RISUD Research Seminar: Synergistic Effects of Hydration and Carbonation by Amino Acids on MgO-based Cementitious Materials for Carbon Sequestration

Conference / Lecture

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Date

19 Aug 2025
Organiser

Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD)
Time

15:00 - 16:00
Venue

Z406, 4/F, Block Z, PolyU Map

Speaker

Prof. ZHOU Xiangming

Enquiry

RISUD risud@polyu.edu.hk

Summary

Magnesium-based cement offers a sustainable alternative to conventional binders due to its low embodied carbon and CO₂ sequestration potential. This study explores the role of L-aspartic acid (L-Asp) in regulating the crystallisation of hydrated magnesium carbonates (HMCs) during the carbonation curing of reactive MgO. L-Asp delays Mg²⁺ and OH⁻ precipitation, promoting the formation and stabilisation of nesquehonite, a metastable HMC polymorph. The incorporation of L-Asp enhances carbonation efficiency, increases CO₂ uptake, and improves phase stability and compressive strength. Microstructural analysis reveals denser, morphologically refined carbonation products in L-Asp-modified composites. These findings highlight the synergistic effect of L-Asp on coupled hydration–carbonation processes in MgO-based binders and suggest their suitability for extrusion-based 3D printing.

Keynote Speaker

Prof. ZHOU Xiangming

Chair Professor, Head of Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Brunel University of London

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Prof. ZHOU Xiangming is the Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brunel University of London. He obtained his BEng in Civil and Structural Engineering and MEng in Structural Engineering from Tongji University in 1997 and 2000, respectively, followed by a PhD in Civil Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2004. Prof. ZHOU’s research focuses on sustainable cementitious materials and concrete technologies, including extrusion & 3D printing, low-carbon cements, carbon capture through cement and concrete, and valorisation of construction, demolition, and mining waste into sustainable materials. He is a pioneer in developing the elliptical ring test method for assessing early-age cracking of concrete. His research has been funded by EPSRC, the European Commission (FP7, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe), the Royal Society, British Council, etc. He has been Project Coordinator for the €5 million Green INSTRUCT project funded by Horizon 2020.

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