CO2 Utilisation for Accelerated Carbonation Curing towards Net-Zero Circular Concrete Industry (Flexible Funding 2022)

Professor Chenggong Sun, from the University of Birmingham, was awarded funding in the UKCCSRC’s Flexible Funding 2022 call to look at “CO2 Utilisation for Accelerated Carbonation Curing towards Net-Zero Circular Concrete Industry”.

Funded by the UKCCSRC through its flexible funding programme, researchers at the University of Birmingham have successfully developed and validated CO₂ carrier technology as a credible and potentially transformative alternative to compressed CO₂ systems for enhanced carbonation curing in low and zero-carbon concrete production.

The innovative technology overcomes major technical and operational limitations of compressed CO₂ systems by functioning through dispersed “CO₂ capsules” embedded during the concrete mixing phase. These carriers release CO₂ in situ and uniformly across the entire concrete bulk at a regulated rate determined by carrier material properties, maximizing carbonation efficiency while reducing costs and improving operability for cast-in-place applications.

Critical to success is the precise matching of CO₂ release rates with carbonation kinetics, which ensures efficient CO₂ utilization while maintaining concrete structural integrity. The CO₂ sequestration capacity scales directly with carrier material properties, enabling predictable performance optimization. Additionally, diverse substrate selection possibilities open pathways for advanced material development to further enhance the technology’s potential.

The research findings provide a solid foundation for continued development and eventual commercialization. As the construction industry intensifies its focus on decarbonization, CO₂ carrier technology represents a significant step forward in making sustainable concrete production more accessible, cost-effective, and operationally viable across diverse construction applications.

Read more on Chenggong’s Flexible Funding 2022 project page.