IISc Bangaluru develops eco-friendly sand substitute for construction

Bengaluru: A team of scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has created a new material that can replace the natural sand used for construction, thus help reducing the environmental impact of sand mining, NDTV reported.

IISc's Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST) has created this sand alternative by treating excavated soil and construction waste with carbon dioxide (CO2).

‘These materials can then be used to partially replace natural sand. This would not only reduce the environmental impact of construction materials but also impart properties that can enhance their use for construction,’ IISc reportedly stated.

The research led by Assistant Professor Souradeep Gupta found that using CO2-treated construction waste in mortar alongside curing in a CO2-rich environment can ‘significantly’ increase the material’s strength.

‘CO2 utilisation and sequestration can be a scalable and feasible technology for manufacturing low-carbon prefabricated building products while being aligned with the nation's decarbonisation targets,Dr Souradeep Gupta was quoted as explaining.

The team has found that injecting CO2 into clay soil which is commonly found in construction site will improve its interaction with cement and lime, thus both stabilizing and enhancing its performance in construction.

Combining stabilized excavated soil with cement, slag and fly ash the team has developed 3D printable materials, which can potentially reduce need for cement and sand by up to 50 per cent, according to the report.