scholarly journals Development of GHG Emissions Curves for Bio-Concretes Specification: Case Study for Bamboo, Rice Husk, and Wood Shavings Considering the Context of Different Countries

Author(s):  
Lucas Rosse Caldas ◽  
Carolina Goulart Bezerra ◽  
Francesco Pittau ◽  
Arthur Araujo ◽  
Mariana Franco ◽  
...  

Bio-concretes are receiving special attention in recent research as an alternative for climate change mitigation due to their low carbon footprints. Different bio-based materials can be used, e.g., wood shavings, bamboo, rice husk, and coconut. However, various methodological parameters can influence the carbon footprint of bio-based materials, especially bio-concretes, like biogenic carbon, amount of carbon in dry matter, rotation period of bio-aggregates, and type of cementitious materials. It is important to have easier ways of estimating the carbon footprint of bio-concretes, using parameters and data easily available. This research aims to evaluate the (1) carbon footprint of different mixtures of three bio-concretes (wood bio-concrete - WBC, bamboo bio-concrete - BBC and rice husk bio-concrete - RBC), and the (2) development of GHG emissions curves for bio-concretes specification based on easily available data (such as density, biomass content, and compressive strength). Based on experimental data, the carbon footprint was performed using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. In order to extend the findings of this study, the context of the following four countries was evaluated: Brazil, South Africa, India, and China. In addition, the replacement of Portland cement for Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) are evaluated hypothetically. The results show that the increase of biomass content in bio-concretes and the replacement of Portland cement by SCMs leads to a radical decrease in life cycle GHG emissions. The percentage of carbon in biomass is a critical factor for reducing the carbon footprint. The WBC was the biomass that performed better for this parameter. The presented GHG emissions curves can be a useful way to estimate the carbon footprint of bio-concretes and can be adapted to other kinds of bio-concretes and countries.

Author(s):  
Shanshan Wang ◽  
Weifeng Wang ◽  
Hongqiang Yang

Carbon footprint (CF) analysis is widely used to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a product during its life cycle. A number of protocols, such as Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050, GHG Protocol Product Standard (GHG Protocol), and ISO 14067 Carbon Footprint of Products (ISO 14067), have been developed for CF calculations. This study aims to compare the criteria and implications of the three protocols. The medium-density fiberboard (MDF) (functional unit: 1 m3) has been selected as a case study to illustrate this comparison. Different criteria, such as the life cycle stage included, cut-off criteria, biogenic carbon treatment, and other requirements, were discussed. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for MDF was conducted. The CF values were −667.75, −658.42, and 816.92 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) with PAS 2050, GHG protocol, and ISO 14067, respectively. The main reasons for the different results obtained were the application of different cut-off criteria, exclusion rules, and the treatment of carbon storage. A cradle-to-grave assessment (end-of-life scenarios: landfill and incineration) was also performed to identify opportunities for improving MDF production. A sensitivity analysis to assess the implications of different end-of-life disposals was conducted, indicating that landfill may be preferable from a GHG standpoint. The comparison of these three protocols provides insights for adopting appropriate methods to calculate GHG emissions for the MDF industry. A key finding is that for both LCA practitioners and policy-makers, PAS 2050 is preferentially recommended to assess the CF of MDF.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hieronimi A. Mboya ◽  
Cecil K. King’ondu ◽  
Karoli N. Njau ◽  
Alex L. Mrema

This work investigated the properties of scoria and pumice as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for Portland cement and compared to those of rice husk ash (RHA). X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and pozzolanic activity index (PAI) tests confirmed the suitability of these two materials as potential SCMs. Scoria and RHA samples achieved over 75% PAI at 7 days whereas pumice did this after 28 days. Initial and final mean setting times observed for the composite cement blended with these materials were 166 and 285 min, respectively. These setting times are longer than that of ordinary Portland cement but shorter compared to that of common Portland pozzolana cement. The ultimate mean compressive strengths achieved at 28 days of curing were 42.5, 44.8, and 43.0 MPa for scoria, pumice, and RHA, respectively, signifying that these materials are good SCMs. Higher fineness yielded higher ultimate mean strength. For instance, a scoria sample with a fineness of 575 m2/kg achieved the strength of 52.2 MPa after 28 days.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sri Ram Krishna Mishra ◽  
Pradeep Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Manoj Kulshreshtha

Background: The previous studies have focused curing effect of mainly on high strength concrete, where strict supervision is maintained. This study is based upon general purpose concreting work for commercial and residential construction in absence of skilled manpower and supervision. Objective: The objective of this study is to establish a thumb rule to provide 7 days initial curing for maintaining quality for unsupervised concreting irrelevant to type of cement and grading. Methods: In this study concrete samples made with locally available commercial cements were cured for various initial exposure. Results: The results shows that concrete cured after a gap of 4 days from the time of de-moulding have given lowest strength as compared to concrete cured in standard practices i.e. where proper curing protocol had been followed. Conclusion: Initial curing is most important aspect of gaining desired strength. The findings after this study shows that curing affects the strength of concrete in variable grading. Initial curing has great importance for concrete with all types of Portland cement. Concrete with supplementary cementitious materials gives lowest strength initially but results higher strength after 28 days as compared to Portland cement.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2291
Author(s):  
Alessandro P. Fantilli ◽  
Daria Jóźwiak-Niedźwiedzka

The environmental impact of the Portland cement production and the large use of cement-based building materials is a growing problem [...]


