X-ray Microtomography of the Carbonation Front Shape Evolution of Cement Mortar and Modeling of Accelerated Carbonation Reaction

In situ monitoring of the microstructure evolution of cement mortar in accelerated carbonation reaction for different carbonation ages was carried out by X-ray computed tomography （XCT）. And the carbonation degrees of different time were measured by the volume fraction of uncarbonated and carbonated parts. Meanwhile, we presented a model for the carbonation of cement mortar by means of X-ray computed tomography （XCT）. Based on the principles of chemical engineering processes, the reacted products become a solid inert ash layer. Finally, the model was validated with results of accelerated carbonation of cement mortar. The model is thus able to reasonably predict the carbonation ohenomena for accelerated conditions.

High-efficiency Carbonation Modification Methods of Recycled Coarse Aggregates

To solve the problem of only surface carbonation and realize high-efficiency carbonation of recycled coarse aggregate,the method of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate with nano materials pre-soaking was first put forward.The carbonation effect of modified recycled coarse aggregate with three different carbonation methods was evaluated,and water absorption,apparent density and crush index of modified recycled coarse aggregate were measured.Combined with XRD,SEM,and MIP microscopic analysis,the high-efficiency carbonation strengthening mechanism of modified recycled coarse aggregate was revealed.The experimental results show that,compared with the non-carbonated recycled coarse aggregate,the physical and microscopic properties of carbonated recycled coarse aggregate are improved.The method of carbonation with nano-SiO_(2) pre-soaking can realize the high-efficiency carbonation of recycled coarse aggregate,for modified recycled coarse aggregate with the method,water absorption is reduced by 23.03%,porosity is reduced by 44.06%,and the average pore diameter is 21.82 nm.The high-efficiency carbonation strengthening mechanism show that the pre-socked nano-SiO_(2) is bound to the hydration product Ca(OH)_(2) of the old mortar with nano-scale C-S-H,which can improve the CO_(2) absorption rate,accelerate the carbonation reaction,generate more stable CaCO_(3) and nano-scale silica gel,and bond to the dense three-dimensional network structure to realize the bidirectional enhancement of nano-materials and pressurized carbonation.It is concluded that the method of carbonation with nano-SiO_(2) pre-soaking is a novel high-efficiency carbonation modification of recycled coarse aggregate.

Carbonation of Pure Minerals in Portland Cement:Evolution in Products as a Function of Water-to-solid Ratio

Minerals in Portland cement including tricalcium silicate(C_(3)S),β-dicalcium silicate(β-C_(2)S),tricalcium aluminate(C_(3)A),and tetracalcium ferroaluminate(C_(4)AF),show a significantly different activity and product evolution for CO_(2)curing at various water-to-solid ratios.These pure minerals were synthesized and subject to CO_(2)curing in this study to make an in-depth understanding for the carbonation properties of cement-based materials.Results showed that the optimum water-to-solid ratios of C_(3)S,β-C_(2)S,C_(3)A and C_(4)AF were 0.25,0.15,0.30 and 0.40 for carbonation,corresponding to 2 h carbonation degree of 38.5%,38.5%,24.2%,and 21.9%,respectively.The produced calcite duringβ-C_(2)S carbonation decreased as the water-to-solid ratio increased,with an increase in content of metastable CaCO_(3)of vaterite and aragonite.The thermodynamic stability of CaCO_(3)produced during carbonation was C_(3)A>C_(4)AF>β-C_(2)S>C_(3)S.The carbonation degree of Portland cement was predicted based on the results of pure minerals and the composition of cement,and the error of predicted production of CaCO_(3)was only 1.1%,which provides a potential method to predict carbonation properties of systems with a complex mineral composition.

