Technology Transfer Department

Application sectors

Problem to solve

The use of natural substances in the construction and restoration sectors stems from the need and duty to explore environmentally, economically, and culturally sustainable alternatives. Prickly pear mucilage is a plant product extracted from the plant's leaves. In Italy, prickly pears are grown exclusively for the sale of their fruit, while the leaves represent the annual pruning waste, amounting to nearly 10 t/ha. In Mexico, it has always been used in construction, dating back to pre-Hispanic times. Studies over the past 30 years demonstrate promising results in the use of mucilage as an additive in the production of mortars, plasters, and cement, replacing synthetic additives. The resulting mixture dries more slowly and becomes more plastic, preventing cracks and crazing.

Description

Prickly pear mucilage is used as an additive in mortars, plasters, and cement, increasing their plasticity, durability, and mechanical strength, as demonstrated in the laboratory and in real-world cases. Furthermore, compared to synthetic additives, it has demonstrated greater affinity and compatibility with the substrate and is effective in inhibiting and/or delaying biological attack on buildings and artistic artifacts. The possibility of using natural extracts obtained through environmentally friendly methods already offers the advantage of limiting and/or replacing the use of synthetic chemicals, which are sometimes toxic to both the operator and the environment. This contributes to saving resources, water, and energy used in their production, and helps reduce emissions and hazardous waste. The product is obtained from pruning waste and therefore represents an opportunity to reuse plant parts that would normally be disposed of. This initiates a circular economy process based on the use of organic waste, prickly pear peels, which become a resource for other productive activities, with a view to closing cycles and implementing industrial symbiosis actions.

Research group involved