The ash of incinerated sewage sludge can be made into synthetic stone, says
Tsukishima Kikai Company of Tokyo. The ash is blended with up to 20 per cent
silica, alumina and lime, and then mixed and degassed at 1200 to 1300 °C to
produce glass-like stones. Subsequent reheating converts the material to
Ecorock, a building material that can withstand up to 4.5 times as much bending
force as granite or marble. The company is building a $25 million plant
at Suwa to make Ecorock commercially.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Environment
Galapagos corals suggest climate change drives stronger El Niños
News
Life
Astonishing whale feeding frenzy seen off the eastern coast of Greenland
News
Environment
Octopuses released into Adriatic Sea to tackle invasive crabs
News
Technology
Driving data can predict crash black spots before accidents happen
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles