Unlocking the Potential of Dredged Sediments : Towards Sustainable Geopolymers for Green Construction

Climate change poses a global challenge, and the production of cement contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 5–8%.

This project is, therefore, poised to revolutionize the industry by developing an innovative, eco-friendly cement using dredged materials (DMs) as precursors to produce greener geopolymers. The latter are synthesized by mixing materials rich in aluminosilicates with an alkaline solution. The GHG of geopolymer concrete is ~73% and ~46% less than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete, respectively.

Geopolymers exhibit noticeably improved mechanical properties compared to OPC concrete and have been shown to have better resistance to acid attacks, high temperatures, and fire.

However, the production of large quantities of geopolymer concrete is limited due to the declining availability of fly ash worldwide. Dredged sediments have been identified as a potential source of silica and alumina.

This project sets out to establish the foundational science needed to transform DMs into materials suitable for structural applications, thus pioneering a sustainable path to CO2 reduction.

This study will foster the adoption of these by-products in sustainable infrastructure development and create a roadmap for producing DM-based geopolymers. The research, led by me, Dr. Amine el Mahdi Safhi, under the mentorship of Dr. Mahdi Kioumarsi and Dr.

Shima Pilehvar at Østfold University College (HiØ) in Norway, will bolster my skills in materials and structural engineering, preparing me for an expansive academic career. The project is an international endeavor, with the collaboration of Dr. Ahmed Soliman from Concordia University (Canada) and industrial partner NETICS (Netherlands).

Our vision is to turn an environmental challenge into an opportunity for sustainable development.

By harnessing DMs, we will not only transform the cement industry but also positively impact society and the environment.