Project title

Characterising the properties of seashells as a lime replacement in construction

Description:

Lime has two main stages, quicklime (CaO or calcium oxide) and slaked lime (Ca(OH)2 or calcium hydroxide). Quicklime is typically obtained by calcinating limestone (CaCO3 or calcium carbonate), and slaked lime results from mixing quicklime with water. Most seashells are also made of calcium carbonate, and it has been hypothesised that these shells could be used as a substitute of limestone lime. This project aims to fully understand the mineral composition and particle properties of seashells after various processing techniques, mainly calcination and grinding, and compare them to that of limestone lime. A life cycle analysis will also be completed to adequately quantify the carbon footprint of the new lime.

This project is co-supervised by Enrique del Rey Castillo and Jason Ingham (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department) and Mark Jones and Karnika De Silva (Chemical and Materials Engineering).

Cosupervisor:

Mark Jones

Anticipated outcome:

In addition to the student’s report, a database with the following information will be produced:

SEM (microscope) images of the final products,

XRD test results showing the mineral composition of the products,

Particle properties, mainly particle size distribution, shape-sphericity, and surface area, and

Carbon footprint of each product depending on the processing.

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Facilities and equipment:

The CEE and C&M facilities will be used, with the specific equipment to be determined by the team (SEM, XRD and particle analyser).

Hazard:

H&S compliance to be managed by the team, together with the technicians

Project funding and sponsor TBD

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