From Bagasse to Buildings ?

 

 

Research done by University of East London claims that we can use bagasse ( left

over after extracting juice from sugar cane ) , can be converted into strong solid

blocks , which can replace currently used cement concrete blocks in construction

of houses

 ( sources :

https://uel.ac.uk/sugarcrete / https://uel.ac.uk/sites/default/files/uel-sugarcrete-slab-report-oct-2021.pdf

https://uel.ac.uk/about-uel/news/2023/december/award-triumph-uel-project-cop28   /  01 Dec 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFeG4S6WuJ4

 

Where can we use these Sugarcrete blocks ?

Insulation panels, lightweight blocks, load bearing blockwork and structural floor

and roof slabs.

 

What are the advantages of Bagasse blocks ( Sugarcrete ) compared to concrete

blocks ?

#  Reducing the steel content of the slab up to 90 per cent. 

#  Carbon emissions 20 times lower than traditional concrete.

#  Carbon footprint five times smaller than traditional bricks. 

#  Minimises curing time to one week compared to standard concrete which takes

    at least 28 days,

#  It is five times lighter than concrete,

#  Substantially cheaper compared to concrete production.

#  Sugarcrete® Slab can be applied, disassembled, or extended in new or existing

    structures

# Slab assembly avoids the potential risks of cracking which occur with traditional

   concrete

 

What tests did University carry out on these Sugarcrete blocks ?

Industry standards for ,

Ø  Fire resistance (ISO 1716:2021),

Ø  Compressive strength (ASTM C39),

Ø  Thermal conductivity (Hot-Box method)

Ø  Durability (BS EN 927-6)

 

Why should this technology be of interest to us in India ?

For following two reasons:

Ø  During next 5 years, Govt is planning to construct 2 crore ( 200 lakh ) houses for

    poor. 

    That is 40 lakh houses per year . This will require a producing a huge amount

of concrete ( and GHG emissions )

 

Ø  On the other hand, India produces :

#  A total of ( approx. ) 100 million tons of Bagasse every year

#  Of this ( approx. ) 40 million tons gets used for manufacture of Ethanol

#  Leaving behind a surplus of  60 million tons of bagasse which can be

    used for making Sugarcrete blocks for construction of those 40 lakh

    houses / year 

    

If 8” wide concrete blocks were to be used for constructing a 350 sq feet house ,

then how many blocks and cement would India need to build 40 lakh houses per

year ?

Total number of 8" concrete blocks needed	14000 million
Total cement required	1120 million tons

How many Sugarcrete blocks can we make from 60 million tons of bagasse ?

An 8 “ block made out of bagasse will weigh approx. 0.9 Kg and need about 100

gms ( 0.1 Kg ) of bagasse

Hence bagasse needed for 14000 million blocks = 14000 million x 0.1 Kg = 1400

million kg = 14 lakh tons = 1.4 million tons

As against this need of mere 1.4 million tons , we have an annual SURPLUS of 60

million tons of bagasse !

 

Dear Shri Hardeep Singh Puriji ,

( Minister for Housing / hardeep.spuri@sansad.nic.in ),

 

I urge you to get the experts of your ministry to examine my suggestion

regarding its feasibility. You may even want to inquire with the researchers of the

University of East London , for their help to set up a pilot plant in India

I have a feeling that the Carbon Credits that your Ministry will earn by adopting

this revolutionary technology for constructing those 40 lakh ( 350 sq ft ) houses

for poor every year , will more than defray the cost of those buildings

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  11 Feb 2024