Scientific research on the “Pilot studies and innovations using waste clays extracted during lignite mining for traditional and alternative building materials” project will be carried out by scientists from two institutes of BAS.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Maritsa East Mines signed an agreement for joint work on the “Pilot studies and innovations using waste clays obtained from lignite mining for traditional and alternative building materials” (PRIMI) project. The project has been developed in cooperation between Maritsa East Mines EAD and two institutes of BAS – the Institute of Physical Chemistry and the Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, as well as the “Enzo Ferrari” Department of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy.
The President of BAS, Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, and the Executive Director of Maritsa East Mines, Todor Todorov, signed the agreement today at the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) in the presence of the Executive Director of BEH, Valentin Nikolov.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has supported this project because it is extremely useful for the state in terms of the opportunity to use the raw materials available in the country, said BAS President Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva at the official signing of the agreement. She specified that Prof. Alexander Karamanov will be the coordinator for the Academy. The President of BAS expressed her gratitude to the management of Maritsa East Mines for seeking the expertise of scientists. It is important for us to work for the state, said Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, recalling that this had been the Academy’s mission ever since its foundation.
This partnership is key and is a good mechanism for showing that the development of our science is not just on paper, but can be applied and the relevant benefits can be reaped, said Todor Todorov, Executive Director of Maritsa East Mines.
During the signing ceremony, BEH Executive Director Valentin Nikolov recalled the traditionally good cooperation with BAS over the years.
The main idea of the project is to demonstrate the possibility of producing new building materials with improved performance properties by using high percentages of waste clay from the excavations of Maritsa East Mines EAD with the addition of other waste raw materials.
The research will mainly focus on the synthesis of ceramic materials (low-firing bricks and clinker bricks with improved mechanical properties), new ceramic foam materials and composites with improved thermal and sound insulation properties, and new geopolymer materials and composites based on them.
