Research examines ability of concrete to capture carbon dioxide

By measuring the ratio of certain carbon isotopes in concrete that had been exposed to the air and concrete that had not, the team from the University of Tokyo and Nagoya University could verify that direct air carbon capture had occurred. The tam’s findings are detailed in the Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology. 

Despite international agreements, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels have continued to increase. According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, reducing and preventing further emissions should be complimented with the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“As much as 800kg of CO₂ is emitted per ton of cement during its production, so reducing emissions has become a significant issue in the concrete industry,” said Professor Ippei Maruyama from the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering. “Concrete has long been known to react with CO₂ in the air to form calcium carbonate, an undesirable phenomenon because it induces corrosion of the steel bars inside concrete structures. However, the concrete industry is now considering ways to make effective use of this reaction.”