EcoAsh

Inspiration

The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to CO₂ emissions, with cement alone accounting for nearly 7% of global emissions. As environmental concerns rise, we were inspired to create a sustainable alternative that could reduce reliance on traditional cement while making use of industrial byproducts like fly ash and red mud, which are often wasted. Our goal was to contribute to a greener future without compromising on the strength and durability required for construction materials.

What it does

EcoAsh creates an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cement by using industrial waste materials like fly ash and red mud. Instead of relying on harmful chemicals like sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it uses safer, cheaper alternatives to produce geopolymer concrete. This process reduces CO₂ emissions, cuts costs, and reuses waste, making construction more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Innovative Activators: Instead of relying on conventional NaOH, we explored sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) and sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) as alternative activators. This choice not only reduced costs but also made handling safer.

How we built it

we came up with the idea by first looking at the existing solution of Geopolymers, understanding why not many consumers are familiar with it and what were the drawbacks of this process. Our innovative idea was to enhance the process by replacing the alkaline activator used to a cheaper and safer alternative.

Challenges we ran into

We had to look at numerous potential replacements however we found that with many there was always a tradeoff which we'd have liked to avoid. After researching into each activator in detail. We concluded that Na2CO3 and Na2SIO3 are the best replacements.

What we learned

The chemistry of geopolymerization, particularly the role of alkaline activators. The environmental impact of materials like NaOH, leading us to explore safer, cost-effective alternatives such as sodium carbonate and sodium silicate. The critical role of curing processes, both ambient and low temperature, in reducing energy consumption. The practical considerations in scaling a lab innovation for industrial applications.

Built With

• excel