CO₂ uptake of carbonation-cured cement blended with ground volcanic ash

Accelerated carbonation curing (ACC) as well as partial replacement of cement with natural minerals are examples of many previous approaches, which aimed to produce cementitious products with better properties and environmental amicabilities. In this regard, the present study investigates CO₂ uptake of carbonation-cured cement blended with ground Saudi Arabian volcanic ash (VA). Paste samples with cement replacement of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by mass were prepared and carbonation-cured after initial curing of 24 h. A compressive strength test, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and thermogravimetry were performed. Although pozzolanic reaction of VA hardly occurred, unlike other pozzolana in blended cement, the results revealed that incorporation of VA as a supplementary cementitious material significantly enhanced the compressive strength and diffusion of CO₂ in the matrix. This increased the CO₂ uptake capacity of cement, reducing the net CO₂ emission upon carbonation curing.