Transforming waste glass to sodium silicate; an activator for cement-free binders and concrete products

Increasing consumption of natural resources and increasing release of carbon emissions are resulting in clear and present dangers to the planet due to global warming. As the years continue to roll by, the severity of natural disasters as a result of global warming increase.

Flash flooding in Spain turned streets into rivers and killed 216 people in October 2024. While on the 21st of July 2024 the world reached its highest global temperature ever recorded. The planet is in uncharted territory and without action on carbon emissions, who knows what the future holds?<br> <br>Despite the clear and current dangers of climate change, the production of Portland cement (PC), which is responsible for 5-7% of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, continues to grow reaching over 4 billion tonnes annually, Alkali-Activated Materials (AAMs) are emerging as a promising alterative to PC because they have the potential to consume considerable amounts of waste materials and have been reported to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared with PC binders.<br> <br>However, the use of AAMs is not a quick fix for Portland cement consumption because these materials rely heavily on chemical activators, such as sodium silicate, these activators are not user, nor eco-friendly.