CARBONATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CONCRETE

Author(s): J-M. Potier
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: CO2STO2019 - International Workshop CO2 Storage in Concrete
Editor(s): Assia Djerbi, Othman Omikrine-Metalssi, Teddy Fen-Chong
ISBN:
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-232-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2019
Pages: 39-45
Total Pages: 07
Language : English

Abstract: Carbonation of concrete is a chemical reaction, a natural process by which CO2 in the ambient
air penetrates the concrete and reacts with hydration products in the concrete. The simplified
chemical equation can be written as: Ca(OH)2 + CO2 = CaCO3 + H2O

For concrete carbonation means that part of the carbon dioxide emitted during cement
production is rebound to the concrete during use and end of life stages of a structure, in
addition, some precast concrete elements may also carbonate during production stage (e.g.
induced carbonation, long term storage before delivery).
Carbonation shall be considered during the use and the end-of-life stages of the product and
may be considered during production stage when calculating the environmental impact of the
concrete element according to EN 15804 (Environmental Product Declaration – EPD).
The quantity of CO2 bound varies considerably according to the type of concrete, the
environmental conditions in use and the end-of-life scenario.
It is why TC 104 (Concrete) and TC 229 (Precast concrete products) through the European
standard EN 16757: “Product Category rules for concrete and concrete elements” published
in June 2017 provides a possible way to assess carbon dioxide uptake through carbonation in
the different life cycle stages depending on the above mentioned parameters.
This standard is completed by a more detailed Technical Report, the CEN/TR 17310:
Carbonation and CO2-uptake in concrete, published in 2019.

Online publication : 2019
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00