Aqueous Carbonation of Recycled Concrete Fine Dust: Efficiency and Feasibility Analyses

This study investigates the potential of recycled concrete fine dust (RCD) as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material (SCM) and evaluates its carbonation efficiency through aqueous carbonation. By utilizing RCD, a waste byproduct of concrete demolition, the research aims to enhance the circularity of construction materials while reducing the carbon footprint of cementitious systems. The carbonation process was assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to identify phase assemblage evolutions and carbonation products. Results reveal that aqueous carbonation significantly enhances the formation of calcium carbonate phases. XRD confirmed the presence of carbonate phases, while TGA provided insights into the degree of carbonation. These findings highlight the benefits of RCD in utilization as a reactive SCM in carbon-negative cement systems.