Novel typology of accelerated carbonation curing: using dry and pre-soaked biochar to tune carbon capture and mechanical properties of cementitious mortar

Abstract

One of the challenges of promoting accelerated carbonation curing (ACC) of concrete as a carbon sequestration strategy is ensuring that carbonation will not deteriorate mechanical strength. This study examined the mechanical strength, water sorptivity and carbonation efficiency of ten types of mortar containing dry or pre-soaked biochar subjected to internal and/or external carbonation. The results obtained enabled a typology of ACC to be proposed, in which the carbon dioxide absorption of mortar containing various types of CO2-dosed biochar ranged between 0.022% and 0.068% per unit dosage hour. In particular, the mortar containing dry biochar dosed with carbon dioxide was the top candidate for concurrently increasing both compressive strength (54.9 MPa) and carbon dioxide absorption (0.055% per unit dosage hour). Mortar containing pre-soaked biochar dosed with carbon dioxide was identified as a strategy that achieved the highest carbonation efficiency (0.068% per unit dosage hour), but it also reduced compressive strength (45.1 MPa). Collectively, the proposed typology offers a useful overview of the different ways by which biochar can be used to tune ACC in mortar, according to any technical constraints and/or intended functions of the carbonated concrete components.Graphical