In the heart of Portugal, researchers are tackling one of the construction industry’s most pressing challenges: what to do with asbestos-containing waste. Led by António Curado of proMetheus, a unit dedicated to sustainable materials, energy, and environmental research at the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, a groundbreaking study is paving the way for a circular economy approach to hazardous construction materials.
Asbestos, once hailed for its durability and fire resistance, is now notorious for its health risks. Fiber cement boards containing chrysotile asbestos have long been a headache for the industry, typically ending up in landfills due to the lack of viable recycling options. But Curado and his team are changing that narrative. Their research, published in the journal ‘Fibers’ (translated from Portuguese), explores how mechanical grinding and thermal treatments can transform these hazardous fibers into safe, reusable materials.
The team subjected samples from end-of-life fiber cement panels to various thermal treatments, heating them to 700 °C, 1000 °C, and 1200 °C. Using advanced techniques like scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, they analyzed the samples’ physicochemical properties. The results were promising. While mechanical grinding reduced particle size, it didn’t eliminate the fibrous structures. However, thermal treatment above 1000 °C fully converted chrysotile into non-fibrous, stable phases like forsterite and enstatite, eliminating health risks and opening doors for material reuse.
“This transformation is a game-changer,” Curado explains. “It allows us to integrate asbestos-containing waste into a closed-loop material cycle, significantly reducing carbon emissions and landfill dependency.”
The implications for the energy sector are substantial. As the push for sustainable construction gains momentum, the demand for recycled and reusable materials is set to soar. This research could revolutionize the way we handle asbestos-containing waste, turning a liability into an asset. Imagine construction sites where old fiber cement boards are not a disposal problem but a valuable resource for new, sustainable building materials.
The study is part of the broader FiberRec project, which aims to develop systematic approaches to recycling and reusing construction waste. As the project progresses, it could reshape the industry’s approach to hazardous materials, driving us closer to a truly circular economy.
For the energy sector, this means more than just reduced waste. It means lower carbon footprints, lower costs, and a more sustainable future. It’s a future where every old building isn’t just a demolition site but a potential goldmine of reusable materials. And it’s a future that’s one step closer to reality, thanks to the pioneering work of Curado and his team.