Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX:SUV) has produced a low-carbon, high-strength concrete through laboratory trials in collaboration with Murdoch University.
Using Suvo Metakaolin, the trials yielded concrete with an average strength of 52 megapascals (MPa), which exceeds the performance of many conventional concrete materials.
The introduction of Metakaolin as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) may have significant environmental implications, potentially halving greenhouse gas emissions associated with cement production.
Cement manufacturing is currently recognised as the most significant industrial source of these emissions, contributing to 8% of worldwide totals, an amount comparable to emissions from the global car fleet.
Reducing emissions
Suvo non-executive chairman Aaron Banks said: “This is an outstanding first-round trial result for the company which could provide an entry into a large industry.
“If the cement industry were a country, it would only be behind China and the United States of America in CO2 emissions.
“The world use of cement is equivalent to building New York City every 40 days.
“The opportunity to play a part in reducing emissions in the cement industry is analogous to the role of electric vehicles in replacing internal combustion engines in the global passenger car fleet.
“It’s the next round of testing that we look forward to most.
“We now expect to start further testing with Pittong Kaolin and combining this with other mining companies waste products such as fly ash and slag, that might otherwise be committed to landfill, we will look to convert those waste streams into low carbon concrete.”
50% reduction in GHG emissions
As part of the laboratory trials undertaken by Murdoch University, Suvo’s Metakaolin was used with other readily available inputs to create a low-carbon, geopolymer concrete.
Geopolymer concrete is a low-emission, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional OPC.
It's produced by chemically reacting aluminate and silicate-bearing materials with caustic activators like metakaolin, fly ash, ground blast furnace slag and other waste-derived components.
Based on scholarly research, the production of Metakaolin compared to OPC achieves a 50% reduction in GHG emissions as the production of Metakaolin necessitates a lower temperature (700°C compared to 1,400°C), hence a lower carbon footprint for the energy required, and produces water rather than carbon dioxide.
This is in stark contrast to what is currently available in the cement industry.
Forward plan
The licensing agreement was signed with Murdoch University earlier this week for a geopolymer concrete batching plant and a low carbon concrete formulation – ‘Colliecrete’.
The company now intends to commercialise the Murdoch Technology by commencing studies to increase the scale of the pilot plant to be able to produce Colliecrete and other geopolymer concrete formulations, using Metakaolin and various readily available inputs such as other waste-derived products like fly ash.
This initial laboratory trial using Suvo metakaolin has shown the potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions and achieve impressive strength, surpassing many existing concrete applications.