Nevertheless, a mineral present in animals’ urinary calculus is helping to make construction materials from sawdust fire resistant.
A research team in Switzerland mixed sawdust and struvite (a crystalline ammonium magnesium phosphate), adding an enzyme extracted from watermelon seeds for stickiness.
The mixture was then pressed for two days into chipboards. Tests showed that when inflamed the mineral released water vapour and ammonia, gases which displace air.
The fire was thus extinguished, while the chipboard material merely charred. The material can be recycled and is suitable for the circular economy: individual components can be extracted at temperatures of 100°C.
Biopolymers from seaweed also act as fire retardants. While sawdust can help remove microplastics from water.
