Scientists from the Institute of Rare Elements and Mineral Resources Chemistry and Technology at the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed an alternative to the most commonly used type of cement.
According to the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, this technology allows for the use of accumulated industrial waste and reduces its environmental impact.
A source in the ministry said: "The researchers used fly ash and copper-nickel slag to produce an alternative to Portland cement, which is the most widely used type of cement in the manufacture of concrete and reinforced concrete. In the experiment, waste from companies in the Murmansk region was used, including granulated copper-nickel slag from the Kola Mining and Metallurgical Plant, and ash from the Apatity thermal power plant. Liquid glass was also used as an alkaline agent."
The experts added that the material obtained by the researchers can be used in construction, as well as in filling the voids resulting from the extraction of raw materials in mines.
The source confirmed that the advantages of the alternative material are clear, as it guarantees strength comparable to the best types of concrete and relies on the recycling of two types of industrial waste. Furthermore, the absence of high-temperature firing results in a significant reduction in the carbon footprint.
Experts pointed out that this technology opens a genuine path toward a circular economy in the construction sector, where waste is transformed into resources and production becomes part of the solution to environmental problems. However, it also imposes some limitations. For example, the "powder with liquid activator" system requires precise ratios, so further testing is necessary to determine these ratios and evaluate the material's durability and performance under different climatic conditions.
