Review of carbon capture and conversion with reactive magnesia cement materials

Abstract

The high carbon emissions associated with the cement industry underscore the urgent need for low-carbon alternative materials. Compared with other alternatives, Reactive Magnesia Cement (RMC) offers the potential to absorb CO₂. However, current research on RMC remains fragmented, lacking a systematic overview of its complete processing route. This review summarizes the carbonation mechanism of RMC and provides a comprehensive discussion of evaluation methods for its carbonation degree. In addition, the review provides an in-depth analysis of factors influencing carbonation and strategies to enhance it. Specifically, we categorize the mechanisms and evaluate the effectiveness of various methods, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly production processes to identify the most optimal approaches. Finally, the study highlights the carbon footprint of RMC and discusses the challenges associated with achieving low-carbon RMC production.