1. Utilisation of reused steel and slag : analysing the circular economy benefits through three case studiesGenesis Camila Cervantes Puma, Adriana Salles, Janez Turk, Viorel Ungureanu, Luís Bragança, 2024, review article Abstract: This research explores sustainable construction practices focusing on material reuse, specifically reclaimed structural steel and slag. In general, the building stock is not designed for deconstruction, and material recovery for reuse at the end of life of buildings is complex and challenging. The study evaluates the benefits of content reuse through a thorough analysis of three case studies— BedZED eco-friendly housing, Angus Technopôle building, and the use of steel slag aggregate in road construction. It highlights the value of reclaimed structural steel and by-products like steel slag in waste reduction, energy conservation, and resource preservation. The BedZED case study showcases recycled steel’s cost-effectiveness and economic viability in construction, while the Angus Technopôle building exemplifies the adaptive reuse of an old steel frame building. Additionally, the third case study showcases the benefits of using Electric Arc Furnace C slag in asphalt-wearing courses, highlighting the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. The versatility of reclaimed structural steel and slag is evident in integrating material reuse in building construction and road infrastructure. These case studies illustrate the potential for reusing steel and its by-products in various construction contexts, from eco-friendly housing to road development. Therefore, the study aims to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of sustainable practices within the construction industry by showcasing the successful incorporation of reclaimed steel and slag in these projects. Considering the significant contributions of building construction to global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production, the study advocates for adopting circular economy (CE) principles within the construction industry. Finally, the analysis of case studies underscores the advantages of reclaimed structural steel and the valorisation of steel slag through the lens of CE and their contribution to sustainable development.
Keywords: circular economy, reused steel, steel slag aggregate, reclaimed steel, steel members
Published in DiRROS: 12.04.2024; Views: 97; Downloads: 40
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2. Green transition in slovenian building and civil engineering industry : 10 years of research on alkali-activated materials and alkali-activated foamsBarbara Horvat, Branka Mušič, 2024, published scientific conference contribution (invited lecture) Abstract: The building and civil engineering industry yearly causes more than 40% of man-made CO2 and consumes raw materials for two-thirds of Mont Everest. To decrease the carbon footprint and consumption of raw materials, alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are researched as an alternative to conventional building and civil engineering products like cements, mortar, and ceramics. Ideally, locally available waste materials are used as ingredients: (i) as precursors that react with alkali and form an aluminosilicate network, and (ii) as fillers that get permanently encapsulated and safely stored in AAMs. The addition of gas bubbles and lightweight fillers transforms AAMs into alkali-activated foams and alkali-activated lightweight materials that have the potential to be used as thermal and acoustic insulation materials. Although AAMs are researched worldwide, this review focuses on the state-of-the-art localised solely to Slovenia, particularly on the materials and curing procedures used, as well as on the scientific contribution of the basic research. Besides, the year 2024 marks 10 years of research on alkali activation of raw and waste inorganic materials in Slovenia.
Keywords: secondary raw material, alkali-activated material, alkali-activated foams, alkali, circular economy, microwave irradiation, mechanical strength
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2024; Views: 100; Downloads: 99
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3. Degradation and Stabilization of Polymer MaterialsBranka Mušič, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2023, short scientific article Keywords: polymer-based materials, nano, micro, and macro composites, effects on (micro) organisms and toxicity, impact on the ecosystem, mechanisms and products of accelerated aging and degradation, physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological, analysis, biodegradability, sustainability, life cycle, renewable and recycled resources and the circular economy
Published in DiRROS: 21.12.2023; Views: 241; Downloads: 84
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4. Mining waste in circular economy - legislative aspectSenko Pličanič, Ana Mladenovič, Alenka Mauko Pranjić, Petra Vrhovnik, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: One of the common European commitments is a transition towards a green circular economy in which waste is not discarded and considered to be just an environmental problem, but should be recognized as an important potential source of raw materials for industry. In a priority order in waste management activities, introduced by the Waste Directive in 2012, recycling is set just behind the waste prevention and reuse. Many types of waste can be recycled, the most perspective being construction, industrial and mining wastes. The latter are produced and disposed of at mine sites during the excavation and processing of ore and are extremely perspective due to large quantities and remaining of different metals, however still underutilized, with low recycling rate. Many mining wastes are inert and do not releases contaminants into environment, however, some of them are problematic and even require monitoring. Reprocessing of these wastes, which include beneficiation and sequential extraction of valuable metals in the first phase and recycling of residues in both structural and civil engineering in the second phase establishes a zero waste model with several benefits for economy, environment and society. Out of the South-East European countries, North Macedonia has great potential to establish this model. As a consequence of long mining tradition and abundant ore resources, there are many mining and metallurgical tailings, on the other hand vivid economy and numerous sinks for use of recycled materials in construction sector can accommodate these quantities. However, there are open questions in terms of administrative procedures and legislation. What are those obstacles that accompany the smooth establishment of the proposed model from a legislative point of view? This paper deals with the situation in North Macedonia, in terms of opportunities, legislative options and the need to adopt new legislation, taking also into account the current problems in this field in Europe.
