Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIO-OXIDATED S2 (BIO-OXIDATED S2: THE SOLUTION TO USE ORGANIC SLUDGE, NON-HAZARDOUSINDUSTRIAL WASTE AND URBAN GREEN WASTE TO MAKE BRICKS.)

Teaser

The goal of the project is to employ organic and urban sludge, along with non-hazardous waste from industrial processes, in the production of bricks with enhanced heat insulating capacity. This is made possible by an innovative compound called Bio-Oxidated S2, a material...

Summary

The goal of the project is to employ organic and urban sludge, along with non-hazardous waste from industrial processes, in the production of bricks with enhanced heat insulating capacity. This is made possible by an innovative compound called Bio-Oxidated S2, a material resulting from one of the patents owned by the Consortium, which is used as an additive to the clay employed to manufacture the bricks.

Work performed

A new Bio-Oxidated S2 formulation has been tested, based mainly on a biological sludge from industrial plant and a green formulant. The final result was a lighter Bio-Oxidated S2: this has allowed to use a higher percentage of S2 in the clay mixture, and therefore to obtain a higher saving than expetced in the bricks production process.Sample bricks have been produced with S2: they were identical in shape to standard bricks, lighter and with a lower thermal transmittance.

The partner search has showed there will be no need to involve consulting firms with expertise in environmental matters: the sludge management companies contacted have proven to own proper skills in this field. On the contrary, the need emerged to identify complementary partners that could be of great help for the project success: a sludge management company and a brick manufacturer.

During the market analysis 18 companies operating in the sludge management sector have shown interest for our innovation; a leading group operating worldwide in bricks manufacturing was keen to know in deep our proposal: it will be our first customer and we hope our main stakeholder.

A mathematical simulation model has been developed which gives the possibility to tune a large set of different parameters. Three different scenarios have been simulated, and one of them has been choosen as the basis for the Business Plan elaboration.

All potential risks which can harm the project have been identified, with the probability they could happen. Risk-mitigation measures have been listed and described.

Final results

The activites carried out have demonstrated the solidity of the technical assumptions, even if they changed since the beginning, the soundness and flexibility of the Business Model, the availability of new partners, and the positive responsiveness of the market to our innovation. The business planning has allowed us to define all the issues involved in the development of our innovation. Moreover the projections made in the business plan are positive, therefore they encourage us to continue the project.