Concrete Innovations ONLINE!

 

SESSION 30 - CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION

 

Co-Decarbonizing Construction and Energy: Scalable Pathways through Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

 

Dr. Jiaqi Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan

 

The convergence of construction and energy decarbonization offers a scalable pathway to significantly reduce global CO₂ emissions. Emerging carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) strategies can harness industrial symbiosis to drive deep decarbonization across both sectors. This webinar highlights scalable, industrially viable solutions, including: (1) mineral carbonation of abundant, nonconventional amorphous silicates to produce supplementary cementitious materials; (2) biologically derived binders that link concrete production with biofuel generation; (3) incorporation of solid carbon from hydrocarbon pyrolysis to enhance material performance; and (4) electrochemical processes that co-produce cementitious materials and clean fuels. Together, these approaches offer promising routes to scale CCUS solutions by bridging materials innovation and energy transformation.

​

Product Spotlight - Chryso

Transforming Construction through Decarbonization, Circular Economy and Material Innovation.​

​

Cesar A. Constantino, PhD, FACI, FASTM, Senior Director Innovation, Chryso

​

This presentation will underscore Chryso’s commitment to sustainability through decarbonization and the circular economy. We will showcase advanced tools, analysis methods, and mix optimization with innovative admixtures. Key topics include addressing the declining quality of sand, pioneering advancements in strength enhancers, and developing solutions for new cements, all illustrated through customer case studies that tackle carbon reduction using multiple strategies.

​

​Concrete as a Carbon Sink: Cement Carbonation Tracking and the Rise of Multifunctional Concrete​

​

Dr. Admir Masic, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT

​

Concrete is the most widely used construction material, and the carbon-intensive production of cement- its key ingredient - accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. To meet the urgent need for decarbonization, we must rethink concrete’s role in the built environment. In this talk, Dr. Masic will explore how novel cement chemistries and advanced analytical techniques - particularly Raman spectroscopy - are enabling the development of multifunctional concretes. From CO₂-sequestering formulations to Roman-inspired self-healing cements and electrically conductive energy-storing systems, these innovations position concrete not just as a structural material but as a carbon sink and functional infrastructure component for a more sustainable future.