Numerous characterization techniques have been used to assess ASR-induced development (i.e., the formation of ASR products and cracks during expansion). Amongst those, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), is a well-recognized technique enabling assessing the presence, morphology, and composition of ASR products. However, the correlation between ASR products' amounts and physicochemical features with induced damage (i.e., crack formation and impact on the mechanical performance of the affected concrete) via SEM is purely qualitative. Preliminary results showed that resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) could be a suitable technique to evaluate ASR-induced damage because it allows assessing the corresponding changes in the linear viscoelastic properties. Nonetheless, a systematic study fully demonstrating its potential to appraise ASR-induced expansion and deterioration, especially from ASR originating both from natural and from recycled aggregates, is still lacking in literature. This work aims to quantitatively appraise ASR-induced products and associated deterioration by the coupling of SEM-EDS and RUS, particularly a version thereof called SIngle MOde RUS (SIMORUS). Concrete mixtures incorporating highly reactive natural and recycled fine and coarse aggregates were cast and stored in conditions accelerating ASR development. At 4, 11, 16, 24 and 36 weeks, the samples were characterized by the abovementioned techniques. Quantifications of ASR-induced damage proxy parameters (i.e., Young’s, E, and shear, G, moduli), and the respective quality (Q-)factor, were performed over time. The results reported here suggest that SIMORUS is a promising technique to describe the impact of the ASR-induced development on the linear viscoelastic properties of an affected concrete. However, as shown, such an impact depends on the reactive aggregate type used in the mixture.
Abstract This study assesses different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in high- and low-polluting industries through a comparative analysis of sustainability reports. The objective is to evaluate SDG-related terms in reports from 16 companies across four sectors—Cement, Automobile, Electric Equipment, and IT—over five years. Using Python for data extraction and the “text2sdg” package in R programming for SDG term detection, the study identifies both prioritized and overlooked SDGs. Results indicate that high and low-polluting industries share similar SDG focus areas. SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action) received the most attention. In contrast, SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 14 (Life Below Water) are consistently underrepresented. The findings suggest that both categories of industries acknowledge the importance of sustainability, yet significant gaps remain in addressing social and environmental challenges. This research contributes to the broader discourse on corporate sustainability and its role in achieving the 2030 Agenda, offering actionable insights for industries to increase their focus on less-considered SDGs. By identifying areas of improvement, the study supports efforts to foster more inclusive and environmentally responsible business practices.
Luísa Marques, Miguel Monteiro, Charles Cenci
et al.
Heavy industry is a significant contributor to CO<sub>2</sub> global emissions, accounting for approximately 25% of the total. In Europe, the continent’s largest emitting industries, including steel, cement, and power generation, face significant decarbonization challenges due to multiple interrelated factors. Heavy industry must achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as outlined in the 13th United Nations Sustainable Goals. One strategy to achieve this goal involves Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) with post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) technologies playing a critical role. Key methods include absorption, which uses chemical solvents like amines; adsorption, employing solid sorbents; cyclic CO<sub>2</sub> capture, such as calcium looping methods; cryogenic separation, which involves chilling flue gas to liquefy CO<sub>2</sub>; and membrane separation, leveraging polymeric materials. Each technology offers unique advantages and challenges, necessitating hybrid approaches and policy support for widespread adoption. In this sense, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing European pilot and demonstration units and projects, funded by the EU across several industries. It specifically focuses on PCC. This study examines 111 industrial facilities across Europe, documenting the PCC technologies deployed at plants of varying capacities, geographic locations, and operational stakeholders. The review further evaluates the techno-economic performance of these systems, assessing their potential to advance carbon neutrality in heavy industries.
Erda Rahmilaila Desfitri, Endah Mustikaningtias, Fajri Akbar Rizaldi
et al.
The Sumatera Barat province of Indonesia, particularly Padang Pariaman Regency, is rich in pozzolan, a natural resource characterized by high silica (SiO₂) and alumina (Al₂O₃) content. Despite its abundance, pozzolan remains underutilized, primarily used in conventional applications such as cement substitutes and brick production. This study investigates the extraction, purification, and application of pozzolan-derived silica for advanced industrial uses, focusing on synthesising hydrophobic materials. Silica was extracted from pozzolan using alkali and acid treatments, achieving a high-purity cristobalite phase with 93.86% SiO₂ content based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence) XRF analysis. The cristobalite phase was combined with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to develop a hydrophobic agent. Hydrophobic performance was evaluated using water contact angle (WCA) measurements, with two coating methods—swab coating and dip-coating—employed to test the materials. Results revealed that the cristobalite phase achieved the highest hydrophobicity when applied via dip-coating, reaching a WCA 114°. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysed the characteristics of a hydrophobic compound. Furthermore, varying PDMS concentrations influenced hydrophobic performance, with 0.4 grams of PDMS yielding the optimal WCA of 105.31° before diminishing returns were observed at higher concentrations due to aggregation effects. This research demonstrates the viability of pozzolan-derived silica as a sustainable and cost-effective raw material for hydrophobic agent synthesis. The findings highlight its potential applications in advanced industries, including water-repellent coatings, glass, ceramics, and catalysts. By advancing the utilization of natural pozzolan resources, this study contributes to sustainable material development and aligns with global efforts to enhance resource efficiency and innovation.
