Post by account_disabled on Feb 19, 2024 3:22:58 GMT -5
Bio-Brick: This “organic” building brick, with no emissions or waste, is grown in a laboratory. The technology received national recognition after being shortlisted for the James Dyson Award.
The construction sector is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. Two Canadian students have developed a zero-waste building brick by growing bacteria.
The number of green options available Phone Number List to builders right now is not adequate, there are not enough of them. The ones that are out there are very expensive, so most people, most builders, can't use them.
Adrian Simone, a member of the University of Waterloo student team that created the Bio-Brick.
Simone used to work as a project manager for an asphalt paving company. She says what he saw on the job inspired him to look for a safer alternative for workers.
I realized that in the middle of summer, many of the workers who are laying the asphalt, standing in front of this 120 degree molten tar and the fumes it gives off, has horrible effects on their health.
Adrian Simone
In his opinion, the traditional brick-making process can lead to long-term illness and injury.
The number of burns that occurred on the construction site was extremely high.
Adrian Simone
How does it work?
Bio-Brick technology is still in the prototype testing phase.
The brick is created at room temperature and uses bacteria to slowly grow a brick in a mold.
Rania Al-Sheikhly, one of the creators, says the brick can be easily grown on site for any construction project.
Bacteria can be grown similar to beer fermentation tanks and things like that, so they don't have to stay in a sterile environment, they just have to be able to grow in a container at room temperature for a day or so and then they can be used.
Rania Al-Sheikhly
The bacteria are introduced into a nutritious broth “ on which they feed and allow them to multiply. Then we take our mold, put the sand in it and mix the bacteria. We let it sit for a few hours, drain it, add solution and repeat the process for a few days until it solidifies and becomes a brick ."
Recycled sand or demolition waste can also be mixed to create the bio-brick, which is as strong and affordable as bricks traditionally used on construction sites.
The construction sector is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. Two Canadian students have developed a zero-waste building brick by growing bacteria.
The number of green options available Phone Number List to builders right now is not adequate, there are not enough of them. The ones that are out there are very expensive, so most people, most builders, can't use them.
Adrian Simone, a member of the University of Waterloo student team that created the Bio-Brick.
Simone used to work as a project manager for an asphalt paving company. She says what he saw on the job inspired him to look for a safer alternative for workers.
I realized that in the middle of summer, many of the workers who are laying the asphalt, standing in front of this 120 degree molten tar and the fumes it gives off, has horrible effects on their health.
Adrian Simone
In his opinion, the traditional brick-making process can lead to long-term illness and injury.
The number of burns that occurred on the construction site was extremely high.
Adrian Simone
How does it work?
Bio-Brick technology is still in the prototype testing phase.
The brick is created at room temperature and uses bacteria to slowly grow a brick in a mold.
Rania Al-Sheikhly, one of the creators, says the brick can be easily grown on site for any construction project.
Bacteria can be grown similar to beer fermentation tanks and things like that, so they don't have to stay in a sterile environment, they just have to be able to grow in a container at room temperature for a day or so and then they can be used.
Rania Al-Sheikhly
The bacteria are introduced into a nutritious broth “ on which they feed and allow them to multiply. Then we take our mold, put the sand in it and mix the bacteria. We let it sit for a few hours, drain it, add solution and repeat the process for a few days until it solidifies and becomes a brick ."
Recycled sand or demolition waste can also be mixed to create the bio-brick, which is as strong and affordable as bricks traditionally used on construction sites.