site.btaMaritsa East Mines to Collaborate with Scientists in Producing High-Performance Construction Materials

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and Mini Maritsa Iztok signed an agreement to collaborate on the PRIMI project, which aims to use waste clays generated from lignite coal mining in the production of high-performance construction materials, the BAS press service reported on Tuesday.

The project was developed through cooperation between Mini Maritsa Iztok, the BAS Institute of Physical Chemistry, the BAS Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, and the Enzo Ferrari Department of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. The agreement was signed by BAS President Evelina Slavcheva and Mini Maritsa Iztok Executive Director Todor Todorov, in the presence of Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) Executive Director Valentin Nikolov.

The project’s main objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of producing new construction materials with improved performance characteristics by using high percentages of waste clay from the overburden at Mini Maritsa Iztok, combined with other residual raw materials. The research will focus primarily on the synthesis of ceramic materials, such as low-firing and clinker bricks with enhanced mechanical properties, as well as new ceramic foam materials, composites with improved thermal and sound insulation properties, and new geopolymer materials and related composites, BAS explained.

BAS is supporting the project because of its significant benefits for the nation, particularly in terms of utilizing domestically available raw materials, Slavcheva said at the official signing ceremony.

Todorov noted: “This partnership is key and represents an effective mechanism to demonstrate that the development of our science is not only theoretical, but can also be applied in practice and deliver tangible benefits.”