Environmental life cycle assessment of concrete with different mixed designs

Abstract

To identify proper types of concrete with favourable mechanical and durability properties is necessary, which imposes minimum pollution into the environment. We collected information, based on the literature and consulting companies, by evaluating one cubic meter of five different types of concrete, including microsilica, Geopolymer, micro–nano bubble, nanosilica and using only ordinary Portland cement (OPC). After using a life cycle inventory (LCI) phase, according to the life cycle assessment (LCA) for cradle to gate, we applied SimaPro8.1 software using the collected information. The results indicated that global warming indicator in Geopolymer concrete was much lower than the other concretes and indicated a reduction of nearly 26% in comparison with ordinary Portland cement in concrete. Also, the global warming indicator increased approximately 56%, 17% and 38% in microsilica, nanosilica and micro–nano bubble concrete in comparison with OPC concrete, respectively. Common harmful environmental impacts that were associated with ecosystem damage, ecosystem quality, human health, climate change and global warming potential (GWP), human toxicity, acidification and eutrophication were observed in microsilica concrete, while OPC was the most environmentally friendly concrete in production stage due to its lowest level of environmental burdens.