Global decarbonization enabled by a novel strategy of biomineralization for concrete corrosion inhibition

Abstract

With rapid urban population growth, predominantly in coastal regions, decarbonizing concrete structures in coastal cities is crucial. Extending the lifespan of concrete is highly efficient in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Biomineralization for concrete corrosion inhibition (BCCI) was previously proposed and demonstrated to effectively protect marine concrete in laboratory experiments, showing promise for decarbonization due to potentially increased lifespans. The potential of BCCI for decarbonization and sustainability warrants further investigation. Therefore, this study evaluated its impact on GHG emissions for insights into global decarbonization. Field corrosion experiments were conducted to ascertain its effectiveness as a valuable GHG calculation input, including biofilm community analysis and microstructure and macroscopic measurements of concrete. Results show that BCCI decreased the total/relative abundances of corrosive bacteria, inhibited sulfate and chloride diffusion, and enhanced carbon functions, irrespective of concrete type. Moreover, BCCI significantly reduced GHG emissions, particularly in 20 MPa concrete. BCCI demonstrated substantial GHG mitigation potential in China, Indonesia, and the USA, which enabled a competitive 37–65% reduction in global GHG from producing underwater concrete. In the long term, this strategy would yield more sustainable development benefits. Findings contribute to achieving global decarbonization and multiple sustainable development goals for concrete sectors and coastal infrastructures.