Principal investigator: Tang, Xiaochao, Vicki Brown
University: Widener University
Industry partners: Conewago Manufacturing, LLC, Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (DELCORA)
Decarbonization is driven by a growing demand from consumers and clients for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, and it has become a top priority in the construction industry with many businesses already taking proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprint. This proposed project partners with Conewago Manufacturing LLC, a premier regional concrete supplier to develop a low-carbon geopolymer concrete utilizing a local industrial byproduct, incinerated sewage sludge ash (SSA) resulted from wastewater treatment. The SSA is supplied by this project’s another partner, the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (DELCORA) who handles approximately 15 tons of SSA daily and intends to repurpose and divert the ash from landfills. Together, we will develop an optimal mixture design and process to produce the geopolymer concrete. The project will characterize the fresh and hardened SSA-based geopolymer concrete for its workability, strength, and durability. The SSA-based geopolymer concrete will initially be applied for Conewago’s business in nonstructural elements such as sidewalks.