The University of Manchester has joined a groundbreaking multinational project, funded by Innovate UK, to transform processed incinerator bottom ash (IBA) into a valuable and sustainable material for the construction industry.
This innovative programme, named Inciner-8-2-Net0, seeks to repurpose incineration waste in the UK and Singapore, with the aim of reducing the mounting strain on landfill and lowering the embodied carbon in cement and concrete mixes.
Inciner-8-2-Net0 will pioneer a method to accelerate carbonation, a natural process that turns CO2 into a solid form for use in construction materials, effectively locking away carbon.
The method was developed by The University of Manchester CREATES team – Concrete Materials, Resource Efficiency and Advanced Technology for Sustainability – a research group dedicated to attaining a Net Zero built environment, through exploring new materials and developing novel methods that optimise the use of concrete materials.
CREATES’ approach will involve the use of wastewater and CO2 from flue gas. Such a combination will enable the permanent storage of CO2 in the processed IBA, while improving its stability and making it suitable for construction application purposes.
Professor Cise Unluer, Chair in Net Zero in the Department of Civil Engineering and Management, leads CREATES, and is the principal investigator for Manchester’s Inciner-8-2-Net0 team. Dr Meini Su, Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering and Management, is a co-principal investigator.
The University of Manchester’s team will work with industry partners and their academic partner, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, to create a technical solution for this excessive waste, that is more consistent and less harmful to the environment.
Inciner-8-2-Net0 is led by Akerlof, a consultancy which works with leaders across both public and private sectors to help deliver positive social, economic and environmental impact.
The programme’s industry partners – Blue Phoenix, Carbon Upcycling, Marshalls, PanUnited, PCE and Recycl8 – will work to establish a commercially viable pathway to enable widespread adoption, offering clear guidelines for the construction industries in both the UK and Singapore.
Dr Meini Su said: “Utilising incineration bottom ash in construction is a significant step towards reducing the environmental burden of waste. By transforming this byproduct into a functional material, we not only conserve natural resources but also support more sustainable construction approaches.”
John Handscomb, Partner at Akerlof said: “This project exemplifies the power of multinational collaboration in solving complex global challenges. By turning waste into a resource, we’re not only addressing immediate environmental concerns but doing so in a way that is both impactful and scalable.”
The UK produces a staggering 3 million tonnes of processed incinerator bottom ash annually from waste incineration, which is not aided by the growing global pressure on waste management.
At the heart of this project is a vision set to shape the future of the construction sector, and its route to achieving Net Zero. The transfer of knowledge between the UK and Singapore will help to advance the construction industry’s transition to a circular economy, reducing both waste and emissions on a global scale.
