Green Construction Research & Training Centre Seminar Series
Recent Development of Magnesium Carbonate Cements
December 11th, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Please join us for the next session in the Green Construction Research & Training Centre (GCRTC) Seminar Series, featuring Dr. Shaoqin Ruan, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Zhejiang University.
Dr. Ruan will deliver a talk entitled “Recent Development of Magnesium Carbonate Cements.”
This presentation examines the rapidly evolving landscape of low-carbon construction materials and highlights the potential of magnesium-based cements as a pathway toward carbon-negative concrete systems. As the global construction sector faces increasing pressure to cut emissions, Dr. Shaoqin Ruan explores how magnesium carbonate cement offers a viable alternative to traditional Portland cement. Drawing on experimental studies of coupled hydration–carbonation reactions and CO₂-curing processes, he analyzes how factors such as curing humidity, CO₂ concentration, and MgO reactivity can be optimized to improve strength and durability. His research further evaluates the integration of industrial by-products including fly ash, slag, and red mud, demonstrating how their effects on microstructure can enhance performance.
Dr. Ruan is internationally recognized for his contributions to low-carbon and carbon-sequestration concrete technologies. With experience spanning China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong, he has been an applicant on nearly 10 million RMB in funded research and has collaborated extensively across academia and industry. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization at Zhejiang University, and as Deputy Director of the Field Observation Research Station for Material Corrosion. His work includes participation in the EU Horizon 2020 program, consultancy for U.S. industry partners, and service on the editorial board of Scientific Reports. Recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in 2023 and 2024, he played a key role in launching Zhejiang Province’s first carbon-fixation concrete production line.
As interest in low-emission building systems accelerates worldwide, Dr. Ruan’s expertise in CO₂-curing technologies and carbon-negative cement materials offers important insights into the future of sustainable infrastructure within the field of civil engineering.
Date: Thursday, December 11th, 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 626 7476 8659
Passcode: 110763
Room EME 4218 will also be available for those who wish to join in person.