GCCRN Projects – Recycling / Recarbonation 

CO2 emission can be decreased by recycling cementitious materials or by capturing CO2 in carbonated concrete, which is also known as a natural process. 

Core and Partner Projects

Core Projects 

  1. LCCA/LCA for the comparison of different methods of recycling concrete 
  2. Production and usage of carbonated or uncarbonated RC Fines

Partner Projects 

  1. Carbonation curing of cementitious systems (C3S): New binders and concrete recycling 
  2. Enhancing the properties of fine recycled aggregate concrete (FRAC) 
  3. Mechanical properties of concrete with recycled concrete fines 
  4. Mechanism on Enhancement of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA) and Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) by Accelerated Carbonation 
  5. Recycling (Mixed) Concrete Streams for Optimal Reuse

Scientific Contributors

Core Projects Partners: 

  1. Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) 
  2. ETH Zurich 
  3. Hong Kong Polytechnic University 
  4. Hunan University 
  5. ITT Madras 
  6. Tongji University 
  7. University of Cape Town 
  8. University of Sao Paulo

Partner Projects: 

  1. Aarhus University 
  2. Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) 
  3. Hong Kong Polytechnic University 
  4. Tongji University 
  5. University of Cape Town

Article References

2025

[1] M. Zanovello, V.M. John, C.E. White, S.C. Angulo, Engineered Blended Thermoactivated Recycled Cement: A Study on Reactivity, Water Demand, Strength-Porosity, and CO2 Emissions, ACS Sustain Chem Eng 13 (2025) 800–814. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06567.

2024 

[2] M. Zajac, J. Song, P. Ullrich, J. Skocek, M. Ben Haha, J. Skibsted, High early pozzolanic reactivity of alumina-silica gel: A study of the hydration of composite cements with carbonated recycled concrete paste, Cem. Concr. Res. 175 (2024) 107345. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEMCONRES.2023.107345. 

[3] X. Liu, V. Asghari, C.-M. Lam, S.-C. Hsu, D. Xuan, S.C. Angulo, V.M. John, A.S. Basavaraj, R. Gettu, J. Xiao, C.-S. Poon, Discrepancies in life cycle assessment applied to concrete waste recycling: A structured review, J. Clean. Prod. 434 (2024) 140155. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2023.140155. 

[4] Y. Mao, S. Drissi, X. Hu, J. Zhang, C. Shi, Effect of wet carbonated recycled cement paste powder on the rheology of cement paste, Cem. Concr. Res. 181 (2024) 107553. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEMCONRES.2024.107553.

[5] X. Liu, Z. Ye, J.X. Lu, S. Xu, S.C. Hsu, C.S. Poon, Comparative LCA-MCDA of high-strength eco-pervious concrete by using recycled waste glass materials, J Clean Prod 479 (2024) 144048. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2024.144048.

2023 

[6] I.E. Teune, K. Schollbach, M.V.A. Florea, H.J.H. Brouwers, Carbonation of hydrated cement: The impact of carbonation conditions on CO2 sequestration, phase formation, and reactivity, J. Build. Eng. 79 (2023) 107785. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2023.107785. 

[7] M. Zajac, J. Song, J. Skocek, M. Ben Haha, J. Skibsted, Composite cements with aqueous and semi-dry carbonated recycled concrete pastes, Constr. Build. Mater. 407 (2023) 133362. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CONBUILDMAT.2023.133362. 

[8] Y. Mao, P. He, S. Drissi, J. Zhang, X. Hu, C. Shi, Effect of conditions on wet carbonation products of recycled cement paste powder, Cem. Concr. Compos. 144 (2023) 105307. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEMCONCOMP.2023.105307. 

[9] S. Quevedo Parra, M.C. Romano, Decarbonization of cement production by electrification, J. Clean. Prod 425 (2023) 138913. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2023.138913.

[10] M. Zanovello, R. Baldusco, V.M. John, S.C. Angulo, Strength-porosity correlation and environmental analysis of recycled Portland cement, Resour Conserv Recycl 190 (2023) 106763. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2022.106763.

2022 

[11] I.G. Amadi, H. Beushausen, M.G. Alexander, Multi-Technique Approach to Enhance the Properties of Fine Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Front. Mater. 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2022.893852. 

[12] A.A. Lima Pacheco, T.R. Santos Nobre, M. Hark Maciel, C.V. Santilli, A.C. Vieira Coelho, S. Cirelli Angulo, Rehydration of katoite as a layered double hydroxide: an in situ study, RILEM Technical Letters 6 (2021) 8–16. https://doi.org/10.21809/rilemtechlett.2021.130.