Basics

Concrete is one of the most commonly used materials
HOWEVER it is largely made using newly mined materials, which is not only Unsustainable, but also presses challenges to a Circular Economy / Sourcing Materials
This page aims to cover the Status Quo, the State of the Art (in terms of lower TRL Research / Pilot Plants etc and outline areas OSE could pursue Development / Further Research

Processes

This is relevant for BOTH conventional use as Construction Aggregate such as for a Sub Base in Highway Construction etc, and for more intensive “drop in” recycling solutions
Either way, after Demolition / Deconstruction , where tools such as Jackhammers / Hydraulic Breakers and other tools are used to break the Concrete (Structure) into manageable pieces, it is pushed into a pile / Roll Off Boxes or Dump Trucks etc
This is then taken and transferred to a series of crushers such as Jaw Crushers etc
Further size reduction can be achieved by a Hammermill or Ball Mill etc

Concrete
- Asphalt Concrete / Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (Can largely be milled up, remelted, and recycled in place, due to the Asphalt essentially being a Thermoplastic
- Asphalt Millings can be downcycled as a Construction Aggregate or Gravel Road material, albeit with some Micro/Nano Plastics (for the latter) + Hydrocarbon Leaching concerns for both
Portland Cement / Fly Ash Cement based Concrete
- - More common/conventional Concrete, however more complex to recycle, short of downcycling to aggregate
Rebar
- Steel Rebar should be easily separated via Electromagnetic Separation
- Fiber Reinforced Polymer Rebar / Fiberglass Rebar / Carbon Fiber Rebar present some challenges in terms of M/NP Pollution, as well as difficulties in separation
  - Thermal Recycling such as in a Calcining step may suffice
Concrete Aggregate / Sand
- For information on Aggregate Parameters