They should try weetabix if they think that’s tough.
The beginning of the article mentions the environmental impact of cement manufacture and the importance of replacing it, but later mentions that the research found they can only replace 5-10% of a cement mixture with poop based biochar before it’s strength becomes worse rather than better. Still some difference though I guess.
I also wonder how the processing into biochar, and necessary electricity (I assume) to do that, factors into the overall offset of environmental impact. Maybe hard to quantify since it would lest human waste to dispose of otherwise.
Nice to see the concern of heavy metals, and should probably consider pharmaceuticals (will they survive pyrolysis?), but I believe concrete is very recyclable so maybe those things will stay in suspension.
Finally can shit bricks
If you make a pillar out of this stuff, then put it in the ground, is that a shit post?
‘Burned’ human poop.
They are adding biochar, not fresh, steaming shit.
…awwwwwwwwwww
Mannnnnnnnn…you hadda go and spoil it…
A whole generation of contractors will be slapping buildings and saying “stuff’s strong as shit.”
A shame they missed the IgNobels by this much, maybe next year
So if you add carrots into concrete with poop, it will become even more stronger?
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/09/carrots-concrete-stronger-lancaster-university-technology/
Concrete mixtures could be strengthened by adding nanoparticles extracted from carrots and other root vegetables, research currently underway at England’s Lancaster University suggests.
Preliminary tests by the university’s engineers found that “nano platelets” sourced from the fibres of these vegetables “significantly improved” the strength of concrete — and at a low cost.
And wasn’t rice the secret ingredient in the concrete of the great wall?
Maybe we can’t add too much stuff, because we actually also need the cement and stuff…
As a refractory designer, this is something I can really sink my teeth into. Thanks!
I would rather not…
really biochar that can be sourced from human waste.
