How can seashell waste be used in construction? This is what a recent study published in Construction Materials hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated using seashell powder as a cement/concrete filler and temporary replacement. This study has the potential to help scientists and engineers develop new and greener methods for construction materials, as the latter can be environmentally taxing.
For the study, the researchers examined whether seashell powder could be used as a partial filler and replacement for Portland cement, with the latter being a widely used construction material. The researchers went to great pain to grind the seashells into powder using a variety of methods, including thorough cleaning, heating, and grounding with a ball mill. The researchers note that seashells were used for their limestone characteristics like Portland cement.
In the end, the researchers found that not only did seashell powder reduce carbon emissions by approximately 36 percent but maintained the structural integrity of the concrete. For context, concrete construction contributes to approximately 7 percent of global carbon emissions.
“Concrete is everywhere, and consequently its carbon footprint is enormous,” said Dr. Ali Abbas, who is an associate professor in structural analysis and design at the University of East London and lead author of the study. “What we’ve shown is that something as ordinary as discarded shells can make a meaningful dent in those emissions. At moderate replacement levels the concrete behaves very well, which means this could be scaled up in real-world settings.”
Going forward, the researchers recommend future research focuses on scalability, durability, and long-term exposure under a myriad of environmental and non-environmental conditions.
How will seashell waste be used for cement/concrete in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Construction Materials, EurekAlert!