This EArly Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award will develop a strategy of making the concrete more environmentally friendly by using it as adsorbent to remove Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), therefore offsetting the NO2 emissions originating from cement production and various other sources. NO2 emissions can cause various environmental and health problems. They contribute to formation of acid rain, atmospheric particles and various other toxic substances resulting in health problems, visibility reduction, eutrification and global warming. One of the most prominent results of NO2 emissions is formation of ground level ozone, which is produced in the reaction of NO2 with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. When formed, it causes adverse effects such as damage to lung tissue and reduction in lung function.
The strategy of using both fresh and aged concrete for NO2 removal offers a significant potential to transform the way the waste concrete is disposed of and recycled. It also brings together such disciplines as structural materials, materials engineering, surface science, environmental chemistry and atmospheric science in an innovative and synergetic manner.
NO2 emissions can cause various environmental and health problems. They contribute to the formation of acid rain, atmospheric particles, and various other toxic substances resulting in health problems, visibility reduction, eutrification and global warming. One of the most prevalent problems with NO2 emissions is the formation of ground level ozone, which can damage lung tissue and reduce lung function. It is a significant problem nationwide as millions of Americans live in areas that do not meet the health standards for ozone. The main project goal is to develop a new strategy of making the concrete more environmentally friendly by using it as adsorbent to remove atmospheric pollutants; thereby offsetting emissions originating from cement production and various other sources. The intellectual merit of this research is in discovery of a completely unexpected and very significant capacity of both fresh and aged concrete to mitigate atmospheric pollution, which can have significant environmental implications. We also demonstrated a feasibility of using advanced spectroscopic techniques to clarify the mechanisms of such removal. This project also discovered that concrete is much more promising material than other building materials. The broader impacts of this research are in developing novel approaches for minimizing environmental footprint on construction industry, while helping to introduce sustainability concepts in engineering education.
