Microstructural evaluation of composites incorporated with industrial waste

Abstract

Oil sludge is waste, which has a potential impact on nature and human health. Solidification/stabilization technology has stood out as an effective approach to treating this waste by transforming it into non-toxic, insoluble forms. Thus, the objective of the present research was to treat hazardous organic waste, through stabilization by solidification and evaluate the resulting matrix, through X-ray Diffraction Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Cementitious matrices were prepared with addition of 5% and 20% oil sludge. After the curing time, the specimens were ground and submitted for characterization analyses. This, indicated a high organic mass to be treated and presented an amount of chromium above the maximum permissible limit. The incorporation of the oil sludge did not have a significant impact on the hydration reactions of the cementitious matrices, as indicated by the characteristic peaks of Portlandite and Calcium Silicate. The scanning electron microscopy analysis pointed out that the oil sludge did not interfere in the cement hydration reactions, resulting in the formation of the main hydration products. There was a significant difference in mass losses between the treatment with 5% and 20% oil sludge, with greater losses when incorporating a larger amount of residue, while the curing time had no significant influence.