Improvement of Recycled Aggregates Properties by Means of CO2 Uptake

Abstract

Concrete from deconstruction can have a second life in the form of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs). They unfortunately have poor properties (high porosity and water absorption coefficient (WAC)) with respect to natural aggregates. Accelerated carbonation was implemented to improve the RCA properties and to increase their use by storing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the cement matrix and thereby reduce their environmental impact. This paper aims to perform a parametric study of a process for accelerated carbonation of RCAs to store the largest possible amount of CO2 and improve their properties. This study highlights the fact that each of these parameters affects CO2 storage, with an optimum water content for the maximum CO2 uptake depending on the nature and the source of the RCAs. This optimum is related to the RCA water absorption coefficient by a linear relationship. The results show that accelerated carbonation reduces the water absorption coefficient by as much as 67%. Finally, carbonation also decreases porosity, as observed by mercury intrusion porosimetry, by filling the capillary pores.