Damian Stefaniuk is a postdoc at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub). He works with MIT professors Franz-Josef Ulm and Admir Masic of the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) to investigate multifunctional concrete. Here, he provides an overview of carbonation in cement-based products, a brief explanation of why understanding carbonation in the life cycle of cement products is key for assessing their environmental impact, and an update on current research to bolster the process.

TLDR:
The article discusses a new method to boost the ability of concrete to naturally absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). The research, led by scientists at RMIT University in Australia, focuses on enhancing the carbonation process of concrete, which could ultimately lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Concrete is known for its ability to absorb CO2 over time in a process called carbonation. While this is a natural process, the researchers at RMIT University have developed a technique to increase the speed and amount of CO2 that can be absorbed by the concrete. This is achieved by incorporating industrial waste products, such as silica fume and fly ash, into the concrete mix.