Adding nitrogen to concrete could reduce global levels of nitrogen oxides created by the construction industry in developing towns and cities
An international team of researchers have found that adding nitrogen to concrete could reduce NOx emissions by 3.4-6.8 megatonnes, representing 6-13% of industry-related emissions in 2021.
By 2050, the process could reduce NOx by 131-384 Mt. This could represent the equivalent of 75-260 years potentially lost to premature death and reduced quality of life.
This estimate is in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALY).
The work was published in Nature Cities.
NOx contribute to air pollution-related mortality
NOx are highly reactive toxic air pollutants which can contribute to acid rain and ozone layer depletion and pose significant health threats.
Adding nitrogen to concrete on a commercial scale is likely to provide better economic and environmental prospects than similar processes relating to carbon dioxide.
Co-author Dr Yuli Shan, from the University of Birmingham, said: “Between 1970 and 2018, global NOx emissions nearly doubled from 70 Mt to 120 Mt. Addressing and managing these emissions is crucial for enhancing urban health, fostering sustainable industrial growth, and ensuring environmental well-being.”
‘Significant potential for concrete in capturing NOx’
The first author of the study, Ms Ning Zhang from the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban & Regional Development, said: “There is significant potential for concrete in capturing NOx.
“Applying this technology holds promise for rapidly urbanising and emerging industrial regions, as it can generate substantial economic value and curtail industrial NOx pollution in these areas.
“The proposed nitrogenated concrete material presents a promising integrated solution for mitigating air pollution and managing construction waste in industrialised regions.”
The researchers recommend setting up an emissions trading system like the one created for carbon dioxide. This would develop a widely accepted quantification of the advantages associated with NOx sequestration.
Challenges of adding nitrogen to concrete
Practical application of the processes faces challenges related to transporting large volumes of materials and gases.
To overcome this issue, the team recommends optimising the logistics network using established industrial and commercial concrete carbonation systems.
This will enhance the feasibility of concrete nitrogenation.
