BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung
German African Innovation Incentive Award for the "cassava bio concrete" house
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In cooperation with the German federal research institute BAM, Nigerian scientist Dr. Kolawole Olonade from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife received the "German African Innovation Incentive Award" for the project research idea of re-using the residues of cassava as a rheology modifier for concrete and building materials. The prize was announced and awarded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2017 for the first time. From a high number of applications, four projects were awarded a research incentive funding of a total of 150,000 euros each.
Cassava or manioc is one of the most important foods in Africa grown in increasingly larger quantities. Nigeria is by far the largest producer worldwide and the resulting amount of waste can become valuable for industry. In a cooperation project of BAM and Dr. Kolawole Adisa Olonade (Obafemi Awolowo University) it is planned to threefoldly re-use these residues, which currently have no use and are even cause environmental problems. Firstly, residual starch can be recovered and used as a rheology modifier for concrete and building materials. Secondly, residual peels can be used as fuel, for example for firing bricks. Eventually, the ash from the combustion process can be used as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material.
The project "Low-Carbon Livelihoods - Cassava Residues for Performance Materials (Local-Care)" started on January 1 and will run until April 2020. Dr. Kolawole Adisa Olonade was already a visiting scientist at BAM in 2016 in Dr. Wolfram Schmidt's team at the Technology of Construction Materials Division. The cooperation initiated is continuing: the aim of the joint project is to technically evaluate the substances obtained - in particular, how much CO2 can be saved, which new value chains can be created through the valorisation of agricultural residues, and which framework conditions are required to ensure safe construction and a quality infrastructure. Most importantly, awareness needs to be raised that agricultural residues are as much suitable for high-performance building materials as established residual materials from metallurgy or coal combustion are. Thus, a lecture series will be held in Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya and South Africa to disseminate the results. In the final stage, a real building made from "cassava bio concrete" will be installed in Nigeria.
About the German African Innovation Incentive Award
The German African Innovation Incentive Award (GAIIA) honours outstanding achievements of African researchers and recognises the central role of research and innovation in the development of modern knowledge-based societies. It also supports German research and innovation stakeholders in further developing their cooperation with African partners. The prize is awarded to African researchers linked to an institution in Africa. It is used in joint follow-up projects where the partners develop their research results for future use. Main topics are environmental science, health research, bioeconomy, social development and process innovation, resource management and information and communication technologies.
About BAM
BAM promotes safety in technology and chemistry.
As a departmental research institute of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, BAM performs research, testing and offers advisory support to protect people, the environment and material goods. Its activity in the fields of materials science, materials engineering and chemistry is focussed on the technical safety of products and processes.
BAM's research is directed towards substances, materials, building elements, components and facilities as well as natural and technical systems important for the national economy and relevant to society. It also tests and assesses their safe handling and operation. BAM develops and validates analysis procedures and assessment methods, models and necessary standards and provides science-based services for the German industry in a European and international framework.
Safety creates markets.
BAM sets and represents high standards for safety in technology and chemistry for Germany and its global markets to further develop the successful German quality culture "Made in Germany".
https://www.bam.de/Content/EN/News-announcements/2018/2018-01-15-a-cassava-bio-concrete-house.html
Venio Quinque, M.A., LL.M./LL.B. Head of Section Corporate Communications Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) Unter den Eichen 87 12205 Berlin GERMANY T: + 49 30 8104-1002 F: + 49 30 8104-71002 venio.quinque@bam.de www.bam.de