The first of such pavements has been installed in the center of Warsaw.
The concrete utilizes photocatalysis with the addition of titanium oxide. Owing to sunrays, reduction of harmful substances (mainly nitrogen dioxide) occurs on the pavement’s surface. These further decompose themselves into harmless compounds and are washed away by rain into soil. Another positive of the concrete itself is its ability to self-clean.
Measurements prove that the concentration of nitrogen dioxide has been reduced by 30 percent in the pavement’s area
Measurements prove that the concentration of nitrogen dioxide has been reduced by 30 percent in the pavement’s area. Laboratory experiments prove that even a 70 percent reduction is possible. Skanska has declared that they plan to build a football field sized area of this new kind of concrete. This would neutralize the exhaust fumes of 10 diesel cars, assuming they will have travelled 17,000 km.
There are plans to further develop such pavements throughout Warsaw. The technology would also allow to build such concrete into the façade of buildings.
The Polish partner companies of the project are Górażdża Cement, the Polish Institute of Geophysics, the Civil Engineering Department of the Warsaw University of Technology and the Geology Department of the University of Warsaw.
