Format: On Campus
Number of Students: 3
Duration of Project: 30 June – 8 August
Project Supervisor: Assoc. Prof Zeynep Başaran Bundur  
Research Areas:  Carbon Capture, Alternative SCMs, Carbon mineralization

Application Deadline: 11 June 2025

Daily Supervisor: Ilgın Sandalcı

Project Description: Construction Demolish waste (CDW) components, particularly aggregates, capture carbon dioxide (CO2) through carbon mineralization. CO2 mineralization is the process of chemically binding CO2 (“carbonation”) in calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Recent studies showed that the finest component of recycled concrete, RCP, can capture significant amounts of CO2 and be revalorized as SCM. The CO₂ncrete project aims to valorize components of CDW through enforced carbonation and mechanical agitation, enabling a new alternative SCM for the industry

Project Objectives: 

1. Revalorizing mineral waste components (Recycled concrete paste (RCP), ceramics, tiles, bricks, etc.) of CDW as an alternative SCM through carbon mineralization.
2. Asses the performance of cement-based systems containing regenerated SCM.

Project Tasks:

• Characterize alternative SCM resources from waste materials
• Facilitate carbon mineralization to regenerate SCMs from waste materials
• Assess the performance of cement-based systems containing regenerated SCM.
• Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the method.

Deliverables: 

The interns will present their work using a detailed poster.

Benefits for the Student: 

The students will develop a strong background in:

• Material Chemistry and Carbon mineralization
• Carbon Capture methods 
• Design of cement-based systems
• Performance requirements of building materials
• Technical and economic viability of carbon capture methods in the field

Requirements: 

• Be able to understand scientific terminology in English
• Interest in Chemistry, and Material Science
• Be able to work in groups
• Can enjoy working in a lab☺

You can apply this project from the LINK!