CO2 CAPTURE FOR MINERALIZED MISCANTHUS AGGREGATES

At a time when the cement industry is largely responsible for the production of CO2 in the construction sector, it is useful to make this production a reverse phenomenon: that’s CO2 capture. The CO2 absorption process called carbonation, improves specific properties of the concrete during the conversion of carbon dioxide CO2 into calcium carbonate CaCO3. Current environmental concerns motivate the study of carbonation in order to maximize the absorption of carbon dioxide.
Experimentation has been performed on bio-based and recycled concrete aggregates. The long term stability as well as the reinforcement of bio-based aggregates – miscanthus - may be obtained by means of a mineralization process of the natural product: a preparation with a lime and/or cement-based material is necessary to reinforce the cohesion of the bio-based product. Specific conditions for CO2 capture have been tested and concrete blocks have been produced with aggregates. Performances of aggregates and concrete blocks before and after carbonation are presented and show increasing performances in specific situations of CO2 capture.