Pozzolanic materials obtained from fly ash as new generation additives used in the technology of green concrete production

Funding Organization: National Agency for Academic Exchange

Joint Research Projects between Poland and Ukraine

Project title: Pozzolanic materials obtained from fly ash as new generation additives used in the technology of green concrete production

Agreement number: BPN/BUA/2021/1/00080/U/00001

Project implementation period: 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

Principal Investigator: dr Rafał Panek

Project value: 24 600,00 PLN

Funds granted for Lublin University of Technology: 24 600,00 PLN

Abstract: The project aims to develop a new generation of pozzolanic additives to replace parts of cement in the production of green concretes. These additives will be based on the synthesis of zeolites and mesoporous silica materials, using fly ash, a waste product from thermal coal combustion. The background of the project is the global increase in CO2 emissions, partly related to the cement industry, which accounts for 7-8% of global CO2 emissions. Reducing cement consumption by using alternative materials can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project is entirely within the discipline of civil engineering, geodesy and transportation.

Zeolites are natural or synthetic aluminosilicates with a crystalline structure with spaces (channels, chambers) a few nm in size. Mesoporous silica materials are characterized by an ordered, homogeneous internal silica structure and have pores 2 to 50 nm in diameter. The use of these materials as pozzolanic additives in concrete contributes to sealing the structure of concrete, increasing its watertightness and chemical resistance. The project involves synthesizing these materials from fly ash, supporting the idea of a closed-loop economy and reducing CO2 emissions

The cooperation between the Lublin and Lviv Polytechnic Universities involves the implementation of four tasks. The first involves obtaining and studying the properties of zeolites and mesoporous silica materials. The second task involves the development of formulations for concrete mixtures, taking into account various variables such as the type and amount of pozzolanic additive. The third task is to study the physical and mechanical properties of concrete, and the fourth is to analyze the environmental and economic benefits of using green concrete.

The project aims to expand knowledge about the use of porous materials in construction and discover the key characteristics needed for pozzolanic material to produce high-quality concrete. The scientific cooperation is aimed at joint publications and further research projects, with industrial interest in the project results already shown by Stachema Polska Spółka z o.o., a company specializing in the production of concrete additives.