Carbonation of Dicalcium Silicate Enhanced by Ammonia Bicarbonate and Its Mechanism

The strength development law of γ-type dicalcium silicate (γ-C_(2)S) under different carbonation processes was investigated,and the carbonation mechanism of γ-C_(2)S under the action of NH_(4)HCO_(3) was clarified by using a wide range of test methods,including XRD and SEM.A method of saturated NH_(4)HCO_(3) solution as a curing agent was identified to improve the carbonation efficiency and enhance the carbonation degree of γ-C_(2)S,and then a high-strength carbonated specimen was obtained.Microhardness analysis and SEM morphology analysis were conducted on the carbonised specimens obtained under atmospheric pressure carbonisation conditions using the curing agent.It was found that γ-C_(2)S could perform carbonisation well under atmospheric pressure,which promoted the carbonisation efficiency and decreased the carbonisation cost simultaneously.Therefore,a new carbonisation process solution was proposed for the rapid carbonisation of γ-C_(2)S.

Repair of Second-Generation Recycled Fine Aggregate of Waste Concrete from Freeze-Thaw Environment by Carbonation Treatment

The reuse of waste recycled concrete from harsh environments has become a research hotspot in the field of construction.This study investigated the repair effect of carbonation treatment on second-generation recycled fine aggregate(SRFA)obtained from recycled fine aggregate concrete(RFAC)subjected to freeze-thaw(FT)cycles.Before and after carbonation,the properties of SRFA were evaluated.Carbonated second-generation recycled fine aggregate(CSRFA)at five substitution rates(0%,25%,50%,75%,100%)to replace SRFA was used to prepare carbonated second-generation recycled fine aggregate concrete(CSRFAC).The water absorption,porosity and mechanical properties of CSRFAC were tested,and its frost-resisting durability was evaluated.The results showed after carbonation treatment,the physical properties of SRFA was improved and met the requirements of II aggregate.The micro-hardness of the interfacial transition zone and attached mortar in CSRFA was 50.5%and 31.2%higher than that in SRFA,respectively.With the increase of CSRFA replacement rate,the water absorption and porosity of CSRFAC gradually decreased,and the mechanical properties and frost resistance of CSRFAC were gradually improved.Carbonation treatment effectively repairs the damage of SRFA caused by FT cycles and improves its application potential.

Efficient stabilization of dredged sludge with high water content using an improved bio-carbonation of reactive magnesia cement method

This study proposed an improved bio-carbonation of reactive magnesia cement(RMC)method for dredged sludge stabilization using the urea pre-hydrolysis strategy.Based on unconfined compression strength(UCS),pickling-drainage,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests,the effects of prehydrolysis duration(T),urease activity(UA)and curing age(CA)on the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of bio-carbonized samples were systematically investigated and analyzed.The results demonstrated that the proposed method could significantly enhance urea hydrolysis and RMC bio-carbonation to achieve efficient stabilization of dredged sludge with 80%high water content.A significant strength increment of up to about 1063.36 kPa was obtained for the bio-carbonized samples after just 7 d of curing,which was 2.64 times higher than that of the 28-day cured ordinary Portland cement-reinforced samples.Both elevated T and UA could notably increase urea utilization ratio and carbonate ion yield,but the resulting surge in supersaturation also affected the precipitation patterns of hydrated magnesia carbonates(HMCs),which weakened the cementation effect of HMCs on soil particles and further inhibited strength enhancement of bio-carbonized samples.The optimum formula was determined to be the case of T?24 h and UA?10 U/mL for dredged sludge stabilization.A 7-day CA was enough for bio-carbonized samples to obtain stable strength,albeit slightly affected by UA.The benefits of high efficiency and water stability presented the potential of this method in achieving dredged sludge stabilization and resource utilization.This investigation provides informative ideas and valuable insights on implementing advanced bio-geotechnical techniques to achieve efficient stabilization of soft soil,such as dredged sludge.

