New compositions of the materials from cellulose industry wastes

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to develop composites and laboratory technology for the production of construction materials with the highest percentage of Kraft pulp production wastes—dregs, grits, and lime mud, with the lime production waste as a binding component. The concentration of these wastes, used as raw materials, varied in the following limits: dregs 0–45 %, grits 0–45 %, lime mud 0–30 %, and lime waste production 10–25 %. The values of uniaxial compressive strength of the developed construction materials on the 3rd day of curing reached 5.89 MPa, on the 7th day—7.95 MPa, on the 14th day—9.35 MPa, on the 60th day—18.52 MPa, and on the 180th day, 19.34 MPa. Through XRF, XRD, SEM, EDS, and LAMMA methods, it was determined that these values of mechanical properties can be explained by dissolving the solid particles surfaces of the components in an alkaline environment, and by synthesizing new formations, specially amorphous and partly crystalline carbonates. The results of the study indicate that the waste of Kraft pulp production can be used as valuable components in the production of the construction materials without the application of traditional natural materials.