From laboratory to industrial scale: How to evaluate the carbon mineralization of cement and cement-based materials

Cement production is a major source of global CO₂ emissions. Carbon mineralization presents a promising pathway for emission reduction across the lifecycle of cement and cement-based materials (CCM). This study systematically evaluates the mineralization potential of CCM by integrating reaction mechanisms, sequestration efficiencies, techno-economic constraints, and policy considerations. The process is thermodynamically favorable and kinetically tunable, converting CO₂ into stable CaCO₃ through reactions with Ca(OH)₂, C-S-H, and unhydrated clinker. Distinct carbonation mechanisms operate at different stages—early-age carbonation during mixing, strength and durability gains during curing, and pore filling in recycled aggregates at end-of-life. Sequestration efficiency varies by stage: low in mixing (0.616–2.21 kg/m³), high in curing (35.0–113.47 kg/m³), and moderate in RCA treatment (16.9–58.0 g/kg aggregates). Co-sequestration of NO_x and SO_x further enhances environmental performance, though challenges such as gas diffusion limitations and competitive adsorption persist. While natural carbonation offsets 30–55 % of process emissions, fully scaled accelerated carbonation could sequester up to 483 Mt. CO₂ annually. Industrial application remains limited by CO₂ capture logistics, flue gas purity, and infrastructure demands. High capital costs—especially for curing systems—require supportive policy, carbon pricing, and optimized logistics. Life cycle assessments (LCA) confirm environmental benefits, especially with CO₂ curing. However, successful large-scale implementation will require coordinated innovation in materials science, process design, and regulatory frameworks to realize the full mitigation potential of CCM-based mineralization technologies.