Turning Waste Mineral into Carbon Absorbing Concrete

Geopolymers are alternative binders that have the potential to replace emissions-intensive cement in concrete, reducing concrete’s carbon footprint.

Geopolymers in concrete also absorb carbon from the atmosphere in a process called carbonisation, which has the potential to offset other emissions from concrete production. However, carbonisation also causes reduced mechanical strength in concrete, limiting the use and applicability of geopolymer concrete and slowing its development.

In this project, researchers from Western Sydney University team up with Zeolite Australia to explore the natural mineral zeolite as a new geopolymer in concrete. They are developing the zeolite-based by-product of commercial zeolite mining into a product that can be used as concrete, concrete lining, or concrete aggregate. Their new product could be a game-changing geopolymer which retains mechanical strength after carbonation. Their methods to develop this product could even be replicated to develop other aluminosilicates as successful geopolymers for concrete, revolutionising the geopolymer concrete industry.