Potential Use of Waste Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Glass as Fine Aggregate in Concrete for Sustainable Built Environment: A Review

Abstract

Electrical and electronic waste (E-waste) has become a great matter of concern all around the world. Due to the fast growth in kinescope technology, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) are being replaced by lighter and thinner panels with flat displays, namely – Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Plasma Display Panels (PDPs) and Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). The environmental hazards caused by CRTs waste generation have become an extensive dilemma around the globe. Lead is contained in sufficient amounts in the waste CRTs, which causes serious hazards to human health and the environment. The increasing demand for concrete and natural resources due to swift urbanization has made it crucial to replace the natural aggregates in concrete either as a partial replacement or total replacement, without affecting the concrete performance. CRT waste glasses are abundant in silica, have low water absorption property and adequate intrinsic strength. These characteristics of CRT waste glass make it apt for usage as pozzolan or sand in construction materials. They can be partially or totally replaced for natural sand as fine aggregate in concrete. This review work extends an in-depth summary of literature detailing the reuse of CRT glass waste as a fine aggregate replacement in concrete. The properties such as water performance, thermal property, strength and durability of CRT glass waste-based concrete and their method of manufacturing have also been studied in this paper. Furthermore, a comparative performance analysis of CRT glass waste concrete with other E-waste incorporated concrete has also been included in this paper. The current work shall contribute to enhancement towards sustainability and economic development of CRT glass waste incorporated concrete in the construction industry. Thus, the issues related to CRT glass waste such as contamination of soil, environment and water bodies, health issues caused to living beings and simultaneously, the degradation of natural restricted aggregate resources could be reduced considerably by several folds.