Keywords: circular economy, zero-waste approach, mining waste, construction sector, legislation, krožno gospodarstvo, pristop ničelnega odpadka, rudarski odpadki, gradbeništvo, zakonodaja
Published in DiRROS: 04.12.2023; Views: 195; Downloads: 120
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5. Pilot production of façade panels : variability of mix designMajda Pavlin, Barbara Horvat, Vilma Ducman, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: As part of the WOOL2LOOP project, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG), in collaboration with Termit d.d. were responsible for the production of façade panels. An initial mix design was developed at ZAG, where alkali-activated façade panels were produced, primarily from stone wool waste, while production took place at Termit. The mix design was changed twice during the pilot production, before a final product with suitable durability was developed. A compressive strength of up to 60 MPa and bending strength of approximately 20 MPa was achieved. The mechanical properties, however, varied, due to the unevenly milled batches of the milled mineral wool. Milling on a larger scale is very challenging, and it is difficult to obtain consistent quality of the milled material. Once the correct curing process had been found, however, the panels produced showed good performance. Moreover, the results from leaching tests showed that the elevated concentrations of certain elements (Cr, As and Mo) did not exceed the legal limits for non- hazardous waste.
Keywords: waste mineral wool, alkali activated material, façade panels, pilot production, circular economy
Published in DiRROS: 28.11.2023; Views: 265; Downloads: 98
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7. Digital twins and road construction using secondary raw materialsSebastjan Meža, Alenka Mauko Pranjić, Rok Vezočnik, Igor Osmokrović, Stanislav Lenart, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Secondary raw materials (SRMs) tend to be a valuable replacement for finite virgin materials especially since construction works (i.e., building and civil engineering work such as road construction) require vast quantities of raw materials. Using SRM originating from recycling a broad range of inorganic waste materials (e.g., mining waste, different industrial wastes, construction, and demolition waste) has been recognized as a promising, generally more cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to the exploitation of natural resources. Despite the benefits of using SRM, several challenges need to be addressed before using SRM even more. One of them is the long-term durability and little-known response of construction works built using such alternative materials. In this paper, we present the activities to establish a fully functioning digital twin (DT) of a road constructed using SRM. The first part of the paper is devoted to the theoretical justification of efforts and ways of establishing the monitoring systems, followed by a DT case study where an integrated data environment synthesizing a Building Information Model and monitored data is presented. Although the paper builds upon a small scale, the case study is methodologically designed to allow parallels to be drawn with much larger construction projects.
Keywords: digital twins, road construction, circular economy
Published in DiRROS: 19.07.2023; Views: 281; Downloads: 190
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8. Innovative circular economy models for the european pulp and paper industry : a reference framework for a resource recovery scenarioAmaia Sopelana, Camille Auriault, Anurag Bansal, Karmen Fifer Bizjak, Helena Paiva, Christian Maurice, Gunnar Westin, Javier Rios, Asier Oleaga, Antonio Cañas, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: According to recent literature in the field of sustainability, the circular economy (CE) appears to be a thriving opportunity for creating new businesses, although less attention has been paid to the form in which its principles fit into a comprehensive framework that enables companies to design it in a practical way. This paper presents the methodology that has been adopted to pave the way to a coherent reference framework for circular business model innovation and its outstanding design and implementation, taking into consideration the entire value and supply chain. A unique analysis of recent innovations in circular economy models is provided herein, together with an exhaustive analysis of those elements that enable or hinder their implementation. The main interactions among all those critical elements influencing how organisations innovate and operate cooperatively within a CE ecosystem are also evaluated. In addition, a study of five industrial cases in the pulp and paper industry allowed searching for industrial insights and empirical evidence of the relevance of those elements, including observation, document analysis, and interviews. Lastly, the main outcomes of this research are illustrated using the CE reference framework designed when applied to the aforementioned industrial cases, and relevant insights into future improvements are also provided.
Keywords: circular economy business models, pulp and paper industry, construction sector, open access
Published in DiRROS: 12.05.2023; Views: 301; Downloads: 167
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9. The valorisation of selected quarry and mine waste for sustainable cement production within the concept of circular economyEmilija Fidanchevski, Katarina Šter, Maruša Mrak, Ljiljana Kljajević, Gorazd Žibret, Klemen Teran, Bojan Poletanovic, Monika Fidanchevska, Sabina Dolenec, Ildikó Merta, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The cement industry could potentially consume large amounts of solid industrial waste in order to improve its sustainability. The suitability of selected quarry and mine waste as secondary raw materials (SRM) was examined for the sustainable production of cement following the concept of a circular economy. The chemical, mineralogical, and radiological characterization of SRM was conducted in this study. Its potential use in low-carbon and low-energy belite-sulfoaluminate cement was investigated by incorporating the examined SRM into cement clinker. Various characterization methods were used to characterize the cement, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA/TG), and isothermal calorimetry. Depending on the chemical composition of the waste, lower or higher amounts were allowed to be incorporated into the raw clinker mixture for a targeted clinker phase composition. Among the samples, differences were observed in the phase composition of synthesized clinkers, which slightly influenced the reactivity of the cement but did not significantly change the compressive strength of the final product.
Keywords: mineralne surovine, rudarski odpadki, rudniki, kamnolomi, cement, klinker, krožno gospodarstvo, BCSA clinker, cement, circular economy, clinker, mine wastes, quarry waste
Published in DiRROS: 10.06.2022; Views: 601; Downloads: 314
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