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Thinking About Reducing CO2 Emissions, Researchers in Japan Develop Innovative Solution for Civil Construction, Creating Concrete Without Using Cement
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, Japan, directly linked sand particles through a simple reaction in alcohol, in the presence of a catalyst, thus creating a new innovative method of producing concrete without using cement. Undoubtedly, if this project from Japan goes from the lab to the industrial sector, it will revolutionize not only the civil construction sector but also significantly reduce CO2 emissions released during cement production.
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The Effects on Cement Production and the New Shift in the Japanese Market
The most commonly used material in civil construction worldwide is concrete, which is a mixture of aggregates (gravel and sand), water, and cement.
Cement is produced by burning clay and limestone in a high-capacity kiln. After that, they are crushed and mixed, going through a baking process, turning into a powder. This powder, after cooling, is called clinker. In this baking process, for each kilogram produced, 0.7 kg of CO2 is emitted, polluting the atmosphere.
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‘Interlocking brick’ made of earth arrives in the construction industry with cost reductions of up to 40% on the project.
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Espírito Santo will receive the largest engineering project in its history with the duplication of BR 262, which will have 50 viaducts, 28 bridges, and 2-kilometer tunnels cutting through the most challenging mountainous region of the entire state.
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A project of nearly 9 million reais already has the first kilometer paved in Santa Catarina and promises to completely transform the access between Jaraguá do Sul and Rio dos Cedros in an area where tourism is growing at a rapid pace.
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A couple builds a system to bring water from the spring to their land, climbs a hill with materials on their backs, and creates a simple, cheap, and sustainable solution to ensure their own water supply.
Understand How Japan’s Cement-Free Concrete Works
To find the compound that binds the sand grains in concrete without cement, Yuya Sakai and Ahmad Farahani, scientists in Japan, had to go through a long and patient alchemical process. The ideal substitute used by the scientists was tetraalkoxysilane, which can induce a process called sol-gel transition.
According to Sakai, researchers can produce tetraalkoxysilane from sand through an alcohol reaction and a catalyst by removing water. As a test, the researchers placed a cup made of copper foil inside a reactor with alcohol, sand, and tetraalkoxysilane.
According to the researchers, obtaining a product with adequate strength to function as concrete mainly involved finding the correct ratio of components.
Civil Construction in a Sustainable Industry
A trend that has been noteworthy is the famous green buildings, which aim to bring sustainability to civil construction by preserving environmental resources and reducing operational costs.
In this context, civil construction projects that use wood, for example, should focus on reforestation processes. Green buildings are increasingly gaining ground and ensure a faster return on investment than conventional civil construction, and over time, they are expected to be in higher demand.
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