Investigation of Carbonation of Concrete Based on Crushed Sand and Admixtures

Carbonation is a natural aging process that occurs in all types of concrete. One of its primary implications is the acceleration of steel corrosion caused by the phenomena of depassivation. The goal of this research is to investigate the carbonation of quarry sand-based concrete. The concrete is made of 100% crushed sand 0/6.3, gravel 8/15, and 15/25 from the Arab Contractor quarry in Nomayos, Cameroon, with CEM II B-P 42.5 R from CIMENCAM (Cimenteries du Cameroun). The study employed two admixtures: one with a dual superplasticizing and reducing action (Sikamen) and another with a water-repellent effect (Sika liquid). Carbonation was performed on concrete samples at the following dates: 0, 7, 14, 28, 56, 90, 180 days, one year, and six months. Carbonated concrete (CC) and non-carbonated concrete (NCC) samples are compared in terms of their physical attributes and mineralogical characteristics. The results of this investigation reveal that after more than a year and six months of carbonation, porosity decreases and permeability increases. Despite the high fineness modulus of quarry sand, the compressive strength of quarry sand-based concrete is satisfactory. Carbonation depth is relatively high on some dates, exceeding the minimal cover value for concrete reinforcement. Sikament additive increases concrete compactness and durability while decreasing permeability. Sika water repellant mixes with the lime in cement to generate complimentary crystallizations that block the mortar’s capillaries, making it watertight.

Probabilistic method and its application for evaluating carbonation life of newly-built concrete structures

In order to evaluate the carbonation life of newly-built concrete structures,two kinds of nondestructive methods are adopted to test the thickness of the concrete cover and the ultrasonic velocity of two newly-built tunnel structures.Simultaneously a probabilistic method is proposed based on the relationship between the accelerated carbonation rate and the ultrasonic velocity.This proposed method is applied to evaluate the carbonation related lives of two newly-built tunnels and the results indicate that even under nearly the same environment and CO2 combining conditions,there exits a big difference in the probabilistic carbonation lives between the two tunnels;i.e.,the probabilistic lives of Tunnel A and Tunnel B are 94.0% and 82.3% and the corresponding maximum discrepancies are 11.6% and 27.0%,respectively.Thus,it can be concluded that the scattered quality of the concrete cover is attributed to the differences in construction technique,which eventually leads to the diversity in the evaluated probabilistic carbonation lives of the two tunnels.

Effect of sulfation during carbonation on CO_2 capture in calcium looping cycle

Abstract： Two Canadian limestones with different properties were tested to determine the effect of SO2 during the carbonation of sorbent on the CO2 capture performance in Ca- looping. When the reaction gas is mixed with SO2, the carbonation ratio of the sorbent is always lower than that without SO2 for each cycle under the same conditions, and the sulfation ratio increases almost linearly with the increase in the cycle times. At 650 ℃, there is little difference in the carbonation ratio of the sorbent during the first four cycles for the two carbonation time, 5 and 10 rain at 0. 18% SO2. The indirect sulfation reaction that occurs simultaneously with the carbonation of CaO is responsible for the degradation of the sorbent for CO2 capture, and the carbonation duration is not the main factor that affects the ability of the sorbent. 680℃ is the best carbonation temperature among the three tested temperatures and the highest carbonation ratio can be obtained. Also, the sulfation ratio is the highest. The probable cause is the different effects of temperature on the carbonation rate and sulfation rate. A higher SO2 concentration will decrease the carbonation ratio clearly, but the decrease in the carbonation capability of the sorbent is not proportional to the increase of the SO2 concentration in flue gases.

Understanding activity of butyrate at a cellular level

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid of four carbons in length that is a by-product produced by the microbial fermentation of dietary fiber and undigested carbohydrates within the colon.Over the years,butyrate has attracted significant attention due to its diverse roles within cells.

