Photo: Geopolymer Concrete Blocks produced with Globigerina Limestone Waste
Research at the Faculty for the Built Environment led to the development of an innovative construction product, which exploits Construction and Demolition waste (primarily limestone waste), without relying on cement as a binder, with a low environmental impact.
The large volumes of Construction and Demolition Waste, Excavated Waste limestone, Quarry Waste generated in the construction industry, present significant challenges in disposal with environmental impacts. Recycling presents opportunities in reducing the disposal of waste material and also resulting in lower demands on the extraction of new resources.
However, low-quality inert waste which is generated in construction activities primarily Globigerina limestone, presents limited opportunity in recycling, resulting in large volume of waste disposal.
The increase in construction activity is leading to higher demands for construction products, with increased pressures on natural resource extraction including the extraction of aggregate and cement for the production of concrete and concrete products.
In particular, there is a large demand for concrete blocks in the construction industry. Cement as a binder in concrete, has a high embodied energy with negative impacts on the environment.
The ReCON project - Large Volume Waste Recycling for Low-Impact High-Performance Concrete, presents significant innovation and a marked break from traditional cement-based materials which have a large impact on the environment. The ReCON project refers to the recycling of large volumes of excavation waste consisting primarily of lower quality Globigerina limestone and other materials, normally considered inadequate if used as aggregate in civil engineering applications, primarily due to low mechanical characteristics and impurities.
The new product developed, consists of low-impact high-performance geopolymer concrete with a low environmental impact, an eco-construction product based on waste excavation material.
The innovation lies in the transformation of the waste into a high-performance construction product.
The new product is produced through a new technological process based on a production methodology consisting of key steps and resulting in premium quality products for the construction industry. The final product is strong, stable and durable for construction applications, yet without relying on cement.
The new product, can effectively provide for the increasing demand for construction products. It can be presented in the form of building blocks, cladding panels or in other geometries and forms of high-performance construction products. The new product is based largely on waste, resulting in a reduction in consumption of raw materials and less waste disposed, and lower environmental impact. The new technology effectively transforms large quantities of waste into a resource, a low-impact high-performance material.
The Project is financed through the Malta Council for Science and Technology, FUSION Research and Innovation TDP Technology Development Programme. For further information, contact the project Principal Investigator Prof. Ruben Paul Borg, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta.
