Cement-like substance could help the environment

WASHINGTON - A scientist has developed a cement-like substance that could help with stormwater management while potentially keeping millions of plastic bottles out of landfills.

An assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Temple University, Naji Khoury, used a mixture of recyclable plastic bottles and soil to create ‘Plastisoil’, a trademarked product he describes as an impervious cementing agent.

When mixed with course aggregate and heated, it produces what Khoury calls ‘porous Plastisoil’, which functions like pervious concrete and porous asphalt.

Khoury said that Plastisoil could help alleviate environmental problems created by stormwater run-off because stormwater can filter through it into the ground below.

“We are currently testing the porous Plastisoil to see if could also remove or reduce pollutants like motor oil from the water as it filters through,” he said.

The product is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, which would help reduce the 200 billion plastic bottles that are sent to landfills each year.

Khoury first developed Plastisoil with co-inventors while at the University of Oklahoma, but he created the material after moving to Temple in 2008. (ANI)