Cement is one of the most widely used building materials in the world, but it comes at a high environmental cost.
Portland cement alone is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
Now, scientists at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates say they have developed a more eco-friendly alternative: durable construction bricks made from desert sand.
The research, published in the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, shows that desert sand—long considered unsuitable for construction—can be transformed into strong, sustainable bricks when combined with special binders known as alkali-activated binders.
In Gulf countries, vast deserts stretch for miles, yet much of the sand has traditionally been seen as useless for farming or building without expensive processing.
Conventional concrete relies on specific types of sand and Portland cement, which requires energy-intensive production methods.
Fired clay bricks also demand high heat during manufacturing, adding to emissions.
The Sharjah research team took a different approach. They collected natural desert sand from the region and mixed it with alkali-activated binders made partly from industrial by-products such as blast-furnace slag and fly ash.
Instead of using Portland cement, the binders rely on alkaline solutions that trigger chemical reactions, forming strong, rock-like structures.
One major advantage of the new bricks is that they cure at room temperature. Many alternative cement systems require heat curing, which increases both energy use and cost. By allowing the bricks to harden under normal ambient conditions, the researchers reduce the environmental footprint even further.
Laboratory testing showed that the desert sand bricks performed as well as—or better than—traditional cement and fired clay bricks in several key areas.
They demonstrated strong mechanical performance, lower water absorption, and impressive durability.
In particular, the bricks showed excellent resistance to sulfate attack, a type of chemical damage common in coastal and marine environments where sulfate-rich soil and groundwater can weaken ordinary cement products.
The researchers also tested the bricks under wetting and drying cycles and other durability conditions.
According to the team, the bricks met ASTM standards, the internationally recognized benchmarks for construction materials.
Beyond performance, the environmental benefits are significant. The construction industry consumes about 40% of global energy and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. By using abundant local desert sand and industrial by-products instead of carbon-heavy Portland cement, the new bricks could help reduce the industry’s climate impact.
The scientists are now working to move from laboratory experiments to real-world production. Their next steps include scaling up the manufacturing process, conducting pilot testing, and analyzing costs and logistics to ensure the technology can be adopted on an industrial scale.
If successful, this innovation could provide regions rich in desert sand with a locally sourced, lower-carbon building material. What was once considered waste or unusable sand may soon become a key ingredient in greener construction around the world.
