- Topic Submission
- Discussion & Evaluation
- Development
- Project
Construction
Geotechnical
Materials
Environment
Co-Author
Is this related to or a continuation of a previous Iowa DOT research project?
No
Does this idea include matching funds?
No
Anticipated Benefits
The engineering benefits of using calcium carbonate based geo-material stabilizers (i.e., lime stabilizers) are well recognized in construction practices intended to improve the performance of both gravel roads and pavement systems. These benefits include increasing the strength and the overall bearing capacity of the soil, mitigating frost and thawing-related damage, and providing more cost-effective design alternatives with thinner subsequent layers. The up to 94% calcium carbonate content in eggshells could contribute to the creation of binding soil and aggregates through pozzolanic reaction. When properly treated and applied, such eggshell waste could be utilized as a bio-based eco-friendly geo-material stabilizer to provide the same or even greater engineering benefits as those gained from using lime stabilizer. The proposed study could also provide new value-added products as sustainable alternative uses of Iowa eggshell wastes instead of just dumping them into landfills. Considering (1) the importance of Iowa egg production to the state economy and the national market and (2) the wide range of pavement and gravel-road-related applications in which the eggshell-waste-derived bio cement material could be used as geo-material stabilizers, supplementary cementitious materials in concrete, and dust suppressants for gravel roads, new value-added products derived from Iowa eggshell wastes identified by this study could be implemented for improving performance and sustainability of transportation infrastructure systems, eventually enhancing environment quality as well as producing substantial economic benefits for the state of Iowa.
Focus Area
Sustainability / Technology
Research Program
IHRB
Project Number
TR-810
Contracted Agency
Iowa State University
Project Champion
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Iowa Highway Research Board
Project Funding
$60,000
Project Funding Including External Sources
$60,000
Project Start Date
05/01/2022
Current Project End Date
10/31/2024
Project Abstract
While Iowa egg production is significantly important to the state economy and national market, large amounts of eggshells generated from Iowa egg industries remain unused as a value-added product. The primary objective of this study would be to explore and demonstrate the concept of using Iowa eggshells as bio-based, cementing materials to strengthen and stabilize frostsusceptible soils and improve the low quality of local aggregates presently used in Iowa pavement and gravel road applications. This will be achieved through the execution of the following primary tasks: (1) characterization of Iowa eggshells, (2) identification of treatment methods for producing high calcium oxide or quicklime (CaO) content eggshell powder (ESP), (3) evaluation of constructability and performance of geo-material stabilization techniques using high CaO content ESP through comprehensive laboratory assessment, (4) proof-of-concept demonstration of eggshell-based geo-material stabilization techniques for use in Iowa pavements and gravel roads, and (5) development of implementation recommendations for real-world applications. The successful outcomes of this research will be new value-added products derived from Iowa eggshell waste, which could be used for improving performance and sustainability of transportation infrastructure systems, eventually enhancing environmental quality as well as producing substantial economic benefits for the State of Iowa.
Project Champion
Project Manager
Delivering targeted solutions for Iowa's transportation future.
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