Assessing the corrosion protection property of coatings loaded with corrosion inhibitors using the real-time atmospheric corrosion monitoring technique

The atmospheric corrosion monitoring(ACM)technique has been widely employed to track the real-time corrosion behavior of metal materials.However,limited studies have applied ACM to the corrosion protection properties of organic coatings.This study compared a bare epoxy coating with one containing zinc phosphate corrosion inhibitors,both applied on ACM sensors,to observe their corrosion protection properties over time.Coatings with artificial damage via scratches were exposed to immersion and alternating dry and wet environments,which allowed for monitoring galvanic corrosion currents in real-time.Throughout the corrosion tests,the ACM currents of the zinc phosphate/epoxy coating were considerably lower than those of the blank epoxy coating.The trend in ACM current variations closely matched the results obtained from regular electrochemical tests and surface analysis.This alignment highlights the potential of the ACM technique in evaluating the corrosion protection capabilities of organic coatings.Compared with the blank epoxy coating,the zinc phosphate/epoxy coating showed much-decreased ACM current values that confirmed the effective inhibition of zinc phosphate against steel corrosion beneath the damaged coating.

Construction of 3D porous Cu_(1.81)S/nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks for ultrafast and long-cycle life sodium-ion storage

Transition metal sulfides have great potential as anode mterials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to their high theoretical specific capacities.However,the inferior intrinsic conductivity and large volume variation during sodiation-desodiation processes seriously affect its high-rate and long-cyde performance,unbeneficial for the application as fast-charging and long-cycling SIBs anode.Herein,the three-dimensional porous Cu_(1.81)S/nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks(Cu_(1.81)S/NC)are synthesized by the simple and facile sol-gel and annealing processes,which can accommodate the volumetric expansion of Cu_(1.81)S nanoparticles and accelerate the transmission of ions and electrons during Na^(+)insertion/extraction processes,exhibiting the excellent rate capability(250.6 mA·g^(-1)at 20.0 A·g^(-1))and outstanding cycling stability(70% capacity retention for 6000 cycles at 10.0 A·g^(-1))for SIBs.Moreover,the Na-ion full cells coupled with Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)/C cathode also demonstrate the satisfactory reversible specific capacity of 330.5 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0 A·g^(-1)and long-cycle performance with the 86.9% capacity retention at 2.0 A·g^(-1)after 750 cycles.This work proposes a promising way for the conversionbased metal sulfides for the applications as fast-charging sodium-ion battery anode.

Preparation of Co/S co-doped carbon catalysts for excellent methylene blue degradation

S and Co co-doped carbon catalysts were prepared via pyrolysis of MOF-71 and thiourea mixtures at 800℃at a mass ratio of MOF-71 to thiourea of 1:0.1 to effectively activate peroxymonosulfate(PMS)for methylene blue(MB)degradation.The effects of two different mixing routes were identified on the MB degradation performance.Particularly,the catalyst obtained by the alcohol solvent evaporation(MOF-AEP)mixing route could degrade 95.60%MB(50 mg/L)within 4 min(degradation rate:K=0.78 min^(-1)),which was faster than that derived from the direct grinding method(MOF-DGP,80.97%,K=0.39 min^(-1)).X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the Co-S content of MOF-AEP(43.39at%)was less than that of MOF-DGP(54.73at%),and the proportion of C-S-C in MOF-AEP(13.56at%)was higher than that of MOF-DGP(10.67at%).Density functional theory calculations revealed that the adsorption energy of Co for PMS was -2.94 eV when sulfur was doped as C-S-C on the carbon skeleton,which was higher than that when sulfur was doped next to cobalt in the form of Co-S bond(-2.86 eV).Thus,the C-S-C sites might provide more contributions to activate PMS compared with Co-S.Furthermore,the degradation parameters,including pH and MOF-AEP dosage,were investigated.Finally,radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)measurements revealed that ^(1)O_(2)might be the primary catalytic species,whereas·O~(2-)might be the secondary one in degrading MB.

