Reducing Carbon

Footprints: Low Carbon

Concrete
Low carbon concrete is an innovative solution that reduces carbon emissions
from construction projects. Using materials like flyash, alkali hydroxide and
limestone can lead to sustainable & environment-friendly construction practices.

by Anurag Kashyap
Geopolymer, Flyash, and Alkali Hydroxide
Flyash as a replacement for
Portland cement
Geopolymer concrete can be made
using flyash, which is a byproduct
of thermal power plants. The use
of flyash instead of Portland
cement significantly reduces CO2
emissions from the cement
manufacturing process.
Chemically active liquid
for the mixture
Alkali activators are used to
solidify the flyash and create the
geopolymerization reaction.
NaOH and KOH are commonly
used alkali activators and they
help the mixture solidify.
Polished Finish
Geopolymer concrete can be
polished to create a smooth finish
that is perfect for flooring and
benchtop applications. The
polished surface also helps to
increase the durability of the
concrete.
Limestone-based Low Carbon Concrete
Natural Material
Limestone is a natural and
abundant resource that can be
used to create low carbon
concrete. There are many
advantages to using
limestone, including the fact
that it is readily available and
cost-effective.
Reduction of Carbon
Footprints
Limestone-based low carbon
concrete has been shown to
result in significantly lower
CO2 emissions compared to
traditional Portland cement-
based concrete. This results in
a lower environmental impact,
which is becoming
increasingly important in the
construction industry.
Quarrying the material
Quarrying limestone must be
done in a sustainable way to
avoid depletion of natural
resources. From quarrying to
production to transportation,
all steps must be analysed and
optimised to reduce CO2
emissions and ensure
environmental friendliness.
Normal Concrete Cube as a Comparison
Emissions

The carbon emissions from the production of a

normal concrete cube are significantly higher
compared to low carbon concrete. This is because
Portland cement uses a lot of energy during
production and contributes to higher CO2
emissions.

1 2 3

Composition Strength

The normal concrete cube is made up of Portland
cement, water, and aggregates like sand and
gravel. Unlike low carbon concrete, it has a high
carbon footprint because of the cement content.
While normal concrete has been used for
construction for many years, low carbon concrete
has similar or better durability and strength. Low
carbon concrete can also withstand extreme
temperatures and weather conditions effectively.
Methodology for Comparative Study
Mixing and Production
All three sets of materials
were mixed and produced
following the standard
procedure used in concrete
production. Care was taken to
ensure that the quality of the
final mix was consistent and
met all requirements.
Environmental Analysis
The carbon footprint of the
low carbon concrete and the
normal concrete cube were
analysed through a Life Cycle
Assessment tool. This allowed
us to compare the CO2
emissions and identify the
process with the lowest
environmental impact.
Strength and Durability
Analysis
Each of the three sets of
materials was cured for 28
days and tested for strength
and durability. The results of
these tests were used to
compare the strength and
durability of the different
types of concrete.
Results and Findings
Lower Carbon Footprint
The results showed that both low
carbon concrete sets had a
significantly lower carbon
footprint compared to normal
concrete cube. This indicates that
materials such as flyash/alkali
hydroxide and limestone can be
used to make a good low carbon
concrete.
Strength and Durability
The test results showed that low
carbon concrete made of fly
ash/alkali hydroxide had higher
compressive strength compared to
both limestone-based low carbon
concrete and normal concrete
cube. Both low carbon concrete
sets also performed much better in
terms of durability, indicating that
they have a longer lifespan.
Future Directions
The study can be extended to
different concrete applications and
variables such as durability,
tensile strength, and workability.
Future research should investigate
ways to continually optimize the
mix composition to minimize the
carbon footprint and effect on the
surrounding environment.
Conclusion and Recommendations
1 Low Carbon Concrete
is the Future
The comparative study
showed that low carbon
concrete can be a good
alternative to the
traditional concrete that we
know. This study can serve
as a basis for a large-scale
shift to sustainable
construction materials that
can reduce our carbon
footprint.
2 Explore New Mixtures
Gaining new knowledge
abount low carbon
concrete in terms of mix
compositions, workability
efficiency, curing time etc
should be key objectives
for manufacturers. More
mix compositions can be
investigated to improve the
overall environmental and
structural benefits of the
material.
3 Collaborate with
Other Industries
Collaboration with other
industries such as the
waste management
industry to recycle goods
such as flyash and
limestone can help firms
promote sustainable and
eco-friendly low carbon
concrete and to reduce the
materials' carbon
footprints.