A laboratory of a Greek public university is specializing to circular economy practices concerning industrial symbiosis matters such as innovation on solid and liquid waste valorization, and water and energy savings. Through their research, different types and proportions of inorganic and organic wastes tested as substitutes to the clay raw material used in the ceramic industry. They achieved the recovery of by-products and/or waste, of solid wastes through their incorporation into ceramic clay soils for the production of structural ceramic materials with advanced structure and low environmental footprint. Until now most of solid waste is difficult to be recycled and disposed. In most of the cases the resulting material could not deteriorate their physico-mechanical properties
The result of the process is on the one hand to dispose properly and safely these waste materials without deteriorating their physico-mechanical properties and on the other hand achieving special material structure which leads to improved thermal and noise insulating capabilities. A variety of solid wastes could be used (e.g. municipal sewage sludge, electric arc furnace dust, red mud, mill scale etc).
The laboratory would like to cooperate with heavy clay ceramic industries, in order to transfer the laboratory’s know-how and solve related issues. The type of partnership considered is commercial agreement with technical assistance.