US DOT Priorities:

This project directly addresses DOT’s research priority of “Preserving the Environment” by developing novel approaches to turning waste plastics into a beneficial additive for concrete, leading to effective mitigation strategies to address the potential pollution in water and soil caused by waste plastic.

Outputs:

By increasing the value of plastics and advancing its application in concrete, this project will likely produce patentable technology. The project will also produce publications, presentations, and technical reports that produce improved understanding of how to enhance the compatibility of waste plastics with concrete by employing novel modification methods and assessing their impact on the engineering properties and durability performance of the concrete. The project will leverage chemical surface functionalization using coupling agents, as well as enzymatic surface treatment using bacteria and fungi, to enhance the adhesion bonding between waste plastic and concrete. The modified additive will be dispersed to evaluate its effect on the functional properties of the concrete.

 
_{Figure 1. Different procedures for the application of waste plastics in concrete}

Outcomes/Impacts:

This project will produce actionable knowledge and mix designs to enable value-added application of PET waste in concrete by DOTs and other concrete producers or owner agencies. This can not only mitigate health and environmental risks associated with plastic pollution but also reduce the demand for fine and coarse aggregates. Importantly, the treated waste plastics can serve as a reinforcing additive to improve the mechanical properties of concrete. This endeavor directly addresses the imperative for footprint reduction within the concrete industry and concerns regarding emerging contaminants associated with landfilled plastics, such as nano- and micro-plastics. Furthermore, it exemplifies the transformation of "waste" into valuable products, laying the groundwork for long-term benefits in workforce training, education, and economic development within the recycling and construction sectors. By repurposing by-products from one process into raw materials for another, this project embodies the essence of industrial symbiosis.