Materials & Supplies

How Concrete-Nitrogen Mix Could Cut Site Pollution

The nitrogenation process could reduce NOx by 131-384Mt by 2050.

Updated on

June 21, 2024

A new study suggests that adding nitrogen to concrete can drastically cut construction pollution, thereby removing the industry from high-emission sectors.

The study, published in Nature—an international weekly journal of science—by researchers at the University of Birmingham, suggests that nitrogenating concrete can reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 3.4-6.9 megatonnes (Mt).

This reduction is equivalent to 6-13% of industry-related emissions in 2021.

NOx is a highly reactive, toxic air pollutant known to contribute to acid rain, ozone layer depletion, and significant health risks, particularly respiratory diseases. It is a primary factor in air pollution-related mortality.

According to the study, nitrogenation can reduce NOx by a total of 131-384Mt by 2050, which would be the equivalent of 75–260 years potentially lost through premature death and reduced quality of life in disability-adjusted years.

“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,” said the study’s lead author, Ning Zhang, from the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development.

Zhang highlighted that nitrogenated concrete offers a promising solution for mitigating air pollution and managing construction waste in industrialized regions.

Global NOx emissions

Cities worldwide, especially in the global south, are undergoing significant urban renewal, expansion, and modernization, leading to construction pollution.

“Between 1970 and 2018, global NOx emissions nearly doubled from 70Mt to 120Mt,” says Co-author Dr Yuli Shan, from the University of Birmingham.

“Addressing and managing these emissions is crucial for enhancing urban health, fostering sustainable industrial growth, and ensuring environmental wellbeing.”

However, despite the promising results, nitrogenation faces challenges, especially in transporting large volumes of materials and gases.

To address this, experts recommend using industrial concrete carbonation systems to optimise the logistics network and enhance the feasibility of the process.

They also advocate for establishing an emissions trading system similar to the one already in place for carbon, which would provide a more precise quantification of the benefits associated with NOx sequestration.