(from left to right) Dr Wu Shifan, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Solutions, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTU and Professor Chu Jian, Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTU holding up blocks of biocement made from urea and carbide sludge.
CREDIT: Credit to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have found a way to create biocement from waste, making the alternative to regular cement even greener and more sustainable.
Biocement is a renewable form of cement that typically uses bacteria to form a hardening reaction that binds soil into a solid block.
The NTU scientists have now managed to use two common waste materials, industrial carbide sludge and urea—from the urine of mammals—to create biocement.
They developed a process in which the reaction of urea with calcium ions in industrial carbide sludge forms a hard solid, or precipitate. When this reaction takes place in soil, the precipitate bonds soil particles together and fills the gaps between them, creating a compact mass of soil. This results in a strong, sturdy and less permeable block of biocement.
The research team, led by Professor Chu Jian, Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, showed in a proof-of-concept research paper published in February 2022 in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering that their biocement could potentially become a sustainable and cost-effective method for soil improvement, such as strengthening the ground for use in construction or excavation, controlling beach erosion, reducing dust or wind erosion in the desert, or building freshwater reservoirs on beaches or in the desert.
It can also be used as biogrout to seal cracks in rock for seepage control and even to touch up and repair monuments like rock carvings and statues.
“Biocement is a sustainable and renewable alternative to traditional cement and has great potential to be used for construction projects that require the ground to be treated,” said Prof Chu, who is also the Director of NTU’s Centre for Urban Solutions. “Our research makes biocement even more sustainable by using two types of waste material as its raw materials. In the long run, it will not only make it cheaper to manufacture biocement, but also reduce the cost involved for waste disposal.”
Original Article: NTU Singapore scientists create renewable biocement entirely out of waste material
More from: Nanyang Technological University
The Latest on: Biocement
- The BioBased concrete tiles cut carbon emissions and wasteon June 27, 2022 at 10:31 am
As the result of a collaboration between StoneCycling and Biomason, the BioBasedTile is created with Biomason’s Biocement technology. The tiles can be used to build structures that are stronger ...
- Startup using microorganisms to make 'green' cementon June 22, 2022 at 9:16 am
A Colorado company is channeling the industriousness of microorganisms to grow zero-carbon cement in a process that is similar to the way corals build reefs or oysters produce shells.
- NCBiotech Awards $1.7 Million in Grants, Loans in Latest Quarteron June 20, 2022 at 1:02 pm
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center awarded 18 grants and loans totaling $1,755,181 to universities, bioscience companies and nonprofit organizations in the third quarter of its fiscal year. The ...
- Technologyon June 19, 2022 at 11:00 am
A Colorado company is channeling the industriousness of microorganisms to grow zero-carbon cement in a process that is similar to the way corals build reefs or oysters produce shells.
- Eco-Friendly Cement Made From Mammal Urine And Trash Could Change The Gameon June 14, 2022 at 2:23 am
Researchers from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a novel way to make biocement from trash, offering a more eco-friendly alternative to the cement that’s commonly ...
- Prometheus 'Bio-cement' Touted as Portland Cement Subon June 7, 2022 at 3:09 pm
But it will take about two years to get through the certification process, he adds. The biocement is a hydrogel-based living building material containing bacteria capable of microbially induced ...
- Environment-friendlyon May 23, 2022 at 5:00 pm
A team of researchers from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU Singapore) have discovered a way to make biocement from trash. Biocement is a type of renewable cement that binds ...
- NTU Singapore scientists create renewable biocement made entirely from waste materials (IMAGE)on May 13, 2022 at 6:30 am
NTU and Professor Chu Jian, Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTU holding up blocks of biocement made from urea and carbide sludge.
- NTU Singapore scientists create renewable biocement made entirely from waste materials (IMAGE)on May 13, 2022 at 6:30 am
Repair work using biocement was done at Chongqing University, China, by Dr Yang Yang. The biocement solution is colourless, allowing restoration works to maintain the carving’s original colour.
- bioLITH in Medium Grey Standard Effect and Polished Finishon April 23, 2021 at 7:46 am
The process of growing biocement™ materials is similar to hydroponics- whereby aggregates mixed with the microorganism are fed an aqueous solution, and allowed to harden to ASTM specification.
via Bing News
The Latest on: Biocement
via Google News
Add Comment