Polluted concrete

The new type of concrete is capable of cleansing
air pollution. Photo: AFP

"In our experiments, we found that nitrogen oxide levels decreased from 35 to 40 percent in areas covered with new concrete," CNN professor Jos Brouwers, head of research at the university, said. In addition, titanium dioxide is commonly used to coat hard-to-clean surfaces, especially in some paints, because it functions as a self-cleaning chemical. This means that the new concrete also has the function of cleaning the moss as well as the dirt, keeping the surface clean.

After the unexpected success in the laboratory, the material "eat" pollutants currently being tested on a large scale in the town of Hengelo. Experts covered the material on a 1,000-square-meter road surface, and covered normal concrete with an area of similar size. After that, the scientists collected air samples from 0.5 - 1.5m from the pavement. The results show that contaminated concrete also works well outdoors as in the laboratory.

The application of this new technology is not just about paving. Concrete can be mixed with conventional asphalt so it can also be used to build walls. "You can apply it easily in normal production conditions, it does not require maintenance , " Brouwers said. The estimated cost of this type of concrete is about 50% more expensive than conventional concrete, but if the total cost of finishing the road is included, the total cost is only about 10%.