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3467
Author(s):  
Ankit Kothari ◽  
Karin Habermehl-Cwirzen ◽  
Hans Hedlund ◽  
Andrzej Cwirzen

Most of the currently used concretes are based on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) which results in a high carbon dioxide footprint and thus has a negative environmental impact. Replacing OPCs, partially or fully by ecological binders, i.e., supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) or alternative binders, aims to decrease the carbon dioxide footprint. Both solutions introduced a number of technological problems, including their performance, when exposed to low, subfreezing temperatures during casting operations and the hardening stage. This review indicates that the present knowledge enables the production of OPC-based concretes at temperatures as low as −10 °C, without the need of any additional measures such as, e.g., heating. Conversely, composite cements containing SCMs or alkali-activated binders (AACs) showed mixed performances, ranging from inferior to superior in comparison with OPC. Most concretes based on composite cements require pre/post heat curing or only a short exposure to sub-zero temperatures. At the same time, certain alkali-activated systems performed very well even at −20 °C without the need for additional curing. Chemical admixtures developed for OPC do not always perform well in other binder systems. This review showed that there is only a limited knowledge on how chemical admixtures work in ecological concretes at low temperatures and how to accelerate the hydration rate of composite cements containing high amounts of SCMs or AACs, when these are cured at subfreezing temperatures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1036 ◽  
pp. 240-246
Author(s):  
Jin Tang ◽  
Su Hua Ma ◽  
Wei Feng Li ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
Xiao Dong Shen

The use of calcined clay and limestone as supplementary cementitious materials, can have a certain influence on the hydration of Portland cement. This paper reviewed the influence of limestone and calcined clay and the mixture of limestone and calcined clay on the hydration of cement. Both limestone and calcined clay accelerate the hydration reaction in the early hydration age and enhance the properties of cement. Limestone reacts with C3A to form carboaluminate, which indirectly stabilized the presence of ettringite, while calcined clay consumed portlandite to form C-(A)-S-H gel, additional hydration products promote the densification of pore structure and increase the mechanical properties. The synergistic effect of calcined clay and limestone stabilize the existence of ettringite and stimulate the further formation of carboaluminate, as well as the C-(A)-S-H gel, contributed to a dense microstructure.


Author(s):  
O. R. Ogirigbo ◽  
J. O. Ukpata ◽  
I. Inerhunwa

Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) is a type of Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) that is currently being used extensively in the global construction industry. SCMs are cheaper than Portland cement, help to improve certain properties of concrete and also help to reduce the environmental footprint associated with the production of Portland cement. GGBS is readily available in most parts of the world as a waste product from iron and steel production. However, its use as a SCM in some countries has not been fully maximized. This is primarily because of lack of documented studies on the properties of GGBS that influences its suitability as a SCM, especially in tropical environments. This paper reviewed the use of GGBS as a SCM for the partial replacement of Portland cement, with particular emphasis on its potential use in tropical warm environments such as Nigeria and other similar countries.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewayne L. Ingram ◽  
Charles R. Hall

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was utilized to analyze the global warming potential (GWP), or carbon footprint, and associated costs of the production components of a field-grown, spade-dug, 5 cm (2 in) caliper Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ in the Lower Midwest, U.S. A model production system was determined from interviews of nursery managers in the region. Input materials, equipment use and labor were inventoried for each production system component using international standards of LCA. The seed-to-landscape GWP, expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide emission equivalent (CO2e), was determined to be 13.707. Equipment use constituted the majority (63%) of net CO2-e emissions during production, transport to the customer, and transplanting in the landscape. The model was queried to determine the possible impact of production system modifications on carbon footprint and costs to aid managers in examining their production system. Carbon sequestration of a redbud growing in the landscape over its 40 year life, weighted proportionally for a 100 year assessment period, was calculated to be −165 kg CO2e. The take-down and disposal activities following its useful life would result in the emission of 88.44 kg CO2e. The life-cycle GWP of the described redbud tree, including GHG emissions during production, transport, transplanting, take down and disposal would be −63 kg CO2e. Total variable costs associated with the labor, materials, and equipment use incurred in the model system were $0.069, $2.88, and $34.81 for the seedling, liner, and field production stages, respectively. An additional $18.83 was needed for transport to the landscape and planting in the landscape and after the 40 year productive life of the tree in the landscape, another $60.86 was needed for take-down and disposal activities.


Author(s):  
Khashayar Jafari ◽  
Farshad Rajabipour

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are natural or industrial by-product materials which are used to improve the performance, durability, and sustainability of concrete mixtures. Motivated by the recent reports on shortage of conventional SCMs, impure calcined clays (CCs) are receiving attention as abundant alternative pozzolans for concrete. In this study, a clay slurry resulting from washing aggregates in a commercial sand and gravel pit was investigated. This source clay was dried and calcined, and the properties and pozzolanic performance of the resulting CC was evaluated. It was observed that despite having a large (>50%wt.) inert quartz content, the CC met all ASTM C618-19 (AASHTO M295) requirements for natural pozzolan. A pavement-grade concrete mixture containing 20%CC as a cement replacement (by weight) produced desired workability and fresh and hardened air content. Strength development was slightly below the control. The use of CC improved the durability of concrete with respect to chloride penetration, alkali–silica reaction, and drying shrinkage in comparison with a control (100% Portland cement) mixture. In addition, ternary limestone-calcined clay–cement and slag-calcined clay–cement mortar mixtures showed excellent strength development while replacing nearly 50% of the Portland cement.


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