Researchers test transforming waste ash into usable materials

A team led by researchers at the University of Oulu Finland have created solutions and methods to transform ash from biomass, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge incineration into valuable raw materials.

Metals, nutrients, and minerals bound in the ash were extracted and refined for industrial use such as construction and water treatment materials.

The solutions were tested at several international pilot sites, where concrete and other applications were produced. In Finland, researchers produced precast concrete elements and aggregates for road base layers.

The ash sometimes includes rare earth elements, which are in short supply in Europe and other areas. Researchers developed digital tools that can quickly assess the utilization potential of ash and direct it to the most suitable applications.

In addition to use in various types of concrete, the research is also investigating reuse of recovered materials for special applications such as indoor panels for thermal and acoustic insulation, porcelain tiles, and high-value ceramics.