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Studies on potential of Portland cement mortar for binding of waterworks sludge to reduce heavy metal leaching

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Abstract

The investigation of heavy metal leaching and physicochemical properties of cement-solidified waterworks sludge (CMWWS) formed by incorporating waterworks sludge (WWS) into cement mortar was carried out. The chemical composition, compressive strength and other physicochemical properties of the CMWWS cube specimens were determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The major type of chemical components present in CMWWS was found to be Al and Fe. The increasing amount of WWS added to cement mortar resulted in the increasing of organic matter, urchin-like morphology and clear peak intensity. At the end of 28 days of curing, the soaking solution became strongly basic and CMWWS cube specimens leached out higher amount of heavy metals. The compressive strength of CMWWS increased up to a WWS percentage of 10%, and basic (pH > 7) curing solution was found to be better than water for curing purposes. It is concluded that solidification–stabilisation (S/S) technique is able to effectively reduce the leaching of heavy metals from the WWS and CMWWS containing up to 10% WWS can be used as construction material.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are wish to thank Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for the financial support (Research University Grant, GUP, Q.J130000.7126.01J51) and Zamalah scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

    Paramalinggam Thanalechumi, Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff & Hanim Awab

  2. Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials, Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

    Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff

  3. Construction Research Centre (CRC), Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

    Mohanadoss Ponraj

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  1. Paramalinggam Thanalechumi
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  2. Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff
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  3. Mohanadoss Ponraj
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  4. Hanim Awab
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Correspondence to Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff.

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Thanalechumi, P., Mohd Yusoff, A.R., Ponraj, M. et al. Studies on potential of Portland cement mortar for binding of waterworks sludge to reduce heavy metal leaching. Sādhanā 41, 359–367 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-016-0472-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-016-0472-0

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