Concrete is the most frequently used man-made construction material. Although it is considered non-ecological due to the great amount of CO₂ emissions at cement production, concrete can reabsorb a part of the released CO₂.

This paper encompasses theoretical work and laboratory determinations regarding the ability of concrete to absorb atmospheric CO₂ by carbonation. The presentation contains an original model for the calculation of carbonation depth, followed by a short overview of existing studies in the field of CO₂ uptake. The second part of the paper unveils an experimental program that uses an original and unconventional procedure that is also combined with traditional methods. The main aims are to determine the CO₂ uptake using a direct procedure and to obtain an adequate coefficient for the carbonation capacity of the initial calcium oxide with a tribute to the existing theoretical considerations. The experimental results were in good correlation with the theoretical models and an appropriate coefficient has been obtained.