Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and the State Universidade Paulista (UNESP) of Brazil have developed a new type of cement made from olive bone ash and slag from blast furnaces. It is the first cement manufactured in the world in which all the materials used are waste, which makes it a much more sustainable alternative to the one currently used in the construction sector. In this research, Almazara Candela (Elche, Alicante) has collaborated with the supply of olive bone ash.
"This new cement stands out especially for its low carbon footprint; its impact, in terms of greenhouse effect, is much lower compared to the cements currently used. In addition, this work opens a new way of business for the use and energy recovery of a biomass, as is the case of olive bones, as well as waste from blast furnaces, "says Jordi Payá, researcher at the Institute of Science and Concrete Technology (ICITECH) of the UPV.
Cement has very good mechanical performance: it allows to obtain sufficiently high strengths for its application in construction (about 300 kg / cm2 in compression), especially in precast. Among its novelties, the researchers highlight the replacement of the synthetic chemical reagent (high price and with a significant carbon footprint) necessary in other previously investigated alkaline activation cements, by olive bone ash. Furthermore, the preparation of these cements does not require high temperatures, as occurs with Portland cement, where temperatures above 1400 ºC are necessary.
Further information:
https://www.ibercampus.es/producen-cemento-con-cenizas-de-hueso-de-oliva-35845.htm
http://www.elmundo.es/economia/vivienda/2017/11/20/5a0d890546163f2b268b458b.html