Principal Investigators

Prof. Marios Soutsos (current) m.soutsos@qub.ac.uk 

PI in projects: i, ii, iii, iv; Co-I in project: v

Prof. David Cleland d.cleland@qub.ac.uk 

PI in project: v and vii

Prof. Muhammed Basheer P.A.M.Basheer@leeds.ac.uk 

PI in project: vi, and Co-I in project: vii

Details of any grant/funding connected with the research 

(i) “Glass cUllet conversIon To wAteRglass and used, with cement bypass flue dust, for cementless concrete building products (GUITAR)”, funded by Innovate UK, under competition

call “ISCF Transforming foundation industries: Building a resilient recovery”,

This project is undertaken between QUB and four industrial partners: Regen Waste Ltd (lead), Mannok Build Ltd, T&J Recycling Ltd, Ecocem GB Ltd.

The total grant offer: £474K. Status: ongoing.

https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=97602#/tabOverview

(ii) “Converting waste glass into waterglass”, Invest Northern Ireland funded PoC project,

Total grant value: £111K. Status: ongoing.

(iii) “Low Carbon footprint Precast Concrete products for an energy efficient built environment

(LowCoPreCon)”, Funded by Innovate UK (Newton Fund)/RCUK/MIGHT (ref nr: 102721).

Project partners: Monash University Malaysia, University of Malaya, Creagh Concrete Products Ltd, Macrete Ltd, Sunway Building Materials and Ikhmas Jaya Group Berhad 

Total grant value: £910K. Status: active.

https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=102721

(iv) “Development and Commercialisation of banahCEM Geopolymer Binder (phase II)”

R&D project funded by Invest Northern Ireland.  Project partner: Banah UK Ltd.  

Total grant value: £116K, Status: finished.

(v) “Development and Commercialisation of banahCEM Geopolymer Binder (phase I)”

R&D project funded by Invest Northern Ireland.  Project partner: Banah UK Ltd.  

Total grant value: £235K. Status: finished.

(vi) “Reducing CO₂ emissions through reduced Portland cement contents and CO₂ sequestration in concretes”, Carbon Trust funded project (ref. no.: 0912-035).

Project partner: Creagh Concrete Products Ltd.

Total grant value: £509K. Status: finished.

(vii) “Lightweight, low energy concretes for use in novel structures”, Technology Strategy Board funded research project.

Project consortium: QUB, City University London, Creagh Concrete Products Ltd, Macrete Ltd, Network Rail (Department for Regional Development) and Arup

Total grant value: £2.1m. Status: finished.

https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=100438

Research Summary

Jacek specialises in concrete technology and his research is focused on providing comprehensive solutions for the concrete industry, in particular mitigating its environmental impact. 

The main areas of his research include:

• development of low carbon binders for use in concrete, including cement-free binders such as alkali activated materials and geopolymers,
• sustainable lightweight construction materials,
• CO2 curing and CO2 sequestration in cement‐based materials,
• recycling of industrial by‐products and waste materials in concrete,
• rheology of concrete.

UKRI project website: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=97602#/tabOverview 

Impact of Research

The impact of Jacek’s research has been three-fold:

a) encouraging cost-effective improvements in resource management within the concrete industry through conservation of natural resources and use of waste or by-product materials,

b) valorisation and upcycling of waste materials, and

c) promoting use of concrete formulated with cement-free binders.

This has been achieved through collaborative projects with main stakeholders of NI concrete industry.

View Jacek's Pure Profile