Assessment of CO2 Capture in FA/GGBS-Blended Cement Systems: From Cement Paste to Commercial Products

The cement industry’s intricate production process, including kiln heating and fossil fuel use, contributes 5–8% of global CO2 emissions, marking it as a significant carbon emitter in construction. This study focuses on quantifying CO2 capture potential in blended cement systems through the utilisation of phenolphthalein and thermalgravimetric methodologies. Its primary objective is to assess the CO2 absorption capacity of these blended systems’ pastes. Initial evaluation involves calculating the carbon capture capacity within the paste, subsequently extended to estimate CO2 content in the resultant concrete products. The findings indicate that incorporating ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) or an ettringite-based expansive agent did not notably elevate carbonation depth, irrespective of their fineness. Conversely, the introduction of fly ash (FA) notably augmented the carbonation depth, leading to a substantial 36.4% rise in captured CO2 content. The observed distinctions in carbonation behaviour primarily stem from variances in pore structure, attributable to distinct hydration characteristics between GGBS and FA. Thermal analysis confirms the increased stabilisation of CO2 in FA blends, highlighting the crucial influence of material composition on carbonation and emission reduction. Incorporating both GGBS and FA notably diminishes binder emissions, constituting almost half of PC-concrete emissions. Initially, 60% GGBS shows lower emissions than 50% FA, but when considering CO2 capture, this emission dynamic significantly changes, emphasising the intricate influence of additives on emission patterns. This underscores the complexity of evaluating carbonation-induced emissions in cementitious systems.