 50% AOD slag mixed with 50% RC (AOD50RC50) featured the greatest improvement (92.95%) in strength development properties after carbonation curing. Compressive strength increased in RC100, GGBFS50RC50, and CFBC50RC50 by 6.05%, 3.29% and 15.92%, respectively. These results arose from differences in carbonation reaction mechanisms and products between the various materials. γ-C2S, the major component of AOD slag, produced CaCO3 and silica gel via carbonation; silica gel increased the compressive strength.