Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX:SUV) has inked an agreement with Curtin University to investigate the application of highly reactive metakaolin (HRM) as a sustainable solution to aid in the decarbonisation of cement and create green concrete.
HRM is already used and accepted by the concrete industry as an additive (pozzolan) for applications that require ultra-high performance, high-strength, lightweight concrete.
Green concrete is a variation of the material that uses low carbon materials and methods in its manufacture, reducing the overall carbon footprint.
Strengthening additives like clinker account for the majority of carbon emissions from cement, meaning alternative offerings like HRM may play a key part in reducing CO2 emissions from cement and concrete manufacturing.
Green cement for a rapid decarbonisation
Curtin University senior lecturer at the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Dr Thong Pham commented: “Adoption of green concrete by the industry to date has been hindered due to the poor and variable quality of low carbon materials that are suitable to replace Portland cement.
“Compared to other sustainable binders, HRM has much higher quality control and consistent chemical compositions, which make it a great substitute to typical energy-intensive Portland cement for an alternative yet excellent and reliable binder in green concrete.
“Suvo metakaolin will potentially be flash calcined to minimise carbon footprint and simultaneously provide optimum properties for use as a pozzolan, allowing for high cement replacement to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and improve concrete performance.
“Our research will focus on the viability and impact that HRM can have on rapidly decarbonising the global cement industry.”
Curtin University’s research will analyse the CO2 emission properties of HRM produced from Suvo’s White Cloud Kaolin Project compared to other pozzolanics, while Suvo will review the production of flash calcined metakaolin to be potentially incorporated into the pre-feasibility study for White Cloud.
The market value for high quality HRM is estimated to be between US$500 and US$750 per tonne.
About Suvo Strategic Minerals
Suvo Strategic Minerals is a dual commodity Australian mining company focused on the development of its 100%-owned Gabbin White Knight Kaolin Project located in the Yilgarn Craton in the central wheat belt and its 100%-owned Nova Silica Project located in the Gin Gin Scarp near the township of Eneabba all situated within Western Australia.
Suvo catapulted into producer status when it acquired the Pittong Kaolin operations from an Imerys subsidiary, becoming the only hydrous kaolin producer in the country.