Valorization of sewage sludge in the fabrication of construction and building materials: A review

Chang, Z; Long, G; Zhou, JL; Ma, C

Valorization of sewage sludge in the fabrication of construction and building materials: A review

Chang, Z Long, G Zhou, JL Ma, C

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2020, 154
Issue Date:: 2020-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chang, Z
dc.contributor.author	Long, G
dc.contributor.author	Zhou, JL
dc.contributor.author	Ma, C
dc.date.accessioned	2021-02-03T04:36:51Z
dc.date.available	2021-02-03T04:36:51Z
dc.date.issued	2020-03-01
dc.identifier.citation	Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2020, 154
dc.identifier.issn	0921-3449
dc.identifier.issn	1879-0658
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/145762
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 Elsevier B.V. With increasing amount of sewage sludge becoming an urgent and inevitable issue for every country, its applications in the production of construction and building materials provide an alternative solution for sludge disposal and resource recovery. Similar to clay and Portland cement, the main oxides in sewage sludge are SiO2 (10–25 %), Al2O3 (5–10 %) and CaO (10–30 %) which are increased in sludge ash after incineration to 25–50 %, 10–20 % and 15–30 %. Therefore, this solid waste can be utilized not only as raw material for the production of eco-cement, bricks, ceramic materials and lightweight aggregates through sintering process, but also as supplementary admixtures in cementitious materials such as pozzolanic component, fine aggregate or filling material. By critically reviewing current utilizations of sewage sludge, it is feasible to replace up to 15 % natural raw materials with sewage sludge in cement production and the manufactured eco-cement clinkers show comparable performance to traditional Portland cement. Whilst as raw feed in the fabrication of bricks, ceramic materials and lightweight aggregates, 20 % of sewage sludge substitution is acceptable to produce good quality products (within 8 % firing shrinkage and 15 % water absorption). Though high content of organic matter in raw sludge causes a decrease in mechanical strength and delay in hydration process, controlled low-strength materials offer an innovative reuse with large amount of sludge. The immobilization of heavy metals in products prevents sewage sludge causing secondary environmental pollution. Furthermore, suggestions for future research are proposed in order to strengthen the high value-added applications of sewage sludge.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER
dc.relation.ispartof	Resources, Conservation and Recycling
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104606
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	05 Environmental Sciences, 09 Engineering, 12 Built Environment and Design
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.title	Valorization of sewage sludge in the fabrication of construction and building materials: A review
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	154
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences
utslib.for	09 Engineering
utslib.for	12 Built Environment and Design
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
utslib.copyright.embargo	2022-03-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2021-02-03T04:36:37Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	154

Abstract:

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. With increasing amount of sewage sludge becoming an urgent and inevitable issue for every country, its applications in the production of construction and building materials provide an alternative solution for sludge disposal and resource recovery. Similar to clay and Portland cement, the main oxides in sewage sludge are SiO2 (10–25 %), Al2O3 (5–10 %) and CaO (10–30 %) which are increased in sludge ash after incineration to 25–50 %, 10–20 % and 15–30 %. Therefore, this solid waste can be utilized not only as raw material for the production of eco-cement, bricks, ceramic materials and lightweight aggregates through sintering process, but also as supplementary admixtures in cementitious materials such as pozzolanic component, fine aggregate or filling material. By critically reviewing current utilizations of sewage sludge, it is feasible to replace up to 15 % natural raw materials with sewage sludge in cement production and the manufactured eco-cement clinkers show comparable performance to traditional Portland cement. Whilst as raw feed in the fabrication of bricks, ceramic materials and lightweight aggregates, 20 % of sewage sludge substitution is acceptable to produce good quality products (within 8 % firing shrinkage and 15 % water absorption). Though high content of organic matter in raw sludge causes a decrease in mechanical strength and delay in hydration process, controlled low-strength materials offer an innovative reuse with large amount of sludge. The immobilization of heavy metals in products prevents sewage sludge causing secondary environmental pollution. Furthermore, suggestions for future research are proposed in order to strengthen the high value-added applications of sewage sludge.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/145762