Encapsulation of Liquefied Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) into Concrete

Abstract

The cement and concrete industries are major contributors to global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, highlighting  the urgent need for sustainable construction practices. This study investigates the encapsulation of liquefied CO₂ in  concrete as a potential solution to reduce carbon emissions while enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete.  Laboratory experiments were conducted using concrete samples with varying liquefied CO₂ dosages of 0.00%, 0.05%,  0.10%, and 0.15% by weight of cement. Compressive strength tests revealed that injecting 0.15% liquefied CO₂ yielded  the highest strength, reaching 37.11 MPa at 14 days, surpassing the strength of the control samples. Tensile strength  tests also indicated an improvement, with the highest recorded value of 3.834 MPa at the exact dosage of liquefied CO₂.  However, water absorption tests showed minimal variations across samples, suggesting that liquefied CO₂ injection  has a negligible impact on concrete permeability. Despite these improvements, challenges such as the non-uniform  distribution of liquefied CO₂ and carbonation effects on surface layers were observed. The research highlights the  potential of CO₂ sequestration in concrete as an environmentally friendly method to enhance the performance of concrete. Future studies should focus on refining injection techniques, evaluating long-term durability, and scaling up applications for industrial use. By optimizing the encapsulation of liquefied CO₂ in concrete, this approach contributes to sustainable construction while addressing the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.