Industries with hard-to-abate emissions are a significant source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. CO2 capture infrastructure offers opportunities to reduce emissions from processes that are hard to decarbonize. However, the high cost of implementing CO2 capture infrastructure on-site remains a barrier. An industrial cluster offers a more economical alternative, by enabling multiple plants to share energy systems and CO2 capture infrastructure. Infrastructure sharing poses financial and operational risks when disruption occurs in one of the participating plants in the industrial cluster. The decision on which plants to prioritize or to scale down during such a disruption becomes crucial in minimizing operational losses. For effective operations and resource management, it is important to consider compensation required, energy loss and CO2 deficit removal within an industrial cluster. To address this, a two-stage mixed-integer linear programming optimization model is developed to determine an optimal resource distribution scheme through the Shapley value calculation. The model is demonstrated through a case study where the impact of a gas turbine failure on an industrial cluster is evaluated. The results show that forming a coalition lowers total compensation to $ 268.6 k, compared to $ 677.1 k when plants are compensated individually. Based on the Shapley value, the ammonia plant receives 27.0 %, the cement plant 25.5 %, and the iron and steel plant 47.5 % of the total compensation. The second-stage optimization further refines results by diversifying the energy loss and CO2 removal deficit across plants based on their received compensation. This yields a net compensation satisfaction level of 0.458.
Chemical engineering, Computer engineering. Computer hardware
Wena de Nazaré do Rosário Martel, Josée Duchesne, Benoît Fournier
The growing use of alkali-rich glass powder (GP) as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in concrete has led to a rising number of studies focused on the microstructure of cementitious matrices incorporating GP. Electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) is commonly used to characterize cementitious materials. However, alkali migration induced by electron irradiation - a well-known phenomenon in inorganic materials - remains underexplored in this context. This migration often leads to underestimation of Na and K and overestimation of Si and Ca, thus compromising the analysis of key elements in cementitious hydrates, such as C-S-H. Due to the lack of a tailored protocol for EPMA analysis of alkali-rich SCMs, this study established analytical conditions to minimize errors in quantifying pozzolanic GP. Mixed glass culets and GP particles embedded in 7-year-old ternary concrete made with GP and silica fume were analyzed using ten different current densities by varying beam size, current, and the sub-counting method. The results show that alkali migration is highly sensitive to material composition and irradiation conditions. Na losses exceeded 70% as Ca and Si overestimation reached approximately 13% at current densities above 0.354 nA/μm². Literature-reported densities often surpass this threshold. At those conditions, the implementation of a sub-counting method effectively reduces the Na loss to 3%. However, it introduced a tendency for Na overestimation at lower current densities. Among all conditions, a beam diameter of 6 µm and a current of 10 nA, was the most accurate, reducing losses to under 2% and closely matching the reference glass analysis.
Jacob .O Ikotun, Gbenga Emmanuel Aderinto, Valentine Katte
et al.
The quest to improve the properties of soil and other construction materials by incorporating industrial and agricultural wastes is a growing concern for the construction industry. Many researchers have recently focused on employing waste materials as stabilizers due to their good pozzolanic interactions with soil particles. Its significance in civil engineering projects such as foundations in buildings and pavement construction cannot be overemphasized. The construction of pavements usually involves using large quantities of natural earth/aggregate materials, often mixed with conventional stabilizers (cement, lime, and bitumen). There is already a shortage of natural aggregate materials in many developing nations. However, a significant quantity of waste, such as mining tailings, is generated by mining industries yearly. In contrast, the disposal of these wastes is not only expensive but has also resulted in various ecological and environmental problems. The literature has already explored methods of stabilization and solidification of mining tailings employing conventional agents. However, the use of traditional stabilizers indicates an important source of contamination for the environment. Therefore, alternative stabilizing materials are needed. The approach to this literature review included a systematic procedure for locating, choosing, and evaluating sources. The logic for the sources’ selection prioritized contemporary, peer-reviewed studies that particularly address the geotechnical properties of industrial waste products in road construction. This study reviews the geotechnical properties of industrial waste products, such as goldmine tailings, quarry dust, and coal ash and the technical benefits of using them for pavement construction.
Yaowaret Suanboon, Laksana Laokiat, Pensri Watchalayann
et al.
