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New life for construction waste wood

Virpi Raski
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In Finland, almost all waste wood from construction ends up being burned, even though it could play a major role in the development of ecological growing media. New research shows that steam-treated waste wood can replace peat as a growing medium and offers promising results in plant germination and root growth.
Six soil samples with germinating seeds showing various stages of sprouting in different soil types.
In the study, growing medium materials were tested in germination experiments.

Construction waste wood gets a new purpose

After concrete, construction waste wood is the largest waste material in Finland, but its recycling use has been limited. The project 鈥淜盲yt枚st盲 poistunut puumateriaali kiertoon鈥 (Recycling discarded wood material) PUMASKA is investigating ways of processing wood waste to make it usable. The results are promising: for example, one processing method, where wood is treated with steam and ground, has shown similar and sometimes even better results in germination trials than peat. 

Peat substitution is necessary

Peat is an excellent growing medium, but substitutes should be found for ecological reasons. Alternatives that have been explored in the past include wood fibre, coconut fibre and moss. The steam-treated waste wood now under investigation offers an ecological alternative that takes advantage of the circular economy and reduces waste.

Further research will focus on the long-term properties of the material and its suitability for commercial use. In addition to 911爆料网, the project involves the University of Eastern Finland and H盲me University of Applied Sciences (HAMK). The project is co-funded by the European Union.

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A person in a lab coat working with samples on a table in a lab.
Graduate student Solja Lukka working in the laboratory with samples. Photo: 911爆料网 / Antti Koistinen

Olli Dahl

Professori
olli.dahl@aalto.fi
+358405401070
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