Structural and microwave absorption properties of CoFe_(2)O_(4)/residual carbon composites

Electromagnetic interference,which necessitates the rapid advancement of substances with exceptional capabilities for bsorbing electromagnetic waves,is of urgent concern in contemporary society.In this work,CoFe_(2)O_(4)/residual carbon from coal gasification fine slag(CFO/RC)composites were created using a novel hydrothermal method.Various mechanisms for microwave absorption,including conductive loss,natural resonance,interfacial dipole polarization,and magnetic flux loss,are involved in these composites.Consequently,compared with pure residual carbon materials,this composite offers superior capabilities in microwave absorption.At 7.76GHz,the CFO/RC-2 composite achieves an impressive minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of-43.99 dB with a thickness of 2.44 mm.Moreover,CFO/RC-3 demonstrates an effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of up to 4.16 GHz,accompanied by a thickness of 1.18mm.This study revealed the remarkable capability of the composite to diminish electromagnetic waves,providing a new generation method for microwave absorbing materials of superior quality.

Recovery of alkali and alumina from Bayer red mud by the calcification–carbonation method

Red mud produced in the Bayer process is a hazardous solid waste because of its high alkalinity; however, it is rich in valuable components such as titanium, iron, and aluminum. In this study, a novel calcification-carbonation method was developed to recover alkali and alumina from Bayer red mud under mild reaction conditions. Batch experiments were performed to evaluate the potential effects of im- portant parameters such as temperature, amount of CaO added, and CO2 partial pressure on the recovery of alkali and alumina. The results showed that 95.2% alkali and 75.0% alumina were recovered from red mud with decreases in the mass ratios of Na2O to Fe2O3 and of Al2O3 to Fe2O3 from 0.42 and 0.89 to 0.02 and 0.22, respectively. The processed red mud with less than 0.5wt% Na2O can potentially be used as a construction material.

Indirect mineral carbonation of blast furnace slag with(NH4)2SO4 as a recyclable extractant

Large quantities of COand blast furnace slag are discharged in the iron and steel industry. Mineral carbonation of blast furnace slag can offer substantial COemission reduction and comprehensive utilisation of the solid waste. In this study, a recyclable extractant,（NH）SO, was used to extract calcium and magnesium from blast furnace slag（main phases of gehlenite and akermanite） by using low-temperature roasting to fix COthrough aqueous carbonation. The process parameters and efficiency of the roasting extraction, mineralisation, and Al recovery were investigated in detail. The results showed that the extractions of Ca, Mg, and Al can reach almost 100% at an（NH4）SO-to-slag mass ratio of 3:1 and at 370°C in 1 h. Adjusting the p H value of the leaching solution of the roasted slag to 5.5 with the NHreleased during the roasting resulted in 99% Al precipitation, while co-precipitation of Mg was lower than 2%. The Mg-rich leachate after the depletion of Al and the leaching residue（main phases of CaSOand SiO） were carbonated using（NH）COand NHHCOsolutions, respectively, under mild conditions. Approximately 99% of Ca and 89% of Mg in the blast furnace slag were converted into CaCOand（NH）Mg（CO）·4 HO,respectively. The latter can be selectively decomposed to magnesium carbonate at 100-200 °C to recover the NHfor reuse. In the present route, the total COsequestration capacity per tonne of blast furnace slag reached up to 316 kg, and 313 kg of Al-rich precipitate, 1000 kg of carbonated product containing CaCOand SiO, and 304 kg of carbonated product containing calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate were recovered simultaneously. These products can be used, respectively, as raw materials for the production of electrolytic aluminium, cement, and light magnesium carbonate to replace natural resources.

