Grantee Research Project Results
Developing Geopolymer Cement using Sewage Sludge Ash as Precursors
EPA Grant Number: SU840869Title: Developing Geopolymer Cement using Sewage Sludge Ash as Precursors
Investigators: Tang, Xiaochao
Institution: Widener University - Main Campus
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: January 1, 2024 through May 13, 2025
Project Amount: $74,809
RFA: 20th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Description:
By developing a process that uses industrial byproduct to create low-carbon sustainable cement product, the proposed project will directly contribute to the reduction of carbon emission and solid waste that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills. This multidisciplinary project will provide educational opportunities to undergraduate students across the engineering programs at the proposal institution, especially by infusing sustainability into senior design projects in multiple departments.
Objective:
The objective of this project is twofold: 1) to thoroughly characterize the sewage sludge ash both physically and chemically; 2) to investigate various influencing factors such as activator/binder ratio and silica modulus in the activators along with the curing conditions and eventually to determine an optimal set of factors that yield competent mechanical and engineering properties when utilizing sewage sludge ash as the precursor to develop geopolymer mortar. A local sewage sludge ash from the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (DELCORA) in southeast Pennsylvania will be utilized as the precursor for developing the geopolymer cement. The sewage sludge ash will first be tested and characterized to determine its physical and mineralogic features. Chemical and leaching analysis of this sewage sludge ash has already been carried out to determine its environmental implications. A series of mixtures will be fabricated and tested to examine the factors that are identified to be influential to the performance of the geopolymer.
Expected Results:
The expected output of this proposed project is a process to develop low-carbon geopolymer cement by using an industrial byproduct, sewage sludge ash. With the successful implementation of such process, the geopolymer product will be implemented at small scale for repairing and rehabilitation of non-structural municipal facility. The potential outcome is to contribute to lowering carbon emissions from the cement and concrete industries as the synthesizing geopolymer cement from sewage sludge ash will have an extremely lower low carbon footprint. Additionally, since the current common practice is to dispose of sewage sludge ash in landfills, this alternative beneficial use of sewage sludge ash will greatly reduce the amount of waste going into landfills and alleviate the growing demand for landfill spaces.
Supplemental Keywords:
Sewage Sludge Ash, Geopolymer Cement, Pozzolanic Activity, Alkaline ActivatorProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.