Nitrogen concrete: Adding nitrogen to concrete could significantly reduce NOx emissions
June 14, 2024 – Scientists from the University of Birmingham believe adding nitrogen to concrete could significantly reduce global emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx).
NOx is a collective name for various nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to the respiratory tract of humans and animals and also to plant growth. Nitrogen oxides also deplete the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Nitrogen oxides are formed during all forms of high-temperature combustion, for example in an internal combustion engine.
The Birmingham researchers expect that nitrogenisation of concrete could contribute to a reduction in NOx emissions by 3.4 – 6.9 megatonnes (Mt) – which they estimate amounts to 6 – 13 percent of industry-related emissions in 2021. By 2050, the process could reduce NOx by a total of 131-384 Mt. The research into the nitrogen material devised by the British scientists was published on June 14 in Nature Cities under the title ‘Contribution of concrete nitrogenation to global NOx uptake’.