Feasibility analysis for implementing CO2 curing in a concrete block industry in the São Paulo Region

Abstract

The project feasibility analysis determines whether the project should be carried out from different spheres: strategic, technical, operational, legal, economic-financial, environmental, marketing, political, fiscal, location, among others. These are not excluding analyzes, all aspects must be assessed before implementing a new project or new process. This work will focus on the analysis of the technical feasibility of the innovative project to implement carbonation curing in a concrete block factory in the region of São Paulo. An overview of the CO2 curing process and changing needs is presented, including identifying local CO2 sources and delivering cost, gas consumption for chamber saturation, estimation of CO2 uptake by masonry units during curing, estimation of consumption and monthly cost of CO2, curing chamber changes needs, new equipment acquisition, estimation of cost for retrofit and new installations, potential best definitions on optimal temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration. International succeeded cases are presented. The study concludes that the technology can be easily implemented in the region, with few changes on a plant production process and on the curing chamber. There would be an increase of 4% to 14% on the block cost depending on the distance to the CO2 supplier. Considering the Brazilian production of concrete blocks, up to 168,780 tons of CO2 per year can be sequestered, this value is equivalent to the CO2 sequestered by 21,100 trees.