Laboratory for Stone, Aggregates and Recycled Materials
The laboratory performs applicative research and development work, including research programs and research projects, as well as applicative research work that is ordered by various clients, and expert, consulting, and surveillance activities from the following fields:
- aggregates
- stone (particularly correct installation)
- recycling of waste in building composites
- materials for the cultural heritage
- remediation of polluted soils and water
- mineralogical analyses
Performs:
- mineralogical and petrographic analyses (asbestos)
- Life cycle assessments (LCA)
Important research equipment:
- Computed tomography
- Microscopy
- Spectroscopy
- Porosimetry and particle size
- Equipment for non-destructive testing
- Software for environmental evaluation
- Chambers to simulate environmental influences
Important projects:
Ongoing projects
| International projects | Funds | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CO2TREAT Accelerated CO2 treatment of alkaline residues for low-carbon binders Coordinator: VITO (Belgium), ZAG partner |
ERA-MIN3 | 2022 – 2025 |
| RIS Internship – RIS Internship programme Broadening University-Business Cooperation Coordinator: the University of Zagreb, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering (Croatia), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2022 – 2024 |
| RIS Education & Entrepreneurship Coordinator EIT RM- ECLC, ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2022 |
| DIM ESEE-2 Dubrovnik International ESEE Mining School Coordinator: the University of Zagreb, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering (Croatia) ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2021 -2025 |
| LIFE proETV Promotion and implementation of ETV as an EU voluntary scheme for verifying the performance of environmental technologies Coordinator: Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas (Poland) ZAG partner |
LIFE | 2020 – 2022 |
| EIT Urban Mobility RIS HUB Slovenia Founder: ZAG |
EIT | 2020 – 2026 |
| RIS-RESTORE Evaluation of Red Mud Tailings in the ESEE region Coordinator: ZAG |
EIT RawMaterials | 2020 – 2022 |
| EURAD European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management Coordinator: Agence Nationale Pour La Gestion Des Dechets Radioactifs (France) Linked Third Party: ZAG |
H2020-Euratom-1.2. | 2019 – 2024 |
| LIFE HIDAQUA Sustainable water management on high water demanding industries Coordinator: ZAG |
LIFE | 2019 – 2023 |
| CINDERELA New Circular Economy Business Model for More Sustainable Urban Construction Coordinator: ZAG |
H2020-EU.3.5.4. | 2018 – 2022 |
| EIT RawMaterials Hub Regional Center Adria Co-founder: ZAG |
EIT RawMaterials | Since 2018 |
| Bilateral research projects | Funds | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Green and Sustainable Construction Materials from waste Industrial By-products Red Mud and Waste Gypsum SLO-IND bilateral project in cooperation with School of Infrastructure (Bhubaneswar, Odisha) |
ARRS | 2022 – 2024 |
| National projects | Funds | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J1-3029: Holistic sustainability evaluation of critical raw materials – closing gaps and developing new methodological approaches Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2021 – 2024 |
| L7-3185: Investigation of interconnected processes for sustainable management of sewage sludge for the purpose of its material recovery and recycling Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2021 – 2024 |
Completed projects since 2000
| International projects | Funds | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2sDR Upscaling of the two-step dust recycling process for EAF dust Coordinator Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2020 – 2021 |
| 3DBriefcase Learning the use of minerals through non-conventional and digital tools Coordinator: Gomez Pardo Foundation (Spain) ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2020 – 2021 |
| SPL-CYCLE Closing the loop of the Spent Pot-line (SPL) in the Al smelting process Coordinator: ZAG |
EIT RawMaterials | 2018 – 2021 |
| PaperChain New market niches for the pulp and paper industry waste based on circular economy approach Coordinator: Acciona Construction SA (Spain) ZAG partner |
H2020 | 2017 – 2021 |
| RIS-CuRE Zero waste recovery of copper tailings in the ESEE region Coordinator: ZAG |
EIT RawMaterials | 2019 – 2021 |
| WhISPER Waterless Iron Silicate Production with Energy Recovery Coordinator: Atlantic Copper S.L.U., ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2019 – 2021 |
| Mine Tour Active conservation and evaluation of the natural and cultural heritage of mines and mining for the development of sustainable tourism Coordinator: Municipality of Labin (Croatia), ZAG partner |
ERDF, Interreg Sl-HR | 2018 – 2021 |
| REEBAUX Prospects of REE recovery from bauxite and bauxite residue in the ESEE region Coordinator: The University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science; ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2018 – 2021 |
| RIS-RECOVER Regional innovation scheme for zero waste extraction of critical raw materials Coordinator: ZAG |
