Concrete with Less CO2

[Bob Wallace]

Researchers from the MIT claim to have found the way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most polluting processes- that of making cement. The team did not introduce any new ingredients. Instead, they only tweaked the ratio between calcium and silica-rich clay.

After conducting a series of experiments, however, the team established that the optimal calcium-to-silica clay ratio should in fact be 1.5. Not only that the final product has incredible mechanical resistance , which is double the one achieved with a ratio of 1,7, and it is much less prone to fracturing, but also the team estimated a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing process of up to 60%.

http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2014/09/29/mit-researchers-cook-eco-friendly-cement/#.VCmCBPldXfI

Higher mechanical resistance would mean that less product could be used, resulting in a further reduction in CO2 per project.  And less CO2 from transportation.

[ccgwebmaster]

Researchers from the MIT claim to have found the way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most polluting processes- that of making cement. The team did not introduce any new ingredients. Instead, they only tweaked the ratio between calcium and silica-rich clay.

After conducting a series of experiments, however, the team established that the optimal calcium-to-silica clay ratio should in fact be 1.5. Not only that the final product has incredible mechanical resistance , which is double the one achieved with a ratio of 1,7, and it is much less prone to fracturing, but also the team estimated a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing process of up to 60%.

http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2014/09/29/mit-researchers-cook-eco-friendly-cement/#.VCmCBPldXfI

Higher mechanical resistance would mean that less product could be used, resulting in a further reduction in CO2 per project.  And less CO2 from transportation.

Well, that doesn't seem so impressive against the claim to overall absorb CO2 per this cement:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/dec/31/cement-carbon-emissions

Not sure it's in widespread use yet though...

[Bob Wallace]

CO2 negative is better than a 60% reduction.  But if the CO2 negative solution doesn't pan out we see the potential for a 60% reduction in the source of 5% of our annual CO2 emissions.  That would take concrete down to 2% and move us much closer to hitting the 40% to 70% reduction window.

One more nut possibly cracked....

[AbruptSLR]

Here is a link to an article about how titanium dioxide will be added to concrete used in pavements and buildings at the Buffalo, N.Y., plaza of the Peace Bridge in an attempt to reduce air pollution.  But where concrete is absorbing smog, or emitting less CO2, we should all realize that at a minimum it will take decades before any such technology has much market penetration (unless mandated by authorities).

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo/bridge-authoritys-plans-to-reduce-air-pollution-include-fume-absorbing-concrete-20140926

[Bob Wallace]

"we should all realize that at a minimum it will take decades before any such technology has much market penetration"

Not in the case of the reformulating approach.  That's a change of ingredients which (apparently) will allow less product to be used.  Cuts costs.  Cost reductions are adapted rapidly.

[Bob Wallace]

" titanium dioxide will be added to concrete "

BTW, good stuff.  Keep it coming.  Solutions are a good thing.