NASA Tech Briefs Insider Blog

Bricks Made of Power Plant Waste Enable “Green” Construction

Researchers from Freight Pipeline Company (FPC) taking part in a National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored project have found that bricks made from fly ash — fine ash particles captured as waste by coal-fired power plants — may be even safer than predicted. Instead of leaching minute amounts of mercury as earlier predicted, the bricks apparently do the reverse, pulling minute amounts of the toxic metal out of ambient air.

Each year, 25 million tons of fly ash are recycled, generally as additives in building materials such as concrete, but 45 million tons go to waste. Fly ash bricks find a use for some of that waste and counter the environmental impact from the high-temperature kiln manufacture of standard bricks.

Once colored and shaped, the bricks are similar to their clay counterparts in both appearance and in meeting or exceeding construction-material standards. Supported by NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, FPC made fly ash bricks more durable by engineering them to resist freezing and thawing due to weather. A second-phase SBIR award will test the brick material’s safety and prepare it for market.

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Wanted: “Green” Materials

A global specialty chemical company is seeking innovative “green” renewable raw materials, products, and processes for replacement of existing non- environmentally friendly solvents, while not compromising the performance or significantly increasing the cost.
To respond to this Tech Need click here.

Technologies are needed for the economical production of polymers that are based on today’s generally accepted standards for “green” chemistry. Of particular interest are chemistries that produce safe chemicals, and/or that use safer solvents and auxiliaries, and/or that produce chemicals designed for degradation.
To respond to this Tech Need click here.

The Technology Needs of the Week are anonymous requests for technology, distributed through the yet2.com marketplace, that you and your organization may be able to fulfill. Responding to a Tech Need is the first step to gaining an introduction with a prospective “buyer” for your technology solution.

Technologies are needed for the economical production of polymers that are based on today’s generally accepted standards for “green” chemistry. Of particular interest are chemistries that produce safe chemicals, and/or that use safer solvents and auxiliaries, and/or that produce chemicals designed for degradation.
Click here to respond to this Tech Need.

A global specialty chemical company is seeking innovative “green” renewable raw materials, products, and processes for replacement of existing non-environmentally friendly solvents, while not compromising the performance or significantly increasing the cost.
Click here to respond to this Tech Need.

The Technology Needs of the Week are anonymous requests for technology, distributed through the yet2.com marketplace, that you and your organizationmay be able to fulfill. Responding to a Tech Need is the first step to gaining an introduction with a prospective “buyer” for your technology solution.