Suvo Strategic Minerals has produced a low-carbon, high-strength concrete through laboratory trials in collaboration with Murdoch University. Using Metakaolin, the trial yielded concrete with an average strength of 52 megapascals (MPa), which exceeds the performance of many conventional concrete materials.

Metakaolin is a highly reactive pozzolan formed by the calcination of Kaolinite and is one of the most effective pozzolanic materials for the use of concrete. Using Metakaolin as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement will have significant environmental benefits, reducing the greenhouse emissions related with cement production.

Suvo’s Non-Executive Chairman Aaron Banks stated: “This is an outstanding first-round trial result for the company which could provide an entry into a large industry. If the cement industry were a country, it would only be behind China and the United States of America in CO2 emissions.”

“We now expect to start further testing with Pittong Kaolin and combining this with other mining companies waste products such as fly ash and slag, that might otherwise be committed to landfill, we will look to convert those waste streams into low carbon concrete.”

As part of the lab trials undertaken by Murdoch University, Suvo’s Metakaolin was used with other readily available inputs to create a low-carbon, geopolymer concrete. Geopolymer concrete is produced by chemically reacting aluminate and silicate-bearing materials with caustic activators like metakaolin, fly ash, ground blast furnace slag and other waste-derived components.

The licensing agreement was signed with Murdoch University earlier this month for a geopolymer concrete batching plant and a low carbon concrete formulation – ‘Colliecrete’.

The company now intends to commercialise the Murdoch Technology by commencing studies to increase the scale of the pilot plant to be able to produce Colliecrete and other geopolymer concrete formulations, using Metakaolin and various readily available inputs such as other waste-derived products like fly ash.