Mitsubishi looks to advance CO2 capture in concrete

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is researching the possibility of injecting waste CO2 into concrete, to help reduce the industry’s carbon emissions.

The CO2 would be drawn from the processes of, for example, steel mills, power plants and cement manufacturing facilities.

The Tokyo-based multinational says the CO2, once embedded in concrete, will mineralise and remain permanently locked in.

MC said most of the current carbon-recycling technologies are mainly used for a limited scope of unreinforced concrete, such as concrete blocks, so the challenge now is to enhance their mineralisation capabilities and broaden their applications.

With its partners, Kajima Corporation and Chugoku Electric Power, MC hopes to improve the technology and apply it to the reinforced and cast-in-place concretes used in construction.

MC’s proposal for continuing research and development in this technology has been selected for the international NEDO grant programme, which aims to promote industrial technology and covers developments in carbon-recycling.