Introduction: Construction processes generate diverse types of dust. This study aimed to specify the concentration of total dust (TD), respirable dust (RD), and particulate matter less than 2.5 (PM2.5) among exposed workers and to identify the chemical composition contained in dust.
Methods: A cross-sectional study; TD, RD, and PM2.5 were personally collected among the workers during the low-rise building construction processes according to NIOSH 0500, NIOSH 0600, and EPA-IP-10A, respectively. The concentrations of dust were analyzed by gravimetric method. The element and chemical composition were determined using X-ray diffraction and ICP-OES. One-way ANOVA was used to test the different concentrations of dust.
Results: The mean concentrations (GM ± GSD) were 1.43 ± 0.55 mg/m3 of TD, 1.08 ± 0.33 mg/m3 of RD, and 0.84 ± 0.25 mg/m3 of PM2.5. The dust concentrations were not significantly different between sites for TD (p = 0.086), RD (p = 0.124), PM2.5 (p = 0.065), and TD and RD concentrations met the standard regulated by OSHA. The XRD pattern presented peaks of aluminum oxide, calcite, ferric oxide, magnesium oxide, and amorphous silica. Ca was the highest concentration in all dust types, followed by a little of Fe, Al, and Mg, like those found in cement powder. Concrete drilling generated the highest dust concentration, followed by sweep cleaning tasks.
Conclusion: Construction workers are exposed to many chemicals in a dusty working environment. Assessing dust concentrations and their physicochemical properties is an imperative tool for improving safety in construction industries.
Muskan Sharma Kuinkel, Chengyi Zhang, Peng Liu
et al.
The decrease in fly ash production due to the shift in coal industries toward a green environment has impacted many concrete industries as fly ash is a significant component in cement and concrete. It is critical for concrete industries to identify the availability of fly ash in landfills to meet their demand if the supply decreases. This paper aims to analyze the suitability of UAVs in determining the fly ash stockpile volumes. A laboratory test is performed to validate the proposed UAV method. Then, a real quarry site is selected to demonstrate the suitability in a large scale. The results indicate that the UAVs estimate the most accurate volume of the stockpile when the flight height is about five times the stockpile height. A considerable range of 3.5–5 times the stockpile height is most suitable for quantity takeoff. The findings of this study provide a recommendation for choosing the most appropriate technology for the quantitative estimation of fly ash in existing landfills on a large scale.
The cement industry is considered one of the strategic industries, because it is directly related to construction work and cement is used as a hydraulic binder. However, it is a simple industry compared to major industries and depends on the availability of the necessary raw materials. This study focuses on optimizing and coordinating the location of raw materials needed for the cement manufacturing in Wasit Governorate in Iraq. Field works include detailed reconnaissance, topographic work, and description and sampling of 24 lithological sections that represent the carbonate deposits, which crop out in the area. The investigated area has the following specifications: The weighted averages of chemical components in the industrial bed are as follows: CaO = 47.83%, MgO = 1.12%, SiO2 = 7.28%, SO3 = 0.34%, Fe2O3 = 1.85%, Al2O3 = 1.85%, L.O.I = 39.26%, Na2O = 0.29%, and K2O = 0.38%. The average thickness of the investigated raw materials is 15.68 m. The average bulk density of the investigated raw materials is 2.32 g/cm3. The compressive strength of the investigated raw materials ranges from 6.182 to 55.21 MN/m2. The positive area is 922,552 m2. The volume of the industrial bed is 14,466,242 m3. The economic reserve of the industrial bed is 33,561,682 tons.
China has successively put forward ultra-low emission (ULE) transformation plans to reduce the air pollutant emissions of industrial pollutants since 2014. To assess the benefits of the ULE policy on regional air quality for Qinhuangdao, this study developed an emission inventory of nine atmospheric pollutants in 2016 and evaluated the effectiveness of the emission policy in Qinhuangdao’s key industries under different scenarios with an air quality model (CALPUFF). The emissions of air pollutants in 2016 were as follows: Sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) emitted 48.91 kt/year, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emitted 86.83 kt/year, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted 52.69 kt/year, particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>) emitted 302.01 and 116.85 kt/year, carbon monoxide (CO) emitted 1208.80 kt/year, ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) emitted 62.87 kt/year, black carbon (BC) emitted 3.79 kt/year, and organic carbon (OC) emitted 2.72 kt/year, respectively. The results showed that at the regional level in 2025, the iron and steel industry under the PPC (Peak Production Capacity) scenario had the highest potential for reducing SO<sub>2</sub> and NOx emissions, while the cement industry under the PPC scenario excelled in reducing PM<sub>10</sub> emissions. As for the industrial level in 2025, the flat glass industry under the ULE scenario would reduce the most SO<sub>2</sub> emitted, while the iron and steel industry and the cement industry under the PPC scenario demonstrated the best reduction in NOx and PM<sub>10</sub> emissions, respectively. Furthermore, the average annual contribution concentration of SO<sub>2</sub>, NOx, and PM<sub>10</sub> in the air monitoring stations of Qinhuangdao under the PPC scenario was significantly lower than that under the BAU scenario revealed by air quality simulation. It can be concluded that the emission policy in Qinhuangdao will help improve the air quality. This study can provide scientific support for policymakers to implement the ULE policy in industrial undeveloped cities and tourist cities such as Qinhuangdao in the future.
