VITO develops new processes that make high-quality recycling possible and contributes to the development of new building materials from bottom ash and from construction and demolition waste. We are a partner to the industry in this.
Your challenges
Getting more out of your waste streams.
Reducing your waste costs.
Reaching new market segments with innovative materials.
How we can help
Together with you, we analyse whether it is feasible to increase the value of your construction or demolition waste.
We help you set up and further develop the treatment process.
Together with you, we look for business models to commercialise the improved materials.
Cases
- Innovative separation techniques for superior recycling of bottom ash
In order to optimise recycling of bottom ash, the metals have to be removed from it. VITO has developed and combined two innovative separation techniques. These largely separate both the heavy and light metals from the ash. By bringing the ash into contact with alkaline waste water, the other metals react fully and the salts are flushed out. This process produces hydrogen, a useful source of energy.
Read more about this case. - Recycling of cellular concrete
Cellular concrete waste is a problematic stream within construction and demolition waste. It is not strong enough to be recycled as a granulate and also leaches sulphate, which has a major environmental impact.
Together with Jacobs NV, VITO has developed a process to reuse this waste stream as a raw material. The leaching of sulphate was reduced by 90 percent. Recycled cellular concrete is useful as a replacement for sand in insulating screeds, or as part of insulating concrete.
Read more about this case. - Dredge spoil filter cake as building material
AMORAS (Antwerp Mechanical Sludge Dewatering, Recycling and Application) processes dredge spoil from the port of Antwerp to produce filter cake. On behalf of the Flemish government and in collaboration with KULeuven, VITO is investigating its usefulness as a cement replacement by reprocessing it with flash calcination technology.
In this process, the finely ground filter cake is heated up very quickly to 800–900°C and then immediately cooled down again. The water is removed from the material and a glassy, amorphous substance is created: pellets that react with cement. This can be used to replace part of the cement, which drastically reduces CO2 emissions.
Read more about this case.
