Paving the way to a greener future

Converting crushed glass collected from bottle banks into attractive outdoor floor tiles is one of the innovative research projects being undertaken by a specialist Staffordshire University team.

The work is being conducted by the internationally recognised Ceramic Technology Group based within the University's School of Engineering and Advanced Technology (SEAT) and headed by Dr Michael Anderson.

Dr Anderson said it was important to find further commercial use for the vast quantities of glass which is collected from council operated bottle banks used by the public.

Not only will this support the EC's Agenda 21 commitment to create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly society it will also help develop new products and processes to boost the local economy in North Staffordshire.

Dr Anderson and his team - with the backing of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Staffordshire Environmental Fund - are currently looking at ways to turn the crushed glass particles into paving tiles.

'We plan to use microwave assisted firing to heat the glass particles to about 750 degrees centigrade,' explained Dr Anderson. 'This is a relatively low temperature for this type of process and therefore has the great benefit of being emission free.

'Once the process has been perfected these tiles could be then produced to a very high standard and at a very low cost. The tiles, which could be produced in a multitude of colours, have a great potential and could be used for a number of external purposes, from shopping centre foyers to garden patios.'

Dr Anderson said his research team will be using SEAT's state-of-the facilities, such as its microwave laboratories in Stafford, to develop the production process for the glass-based tiles.

The University's Ceramic Technology Group is also using its expertise in other similar environmentally-friendly projects, including finding a commercial use for the by-products from the water industry.

The ceramic group is working with Castle Clay Sales Ltd, a ceramics raw material company based in Chesterton, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, as part of a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) project.

Dr Anderson explained that as part of the water purifying processing a sludge-type material is produced as a by-product. The Ceramic Technology Group is investigating ways of using this sludge as a raw material in the brick and ceramic industry.

In another project, Dr Anderson's team is looking at a safe alternative use for fly ash collected from the municipal incinerator at Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent.

'What we are trying to do with our research is to develop ways that will improve the sustainability of raw products and to recycle our waste in a much more environmentally-friendly way,' said Dr Anderson.

'This has the obvious benefit to our environment but it will also help the local economy. Through our work we are looking at ways to develop new products and processes that the Potteries industry and other related industries can use to be ever more innovative and competitive.'