Mohammad Zaheer Rahimi, Rongguo Zhao, Shafiullah Sadozai
et al.
Modernizations in the chemical and construction industries have made it possible to create novel curing techniques. Many studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of curing and how it impacts the properties of concrete. In this paper, a class of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) type-I Iranian Qayen is utilized to prepare for the Compound Curing Agent (CCA) and the Water Base Curing (WBC) concrete specimens. This paraffin-based water emulsion is adopted to protect fresh concrete against the rapid evaporation of mixing water. The findings from an experimental investigation conducted according to the ASTM standards to determine the compressive strength of mortar cylinders are summarized. After mixing, the slump test is used to determine the mixing efficiency. Then, the concrete specimens are prepared with an altering water/binder ratio of 0.47, utilizing ASTM-graded sand and OPC, and cured with WBC and CCA for 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 28 days for compressive strength testing. The influence of structural grade mortar mixing with cement on the concrete strength is investigated, the compressive strengths of different curing procedures are compared, and the technical effectiveness of concrete protection using the curing compounds in Kabul is examined. The experiment results show that the compressive strength of the concrete specimens is determined to be slightly larger in concrete specimens cured with water than in specimens cured with a curing compound. In contrast, the reliability of compressive strength data of the compound-cured concrete specimens is better than that of the water-cured ones. Finally, various hardening models are used to fit the compressive strength test results of the concrete specimens. The estimated findings show that the asymptotic model can more precisely reflect the hardening behaviour of concrete during the curing process when compared to the bilinear and broken line models.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Krishna Siva Teja Chopperla, Jeremy A. Smith, Jason H. Ideker
This paper details a study on the efficacy of portland-limestone cements (PLCs) in combination with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to prevent expansion due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The PLCs studied include both interground (10–15% limestone by mass) and interblended (10% limestone by mass) systems. In this study, ASTM Type II/V cements, five different SCMs, two very-highly reactive fine aggregates, and six SCM combinations were investigated. A total of 100 mixtures were assessed using three different accelerated laboratory test methods to investigate if the SCM combinations that are used with OPCs can be utilized as-is, increased, or decreased when used instead with PLCs. The test methods used to evaluate ASR included the Pyrex mortar bar test (PMBT, ASTM C441), the accelerated mortar bar test (AMBT, ASTM C1567), and the miniature concrete prism test (MCPT, AASHTO T 380). The difference in performance between PLCs with SCMs and parent OPCs with SCMs in the MCPT conditions was further evaluated using pore solution alkalinity and electrical resistivity analysis. The efficacy of the SCM combinations to prevent ASR was also evaluated with a pozzolanic reactivity test. The expansion results from the accelerated laboratory test methods revealed that the mixtures with PLCs and SCMs had similar or better overall performance when compared to the mixtures with the parent OPCs and SCMs. It was observed that the particle size of the added limestone in interblended PLC with SCM mixtures could have a significant influence on the ASR expansion that may alter the output of the test (pass/fail). Consequently, the SCM combinations that are used with OPCs can likely be utilized as-is when used with interground PLCs with up to 15% limestone to prevent ASR. The pore solution and bulk electrical resistivity analysis showed that the lower pore solution alkalinity and higher resistance to mass transport are the main contributing factors towards PLCs’ overall improved performance for ASR mitigation in the presence of SCMs.
Localized corrosion developed on post-tensioned steel strand in deficient grout, relating to elevated concentrations of sulfate ions. The deficient grout can also have low-level chloride ion concentrations below threshold values originating from the base materials. Open-circuit potential, linear polarization resistance (LPR), and electrochemical noise (EN) measurements were made on steel specimens exposed in saturated calcium hydroxide solution with 0.012 M Cl−, 0.04 M SO42−, or combined. Results showed that the combined presence of sulfates in low-level chloride alkaline solutions elevated the corrosion rate and the extent of corrosion pitting. The EN technique was shown to provide corrosion rate estimates consistent with LPR and was able to identify pitting characteristics. The outcomes of the research provides supporting evidence that analysis of deficient grout for chlorides alone may not capture the risk for corrosion and that corrosion associated with elevated sulfate concentrations can be exacerbated in presence of low-level chlorides.