Researchers at Washington State University are working on a new form of concrete, re-engineered from the molecules up, using coal fly ash, a waste product that stems from coal-based electricity generation. Concrete and coal fly ash aren’t typically grouped together, but the both represent severe environmental problems.

Making concrete, which is used for roads, bridges, buildings, runways, sidewalks, and a variety of other infrastructure projects, means combining cement with sand and gravel. Making cement means emittting greenhouse gases to such a degree that it thought to be esponsible for about 5 percent of all global emissions. Coal fly ash is a fine-grained, powdery particulate that is the residue of burnt coal.

With around three-fourths of all coal fly ash ends up in a landfill, there have been attempts turn it into concrete before with degrees of success: in 2009, engineer Henry Liu was made able to make coal fly bricks. But this new method of production is radically different.

“Our production method does not require heating or the use of any cement,” says grad student Gang Xu, speaking in a press statement.

Read the full story at https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a22127827/scientists-make-concrete-with-trash-instead-of-cement/.

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