EIT RawMaterials | 2018 – 2021 |
| INNOMAT Innovation Management through integration of LCA Training Packages Coordinator: Technische Universiteit Delft (Nederland), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2018 – 2020 |
| URBAN SOIL 4 FOOD Establishment of Innovative Urban Soil Based Economy Circles to Increase Local Food Self-sufficiency and Minimise Environmental Footprint Coordinator: City Municipality of Maribor (Slovenia) ZAG partner |
UIA | 2017 – 2020 |
| INNOCAT Innovative CRM substitution technology for public authorities’ vehicle catalysts Coordinator: Monolithos Ltd (Greece), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2019 – 2020 |
| Retracking Towards the circular economy: traceability of manufactured products made from Fibre-Reinforced Composites (FRC) Coordinator: Polo Tecnologico Pordenone ScpA (Italia), ZAG partner |
ERDF, Interreg ITA-SLO | 2017 – 2019 |
| BusiSource Waste from companies as a secondary source Coordinator: Technische Universiteit Delft (The Netherlands), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2017 – 2020 |
| ESEE DC ESEE Dialog Conference Coordinator: Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2017 – 2018 |
| FLAME FLy Ash to valuable MinErals Coordinator: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek NV VITO (Belgium), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2017 – 2020 |
| Visual3D Visualisation of 3D–4D models in exploration and geosciences Coordinator: Luleá University of Technology (LTU, Sweden) ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2017 – 2020 |
| DIM ESEE Dubrovnik International ESEE Mining School Coordinator: The University of Zagreb, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering (Croatia), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2016 – 2020 |
| VirtualMine VirtualMine as a modelling tool for Wider Society Learning Coordinator: KGHM Cuprum (Poland), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2017 – 2019 |
| STORM Industrial Symbiosis for the Sustainable Management of Raw Materials Coordinator: National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA, Italy), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2016 – 2018 |
| OREVAL Experts and facilities for ore characterisation Coordinator: Université de Liège (Belgium), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2018 – 2020 |
| RMCONFDIF RM metallurgy annual conferences cycle Coordinator: Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (Spain), ZAG partner |
EIT RawMaterials | 2016 – 2018 |
| LIFE RusaLCA Nanoremediation of water from small wastewater treatment plants and reuse of water and solid remains for local needs Coordinator: ZAG |
LIFE | 2013 – 2016 |
| LIFE ReBirth Promotion of the Recycling of Industrial Waste and Building Rubble for the Construction Industry Coordinator: ZAG |
LIFE+ | 2011 – 2014 |
| MIRAVEC Modelling Infrastructure Influence on RoAd Vehicle Energy Consumption Coordinator: Austrian Institute of Technology (Austria), ZAG partner |
ERA-NET ROAD | 2011 – 2013 |
| MIRIAM Models for rolling resistance In Road Infrastructure Asset Management Systems Coordinator: The Danish Road Directorate (Denmark), ZAG partner |
Funds contributed by the participating organisations | 2010 – 2016 |
| ULTRAGRIP Design Tools for high grip surfaces Coordinator: KELME (Spain), ZAG partner |
EU FP7 CRAFT | 2010 – 2012 |
| FIRECON Fire resistant concrete made with slag from the steel industry Coordinator: University of Zagreb, Faculty of civil engineering (Croatia), ZAG partner |
EUREKA E!4166 | 2009 – 2011 |
| CHEF Cultural Heritage Protection against Flooding Coordinator: Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (Germany), ZAG partner |
EU FP6 | 2007 – 2009 |
| SPENS Sustainable Pavements for European New Member State Coordinator: ZAG |
EU FP6 | 2006 – 2009 |
| GRAFFITAGE Development of a new antigraffiti system, based on traditional concepts, preventing damage of architectural heritage concepts Coordinator: Fundación Labein (Spain), ZAG partner |
EU FP6 | 2005 – 2008 |
| PETROSCOPE An optical analyser for construction aggregates and rocks Coordinator: Petromodel Ltd (Iceland), ZAG partner |
EUREKA E!2569 | 2001 – 2005 |
| TEAM Testing and assessment of marble and limestone Coordinator: SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute (Sweden), ZAG partner |
EU FP5-GROWTH | 2000 – 2005 |
| The revitalisation of the Chartusian Monastery at Žiče Coordinator: ZAG |
Culture 2000 | 2005 – 2006 |
| Bilateral research projects | Funds | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| The revitalisation of metallurgical deposits and zero waste recycling with the use of recycled residues in the construction sector SLO-AUT bilateral project in cooperation with Montanuniversität Leoben |
ARRS | 2018 – 2019 |
| Use of industrial waste in the production of concrete SLO-SRB bilateral project ZAG in collaboration with the Institute for testing of materials-IMS Institute |
ARRS | 2016 – 2017 |
| The durability of sustainable natural fibres cementitious composites in Alpine regions SLO-AUT bilateral project ZAG in collaboration with the Technische Universität Wien |
