Long term performance of concrete using accelerated carbonation curing: an effective CCUS technique

The induction of accelerated carbonation curing (ACC) as carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) technique helps in achieving the net zero target. ACC is one of the potential techniques to sequester the CO2 in concrete. However, the usage of ACC in reinforced concrete is still debatable. This paper investigates the effect of ACC on mechanical, permeation, mineralogy, hydration and microstructural characteristics of concrete with the long-term performance of reinforced concrete using linear polarization resistance (LPR) and carbonation depth. In order to study the effect of ACC duration on the properties of concrete, the specimen was subjected to 6, 12, and 24 hours (h) of carbonation curing. The results were compared with conventional water-curing specimens. ACC at 12 h provided the best results for tested properties. The results were varied by statistical analysis using ANOVA and stoichiometry. Based on the best 12-h duration, 2.13 kg of CO2 can be sequestered in 1 m3 (0.89 kg/t) of concrete.