Production of cement (the main ingredient in concrete) contributes an estimated 8-10% of CO2 emissions worldwide

Production of cement (the main ingredient in concrete) contributes an estimated 8-10% of CO2 emissions worldwide. Replacing some of that cement with more environmentally friendly ingredients such as biochar could not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also sequester and store carbon for many decades. Biochar is the carbon-enriched material left after high-temperature heating (in an oxygen-free environment) the waste material from plants such as straw. Researchers from USask College of Engineering / University of Saskatchewan used our BMIT-ID beamline to study how the way in which biochar particles are distributed within concrete contributes to its strength. Researcher Ravi Patel says developing “green” concrete composites that are just as strong as old-school concrete and reduce CO2 emissions can help ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Photo: From left to right, Ravi Patel, Dr. Bishnu Acharya, and Amin Babaeighazvini,