zero-CO2 cemeNt ThRough cArBonation of cAlcium Silicates and aluminateS (Contrabass)
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Abstract
CONTRABASS: zero-CO2 cemeNt ThRough cArBonation of cAlcium Silicates and aluminateS.
We live in a world of concrete. According to the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) cement is consumed at a rate of
~150 tonnes each second, and it accounts for approximately 8% of all CO2 emissions and 7% of industry energy use. In order to
mitigate the negative environmental impacts of concrete, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is the best available strategy: the
GCCA estimates that CCU technologies will represent up to 42% of the CO2 reductions necessary to reach the net zero industrial
objective in 2050. The CONTRABASS MSCA-DN will act in this framework, in the pathway towards the zero-CO2 cement and concrete
production, building a high-quality doctorate network (DN) to investigate the fundamental physico-chemical processes governing
the Carbonation of the clinker phases and the cement paste, as well as the subsequent formation of Calcium Carbonate Cements
(CCCs).
The carbonation ability of clinker and cement is well known, yet for a full implementation of CCCs by 2050, there is an urgent need of
fundamental knowledge on the carbonation process. In this scenario, the CONTRABASS DN aims to contribute to the global reduction
of CO2 emissions by accelerating the implementation of Calcium Carbonate Cements, developing fundamental knowledge, practical
know-how, and a generation of well-trained specialists to overcome the main challenges identified by our industrial and academic
partners. CONTRABASS has 5 main objectives:
1. To identify the carbonation mechanisms of the clinker components, specially calcium aluminates
2. To understand the carbonation processes of the C-S-H gel and the cement paste
3. To unravel the factors that govern CaCO3 polymorphism, nucleation and growth rates
4. To build databases for thermodynamic and reactive-transport modelling of carbonation
5. To communicate effectively the benefits of CCCs to society, media and policy maker.s
We live in a world of concrete. According to the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) cement is consumed at a rate of
~150 tonnes each second, and it accounts for approximately 8% of all CO2 emissions and 7% of industry energy use. In order to
mitigate the negative environmental impacts of concrete, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is the best available strategy: the
GCCA estimates that CCU technologies will represent up to 42% of the CO2 reductions necessary to reach the net zero industrial
objective in 2050. The CONTRABASS MSCA-DN will act in this framework, in the pathway towards the zero-CO2 cement and concrete
production, building a high-quality doctorate network (DN) to investigate the fundamental physico-chemical processes governing
the Carbonation of the clinker phases and the cement paste, as well as the subsequent formation of Calcium Carbonate Cements
(CCCs).
The carbonation ability of clinker and cement is well known, yet for a full implementation of CCCs by 2050, there is an urgent need of
fundamental knowledge on the carbonation process. In this scenario, the CONTRABASS DN aims to contribute to the global reduction
of CO2 emissions by accelerating the implementation of Calcium Carbonate Cements, developing fundamental knowledge, practical
know-how, and a generation of well-trained specialists to overcome the main challenges identified by our industrial and academic
partners. CONTRABASS has 5 main objectives:
1. To identify the carbonation mechanisms of the clinker components, specially calcium aluminates
2. To understand the carbonation processes of the C-S-H gel and the cement paste
3. To unravel the factors that govern CaCO3 polymorphism, nucleation and growth rates
4. To build databases for thermodynamic and reactive-transport modelling of carbonation
5. To communicate effectively the benefits of CCCs to society, media and policy maker.s
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Hong Wong (Principal Investigator) |