Researchers from the Chemistry and Construction training courses at the Polytechnic Institute of Secondary Education (IES) in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are exploring the potential uses of ash from the recent volcanic eruption in La Palma. Their focus is on reducing the reliance on cement in mortar and concrete production.
Funded by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, under the leadership of Poli Suárez, the project is a collaboration with IES Tegueste in Tenerife, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Hormigones Islas Canarias SL, and Controles Externos de la Calidad Canarias.
The aim is to repurpose volcanic ash for construction, thereby decreasing the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimizing polluting emissions, and cutting the manufacturing costs of these materials.
The team recently travelled to La Palma, where they collected 80 kilos of ash from the volcano. The ash will undergo different treatment phases at the educational centre in the capital of Gran Canaria as part of the project.
During their visit, they presented their innovative project, named ‘Treatment and reuse of volcanic waste for the manufacture of mortar and concrete,’ to the Cabildo and the City Council of El Paso. They also took a guided tour of the eruption area to gain insights into the process, the current characteristics of the cone, and the biological evolution of the area.
Through this initiative, the goal is not only to address the immediate challenges arising from the recent volcanic eruption but also to contribute to sustainable economic and industrial development for La Palma and the rest of the Archipelago.
The project also aims to encourage women’s participation in new professional roles related to science, research, innovation, and construction, aiming to bridge the gender gap. Women are predominant in the training courses of the Chemistry professional field, while men dominate the construction sector.
This initiative seeks to attract both genders to sectors where they are underrepresented, thereby working towards a more balanced gender participation in these fields.
