Reuse of recycled or waste concrete material for the construction of civil structures is an issue of great importance.The uses of recycled concrete aggregate by replacing the natural aggregate in a portion and also the effect on properties of concrete produced, for this an effort has been made to work recently done in the field and to provide the platform for further research in this regards. There are various benefits of recycling building materials. The most notable advantage is waste reduction.. Companies can reduce future degradation by conserving natural resources.Many believe material recycling may cause adverse economic effects due to less demand for new products. In response, the construction industry discovered methods of restructuring and selling reused products, creating a circular economy. Holcim in this gegard has produced the world’s first clinker made entirely of recycled minerals at its plant in Altkirch, France.
Manufacturing clinker from recycled materials
Making clinker from recycled material is a key breakthrough in driving circular construction. The recycled clinker is fully compliant with European standards and will be used to produce 100 percent recycled cement. By mixing the 100 percent recycled cement with recycled water, recycled rebar and other recycled components, 100 percent recycled concrete is scheduled for delivery in the 3Q22.
According to Edelio Bermejo, Head of Holcim’s Innovation Centre, this breakthrough shows what is possible when you combine Holcim’s unique expertise in recycling with its leadership in cement production. Developing 100 percent recycled clinker is taking us one step further in our quest to drive circular construction to decarbonise the built environment.”
Producing clinker from 100 percent recycled material involved a combination of sourcing the right waste streams and designing the best physical layout to re-engineer clinker production. The breakthrough trial in Altkirch used alternative raw materials, ranging from wood ash to waste from mineral processing, largely from local sources.
The work was driven by Holcim’s industry-leading Research and Development Centre in Lyon, France, where the company employs over 210 researchers. The Centre works in close collaboration with six regional innovation hubs, from Mumbai to Montreal, as well as a network of over 20 technical centres worldwide.
