Project data

Project name:	Use of regional, finely dispersed mineral residues to increase resource and CO2 efficiency in concrete production in Thuringia
Running time:	04/2024 - 12/2026 (at the HSN)
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Network partner:

• Joint project in the WIR! alliance "RENAT.BAU - RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING"
• Project duration: 01/2024 - 12/2026
• Project duration at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences/ Thuringian Innovation Centre for Recyclable Materials: 04/2024 - 04/2026

IAB - Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar non-profit organisation Coordinator
Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences/ Thuringia Innovation centre for recyclable materials
BB Beton und Bauwaren Produktions- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH

Summary of the project

The construction industry consumes 60 % of the world's available material and energy resources. At the same time, it generates CO₂-emissions to a considerable extent. For example, the cement industry is responsible for 8-10 % of anthropogenic CO₂ responsible. The cement and concrete industry is facing major challenges to minimise the massive environmental impact associated with this. A total of 21.61 million tonnes of stone and earth raw materials were extracted in the Free State of Thuringia in 2019. Siliceous hard rock accounted for 4.1 million tonnes of this. These are extracted in the Thuringian Forest, the Small Thuringian Forest, the Thuringian Slate Mountains, the Kyffhäuser, the Thuringian part of the Harz and in areas of the Vorderrhön.

The aim of the project is to develop innovative utilisation technologies for these locally occurring, finely dispersed residual materials. To this end, it is necessary to record the properties of these residual materials and, based on this, to develop concrete technology procedures for the material and ecological optimisation of concrete and cast stone formulations through to optimised formulations for self-compacting concretes. The effect of finely dispersed additives is based on increasing the packing density or the glue content and the chemical reactivity of pozzolanic additives. Whilst retaining the fresh and hardened concrete properties, this makes it possible to improve the ecological balance by reducing CO₂-intensive cement clinker content in the concrete. At the same time, energy-intensive grinding and transport processes required for conventional fillers and additives are avoided and the need for primary fillers is reduced. Local recycling chains from raw material extraction to the Thuringian concrete producer are realised.