ARRS | 2016 – 2017 |
| The new, ecologically acceptable thermal insulation mortar based on fly ash and expanded perlite SLO-MNE bilateral project ZAG in collaboration with the University of Montenegro Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology |
ARRS | 2016 – 2017 |
| The investigation of UV inks interaction SLO-CZE bilateral project The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in collaboration with the University of Pardubice, ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2008 – 2009 |
| Stone cultural heritage from east Slovenia and south of the Czech republic with special emphasis on historical stone structures of quartz sandstone SLO-CZE bilateral project The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in collaboration with the Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2005 – 2006 |
| National projects | Funds | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J2-9196: Mass concrete – technological optimisation by advances experimental methods Coordinator: the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2018 – 2021 |
| J2-9197: Synthesis and characterisation of alkali-activated foams based on different waste Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2018 – 2021 |
| L7-2629: Evaluation and remediation of sediments for further use in the building sector (READY4USE) Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS, Dravske elektrarne Maribor, d. o. o. | 2020 – 2023 |
| Z1-1889: Optimisation of the electrocoagulation process for the purpose of remediation of heavily contaminated industrial and municipal wastewater Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS, Deltaplan d.o.o. | 2019 – 2021 |
| Z1-1858: Recycling of waste titanogypsum in cement composites (TiGy CEM) Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2019 – 2021 |
| L1-9190: Influence of geotechnical fills from recycled materials on groundwater Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS, Termit d.d., Snaga d.o.o., Hmezad-TMT d.o.o. | 2018 – 2021 |
| Contents of potentially toxic elements in soil microplastic particles from selected Slovenian urban gardens in agricultural land and effective remediation | RS, MESS | 2017 – 2020 |
| Optimisation of cleaning of leaching water from landfills and preparation of building composites from the concentrate of leaching water and industrial wastes | RS, MESS | 2017 – 2020 |
| J1-7148: 3D and 4D microscopy development of new powerful tools in geosciences Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2016 – 2018 |
| V1-1649: In situ immobilisation of contaminated soil using innovative nanotechnology for processing and use as urban soils Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS, MESP | 2016 – 2018 |
| J7-7100: Natural resources of karst show caves: a balance among protection, exploitation, and promotion Coordinator: ZRC SAZU, ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2016 – 2018 |
| L7-6747: In-situ remediation of polluted ground in the area of the Old Zinc-Works at Celje Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2014 – 2017 |
| L1-5453: Development of novel bioresistant and stainfree stone surfaces Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2013 – 2016 |
| L3-5501: Treatment effectiveness of fixed orthodontic appliances in correlation with surface changes of their metal parts Coordinator: the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2013 – 2016 |
| Perkmandeljc – Arrangement of the Padež lead mine as a natural geological value Coordinator: Municipality of Laško, ZAG partner |
RS, MAFF | 2012 – 2013 |
| L1-4240: Improving performance and environmentally friendly production of asphalt by optimising the addition of secondary raw materials in asphalt mixtures Coordinator: National Insitute of Chemistry (Slovenia), ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2011 – 2014 |
| L1-4311: Sediments in aquatic environments: their geochemical and mineralogical characterisation, remediation, and use as secondary raw materials Coordinator: ZAG |
ARRS | 2011 – 2014 |
| KC TIGR Competence Center – Sustainable and Innovative Construction Coordinator: Institute for Sustainable and Innovative Construction, ZAG partner |
RS, MESS | 2011 – 2013 |
| DEDI II The extension of the Encyclopedia of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Slovenia Coordinator: XLAB d.o.o., ZAG partner |
RS, MESS | 2009 – 2010 |
| Construction errors Condition analysis and instruments for monitoring construction errors Coordinator: ZAG |
RS, MEDT | 2008 – 2009 |
| L2-7521: The use of new materials from the recycled industrial by-products and building rubbles in civil engineering Coordinator: Institut Jožef Stefan, ZAG partner |
ARRS | 2005 – 2008 |
| L2-6410: Research and development of materials in historical buildings Coordinator: ZAG |
RS, MEDT | 2004 – 2006 |
| Black steel slag as high-quality aggregate in road construction Coordinator: The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, ZAG partner |
RS, MEDT | 2000 – 2002 |
Head of Laboratory:
Dr. Primož Oprčkal, univ. dipl. inž. geol.
e-mail: primoz.oprckal@zag.si
Phone: 01 280 45 07
Mobile Phone: 041 290 698
