Development of 3D printable stabilized earth-based construction materials using excavated soil: Evaluation of fresh and hardened properties.

Soil excavated during construction and demolition can be utilized to reduce the demand for natural sand in 3D printed constructions. This research attempts to systematically develop 3D printable stabilized earth-based materials using excavated soil (clay content of 42.5 %) as 25 % and 50 % replacement of natural sand, and examine their compressive strength, water permeable porosity, and moisture sensitivity.

Carbon dioxide sequestration in mortars with excavated soil: Engineering performances and environmental benefits.

Globally, substantial volume of excavated soils is generated during construction and demolition activities, which can be utilized in the manufacturing stabilized earth-based construction materials. Furthermore, increasing amount of CO is being released into the environment from growing industrial operations that can sequestered in earth-based materials without compromising the engineering properties. This article attempts to explore the effect of CO sequestration through accelerated carbonation curing on engineering properties, micro-structure and phase composition of cement-lime stabilized soil mortars.

Carbonaceous admixtures in cementitious building materials: Effect of particle size blending on rheology, packing, early age properties and processing energy demand.

Application of biochar, produced from locally generated wastes, as admixture in cement is a strategy to upcycle biomass waste and produce durable building materials. This research explores the influence of particle size and porosity of biochar, prepared from coconut shell and wood waste, added at 2 wt% of cement, on rheology, setting time, hydration and early age strength of cement mortar. For each biochar type, three particle size gradations are explored - coarser biochar (d = 45-50 μm) (obtained by sieving), finer biochar (d = 10-18 μm) (obtained by ball milling) and combination of coarser and finer biochar (d = 15-25 μm).

7-Hydroxy Frullanolide, a sesquiterpene lactone, increases intracellular calcium amounts, lowers CD4 T cell and macrophage responses, and ameliorates DSS-induced colitis.

Sesquiterpene lactones are a class of anti-inflammatory molecules obtained from plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. In this study, the effects of 7-hydroxy frullanolide (7HF), a sesquiterpene lactone, in inhibiting CD4 T cell and peritoneal macrophage responses were investigated. 7HF, in a dose dependent manner, lowers CD69 upregulation, IL2 production and CD4 T cell cycling upon activation with the combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28.

Biochar industry to circular economy.

Biochar, produced as a by-product of pyrolysis/gasification of waste biomass, shows great potential to reduce the environment impact, address the climate change issue, and establish a circular economy model. Despite the promising outlook, the research on the benefits of biochar remains highly debated. This has been attributed to the heterogeneity of biochar itself, with its inherent physical, chemical and biological properties highly influenced by production variables such as feedstock types and treating conditions.

Carbonaceous micro-filler for cement: Effect of particle size and dosage of biochar on fresh and hardened properties of cement mortar.

This study explores influence of biochar particle size and surface morphology on rheology, strength development and permeability of cement mortar, under moist and dry curing condition. Experimental results show that the flowability and viscosity of cement paste is more affected by macro-porous coarser (or 'normal') biochar particles of size 2-100 μm (NBC) compared to fine (or 'ground' biochar), which is in the size range of 0.10-2 μm (GBC).

Application of biochar from food and wood waste as green admixture for cement mortar.

Landfilling of food waste due to its low recycling rate is raising serious concerns because of associated soil and water contamination, and emission of methane and other greenhouse gases during the degradation process. This paper explores feasibility of using biochar derived from mixed food waste (FWBC), rice waste (RWBC) and wood waste (mixed wood saw dust, MWBC) as carbon sequestering additive in mortar. RWBC is prepared from boiled plain rice, while FWBC is prepared from combination of rice, meat, and vegetables in fixed proportion.