Novel accelerated carbonation methods based on deep breathing analogous and prediction model for pressurized carbonation of concrete

Abstract

This research proposes a novel deep breathing analogy (DBA) accelerated carbonation process. Inspired by the breathing mechanism of human lungs, the DBA method involves injecting pure CO2 into a reaction chamber at a specific pressure (inspiration) and subsequently evacuating the gas from the chamber to a negative pressure (exhalation). This process is repeated to remove excess water from the chamber and restore optimal carbonation conditions, which further enhances the efficiency of carbonation for the sample. The effectiveness of this method is evaluated based on weight gain, proportion of captured CO2 and carbonation depth. Results show that the DBA method significantly reduces the inhibition of carbonation. Based on the test results, a correlation between the proportion of captured CO2 and carbonation depth is established. Additionally, a more accurate prediction model for pressurized carbonation is proposed and the economic potential of concrete carbonation is studied.