Carbon Dioxide into Our Homes and Houses: CO₂ Fixation and Utilization in Construction Materials

As a research project of the Saudi Aramco – KAIST CO₂ Management Center, Professor H.K. Lee’s research team has been undertaking the development of CO₂ utilization and reduction technology in the production of cement-based construction materials on a commercial scale. This ongoing project was extended from a previous one (2014-2017) which demonstrated that concrete, an ordinary building material, can be an effective medium for CO₂ storage via carbonation reaction. Moving on from the previous project, which provided the theoretical ground for carbonation curing technology for the production of concrete, this project is expected to translate relevant scientific and engineering knowledge into commercial and industrial practice.

The proposed technology utilizes carbonation reaction in which cement clinkers and hydration products interact with CO₂ in the atmosphere to form calcium carbonate. This reaction in concrete occurs consistently, functions as a stable sink for CO₂, and enhances the strength of concrete. Professor H.K. Lee and his team are expecting to commercialize this technology for the production of bricks/blocks, precast concrete, and ready-mix concrete within the next three years.

* Source: J.G. Jang, H.K. Lee, Microstructural densification and CO₂ uptake promoted by the carbonation curing of belite-rich Portland cement, Cem. Concr. Res. 82 (2016) 50-57.2 emission sources and to suggest the best CO₂ management strategy for it by taking a systematic approach.