Eggshell powder and ceramic waste have both been tested in cementitious materials, and some studies have combined them. But the available evidence does not establish a commercial eggshell-and-ceramic cement that is universally “ultra-strong” or prove that one combined mix achieves the headline strength and carbon reductions reported for other, separate formulations. The results depend on what the waste replaces, how the mix is made, and what it is compared with.
What the studies actually show
There is direct, though limited, evidence of eggshell powder and ceramic waste being tested together. A 2020 study assessed eggshell powder, ceramic waste and iron slag as partial cement replacements in self-compacting concrete. A proceedings paper also describes eggshell powder and ceramic waste powder used with fly ash. These reports establish that combined mixes have been investigated, but the available indexed details do not support naming a best-performing recipe or claiming that the combined materials produced a generally ultra-strong cement alternative. The 2020 study and the proceedings paper are the relevant combined-material sources.
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The more striking strength and emissions figures come from studies of other formulations. They are useful evidence that ceramic waste or eggshells may have a role in lower-impact construction materials, but they cannot be attributed to a mix containing both.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow ceramic waste performed in a high-strength concrete study
Xu and colleagues studied ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with ceramic tile waste powder replacing 15–55% of the material specified in their study. Their 2021 paper reports that mixes in this replacement range achieved compressive strength above 120 MPa and flexural strength above 14 MPa at 28 days. Its environmental analysis reports a maximum 33.1% reduction in CO2 emissions at 55% ceramic tile waste powder. These results describe that study’s ceramic-waste UHPC—not a combined eggshell-and-ceramic mix—and are not a guarantee of field performance or code compliance. Xu et al., “Mechanical properties of low-carbon ultra-high performance concrete incorporating ceramic waste powder,” 2021.
What eggshell powder can replace—and what changes with the mix
Eggshell powder can serve different roles, so “cement replacement” does not describe every study. A 2023 review reports increased strength in the literature it analyzed for cement replacement levels up to 20%; that finding summarizes multiple formulations and is not a universal recipe. The review provides that context.
A separate 2024 mortar study assessed ground eggshell as an alternative to limestone powder. The authors found it feasible up to 15% in their formulation, while noting increased mixing-water demand associated with the eggshell membrane’s hydrophobicity and different hydration behavior at 35%. These observations concern that mortar and its materials; they should not be combined with the review’s cement-replacement range as if they described one mix. The 2024 study.
Compare the results by formulation, not by headline
| Study and material | What the waste replaces or contributes | Reported result | What the result does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xu et al., 2021: ceramic tile waste powder in UHPC | 15–55% replacement range in the studied UHPC mix | At 28 days, compressive strength above 120 MPa and flexural strength above 14 MPa across the reported range; the environmental analysis reports a maximum 33.1% lower CO2 emissions at 55% replacement. | It does not report these results for eggshell-and-ceramic concrete. Source |
| 2024: ground eggshell in mortar | Alternative to limestone powder; the study assessed levels including 15% and 35%. | At 15%, the authors report 12% lower embodied energy, 13% lower CO2 emissions and 7% lower cost than their limestone-powder concrete comparator. | These lifecycle and cost comparisons apply to that study’s 15% ground-eggshell formulation and comparator, not to ceramic-waste mixes or a combined product. Source |
| Natarajan et al., 2025: ceramic tile and concrete waste geopolymer concrete | Ceramic and concrete wastes used in geopolymer mixes; ternary mixes also included 30% GGBFS. | The paper reports a maximum binary 28-day strength of 48.6 MPa and up to 64.4 MPa for ternary mixes with 30% GGBFS; its sustainability assessment reports 35–45% lower embodied CO2 than OPC. | These are geopolymer results, not eggshell-containing Portland-cement concrete. Source |
| 2020 combined-material study and proceedings paper | Eggshell powder and ceramic waste tested together; the 2020 study also included iron slag, and the proceedings paper describes fly ash. | Both sources establish that combined materials have been investigated; the available indexed details do not establish a single best-performing combined mix or provide a verified combined-mix strength or carbon figure. | Do not transfer the strength or emissions numbers from the separate UHPC, mortar or geopolymer studies to these combined formulations. 2020 study; proceedings paper |
Does eggshell waste eliminate the need for clinker?
No. “Cement alternative” can refer to replacing a portion of cement, substituting for limestone filler, or using waste in a geopolymer precursor. Those routes have different processes and environmental boundaries. In a 2022 study, researchers used pulverized eggshell as a limestone substitute in Portland cement clinker raw materials and synthesized the clinker at 1470 °C. The study found similar main clinker phases and hydration and strength behavior to its limestone-cement comparator. It demonstrates a possible raw-material substitution, not cement made without clinker or without high-temperature processing. The 2022 clinker study.
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What construction professionals should check before specifying a mix
Published laboratory results can identify promising ingredients, but they do not qualify a material for a particular job. A strength value measured at a stated age is not the same as verified structural performance, and a carbon reduction against one comparator is not a project-wide carbon saving. Before considering a waste-containing material for a specification, establish the details for the actual product and application:
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- Replacement basis: Confirm whether the waste replaces cement, limestone powder, aggregate or geopolymer feedstock, and whether the percentage is by mass or another stated basis.
- Processing and consistency: Ask how the waste is cleaned, ground, graded and incorporated, and how the supplier controls batch-to-batch variation. Eggshell membrane and particle characteristics can affect water demand and hydration behavior.
- Fresh and hardened performance: Check workability and water demand as well as compressive and flexural strength at the ages relevant to the design. Do not assume a result from UHPC, mortar, self-compacting concrete or geopolymer concrete applies to another class of mix.
- Verification for the use: Require test data and applicable approvals for the specific formulation, exposure and structural or non-structural role. The cited studies do not establish code approval for a generic eggshell-and-ceramic product.
- Carbon comparison: Review the lifecycle boundary, baseline mix, transport and processing assumptions, and whether the claim is for embodied energy, CO2 emissions or another measure. A percentage without its comparator is not a transferable project estimate.
Is there an off-the-shelf eggshell-and-ceramic cement?
The available sources establish research into these ingredients, including some combined-material testing, but do not identify a verified commercial product, brand or supplier for a cement made specifically from eggshells and ceramic waste. Treat claims about such a product as requiring formulation-specific technical documentation, product availability and suitability for the intended region and application.
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