Ukrainian Prof eyes recycled concrete for post-war rebuild

Viacheslav Troian has just published a scientific paper on concrete recycling alongside co-authors from ETH Zurich and Gustave Eiffel University in Paris. For some time now, building materials engineers have been crushing concrete demolition waste and using it to produce fresh concrete. This can replace up to 50 per cent of the gravel or crushed stone required. According to Prof Troian, there is huge potential in the use of recycled concrete for the reconstruction of destroyed buildings and infrastructure in Ukraine.

“When we demolish buildings, the demolished materials end up in construction waste landfills; when we build new buildings with conventional concrete, we have to quarry a lot of new crushed stone,” he said. “If we could reuse at least some of the demolition waste, we would take up less landfill capacity and reduce crushed stone mining.”

As a father of four, Prof Troian was allowed to leave Ukraine as the conflict erupted. A chemical engineer specialised in concrete, he has 20 years of experience in the development of various forms of the material. Projects he has played a role in include developing the concrete mixtures for the sleepers for the Ukrainian railway, and the foundation of the safety confinement built around the damaged nuclear reactor in Chernobyl. Troian is currently working as a visiting researcher at ETH Zurich.