The Indian Institute of Sciences is tackling the construction industry’s urgent issues head-on. With natural sand becoming increasingly rare — it’s predicted we could deplete our supplies by 2050.
Indian Scientists have now explored an innovative method that stores Carbon dioxide from Industrial flue gas and uses it in Excavated soil and Construction and Demolition waste [C&D].
Tackling CO2 Emissions and C&D Waste in Construction
In the construction sector, the production of cement and bricks significantly contributes to CO2 emissions. Additionally, India generates around 150 million tonnes of Construction and Demolition waste each year, with only 1% being recycled. This situation highlights a pressing need for innovative and sustainable practices within the industry to address these environmental challenges.
“CO2 utilization and sequestration can be a scalable and feasible technology for manufacturing low-carbon prefabricated building products while being aligned with the nation’s decarbonization targets,” said Souradeep Gupta, Assistant Professor at CST.
Sustainability Meets Strength in New Materials
Mr. Gupta’s team has innovated a mortar that becomes significantly stronger—up to 22% more—when they substitute natural sand with Carbon Dioxide-treated Construction and Demolition waste. This process is further enhanced in a CO2-rich environment, speeding up the development of the mortar’s properties. Additionally, they discovered that CO2 injection into clayey soil not only stabilizes it when combined with cement and lime but also improves the overall engineering performance of the soil, marking a significant advancement in sustainable construction practices.
The team has created a 3-D printable material from stabilizing soil with cement, slag, and fly ash. This would significantly reduce the need for traditional cement and sand in mortar by 30% and 50% respectively. This innovation represents a move towards greater eco-friendly construction methods, highlighting a major step in reducing the industry’s environmental impact. To a greener future!
