A research team based at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), has found that volcanic ashes are sufficiently reactive to be applied in the manufacture of several types of cement.
The samples were taken from the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the island of La Palma, which erupted in September 2021 for 85 days, after lying dormant for over 50 years.
The ashes produced by each volcano are distinctively different, according to researchers, and the relative youth of the samples from La Palma could make the ashes have characteristics that could be leveraged by the construction sector to support its decarbonisation efforts.
"To date, we have carried out physical, chemical, mineralogical and mechanical tests, and the results show that these volcanic ashes meet the regulatory requirements for use as a mineral addition in cements," said Jordi Payá, a researcher on the team.
Clearing the ashes created by the eruption is a massive task, as they covered...