Comparison of Concrete Carbonation Process under Natural Condition and High CO_2 Concentration Environments

To compare the results obtained under both natural and accelerated environments,the pH values of carbonated concrete were measured,the variation of pH values was determined,and the variations of Ca（OH）2 and CaCO3 contents in the carbonated concrete under natural condition and high CO2 concentration accelerated climate environments were determined by microcosmic test methods such as DTA and X-ray diffraction.The experimental results showed that the overall variation trend of pH values and phase component of carbonation layer of concrete under accelerated climate environments with high CO2 concentrations were the same as those under natural conditions.Therefore,the carbonation processes of concrete were considered consistent under both conditions.However there was a difference in the length of semi-carbonation zones.The one measured under high CO2 concentration accelerated climate environments was shorter than that under natural condition.Experimental investigation showed that it was caused by the differences in climate condition（temperature and relative humidity） as well as the properties of the concrete.The concentration of CO2 and the duration of the carbonation process have no effect on the length of semi-carbonation zone.Thus,it is acceptable to simulate the natural condition by applying the high CO2 concentration artificial accelerated carbonation technique for the purpose of the study of carbonation process of concrete.

Strength Development and Products Evolution of β-C2S and γ-C2S Induced by Accelerated Carbonation Curing

Low calcium β-C2S and γ-C2S minerals with low hydration activity was activated by accelerated carbonation curing to be used as new binding materials.Synthetic β-C2S and γ-C2S were synthetized and compacted to prepare cube samples and then subjected to CO2 chamber for accelerated carbonation curing.The CO2 uptake,mechanical strength,and microstructure changes of β-C2S and γ-C2S were analyzed by TG,XRD,MAS-NMR,and MIP.The experimental results indicate the CO2 uptake of γ-C2S is much higher than that of β-C2S,but the compressive strength of γ-C2S samples is lower than that of β-C2S.Calcium carbonate and other carbonation products stack in the pore structure and the porosity is reduced from about 42% to 30.1% and 22.0% for β-C2S and γ-C2S samples after 2 h carbonation curing,respectively.The difference in compressive strength development is caused by the different properties of carbonation products.Except for calcium carbonate,there also exists obvious difference in properties of amorphous phases:γ-C2S formed silica gel in the whole carbonation progress;however,β-C2S can react to produce silica gel and C-S-H gel with high Van der Waals forces,and C-S-H gel will continue to react with CO2 to form calcium carbonate and silica gel in later carbonation reaction;In addition the microhardness of carbonated β-C2S was more higher than that of γ-C2S.

Accelerated carbonation and leaching behavior of the slag from iron and steel making industry

Ground granulated blast furnace slag （GGBFS） and steelmaking slag have been used as a raw material for cement production or as an aggregate to make concrete, which contribute aluminum, calcium, iron, and silicon oxides. The suitability of the slag for a particular application depends on its reactivity, cost, availability, and its influence on the properties of the resulting concrete. For the interest of durability studying of concrete in the presence of slag, the accelerated carbonation products and leaching behavior of the slag and Portland cement （PC） were studied. The experimental results confirmed that the slag was more resistant to carbonation compared to PC. The carbonation degree of GGBFS reduced by 17.74%; and the carbonation degrees of steelmaking slags reduced by 9.51%- 11.94%. Carbonation neutralized the alkaline nature of the hydrated pastes and gave rise to the redox potential of the leachate slightly （30-77 mV）. The carbonation also increased the release of most of the elements presented, except for calcium, to the aqueous environment. It is concluded that blend cements （PC plus slag） have economical advantages and better durability compared to PC,

Early Carbonation Behavior of High-volume Dolomite Powder-cement Based Materials

Combined with DTG analysis, X-Ray diffraction analysis （XRD） and field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis （FSEM） affiliated with energy dispersive spectrometer analysis （EDS）, the early hydration and carbonation behavior of cement paste compacts incorporated with 30% of dolomite powder at low water to cement ratio （0.15） was investigated. The results showed that early carbonation curing was capable of developing rapid early strength. It is noted that the carbonation duration should be strictly controlled otherwise subsequent hydration might be hindered. Dolomite powder acted as nuclei of crystallization, resulting in acceleration of products formation and refinement of products crystal size. Therefore, as for cement-based material, it was found that early carbonation could reduce cement dosages to a large extent and promote rapid strength gain resulting from rapid formation of products, supplemental enhancement due to water release in the reaction of carbonation, and formation ofnanometer CaCO3 skeleton network at early age.