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Production and characterization of natural clay-free green building brick materials using water treatment sludge and oak wood ash

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Abstract

The experimental study investigates the feasibility of using two extensively waste (wastewater treatment sludge and oak wood ash) as raw materials in the manufacture of clay-free bricks. The wastes were characterized by particle-size distribution, chemical composition (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oak wood ash replaced the water treatment sludge in different amounts (10–30 wt.%) in brick manufacture. The properties of clay-free green building brick were compared with the conventional bricks (obtained by standard methods). The properties depended of waste proportion. The 30 wt.% oak wood ash content achieved increase apparent porosity, with direct effect over water absorption and decreasing compressive strength. By replacing the water treatment sludge with oak wood ash, the CaO content increased, with negative effect over efflorescence on the surface; however, for 30 wt.% oak wood ash is below the imposed limits. Amounts of heavy metals in the leachates of fired samples are observed below the specified limits of the EPA (Environment Protection Authority). Additionally, the clay-free green bricks showed properties similar to the commercial bricks and improved thermal conductivity. The bricks containing 80 wt.% wastewater treatment sludge and 20 wt.% oak wood ash fulfilled standard requirements for clay masonry materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 73, D. Mangeron Blvd., 700050, Iasi, Romania

    Maria Harja

  2. Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Bartin University, 74100, Bartin, Turkey

    Osman Gencel

  3. Metallurgical and Material Engineering Department, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey

    Ahmet Sarı & Gokhan Hekimoglu

  4. Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CORERE), Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmet Sarı

  5. Materials Science and Engineering Department, Izmir Kâtip Celebi University, 35620, Izmir, Turkey

    Mucahit Sutcu

  6. Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Bartin University, 74100, Bartin, Turkey

    Ertugrul Erdogmus

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  1. Maria Harja
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  2. Osman Gencel
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Correspondence to Maria Harja, Osman Gencel or Ertugrul Erdogmus.

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Harja, M., Gencel, O., Sarı, A. et al. Production and characterization of natural clay-free green building brick materials using water treatment sludge and oak wood ash. Archiv.Civ.Mech.Eng 22, 79 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-022-00400-0

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