Production of Concrete Blocks Using Treated Effluent for Activated Sludge and Stabilization Lagoons

Abstract

The estimated consumption of water is of 9,000 L on production of about 12,000 concrete blocks with 14x19x39 cm, approximately 60 m³ of concrete. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of treated effluent for two different biological STS - Sewage Treatment Stations - (activated sludge and stabilization lagoons) in the production of hollow blocks of simple concrete compared with the use of groundwater. To this were analyzed the characteristics of groundwater and wastewater for use in the production of the blocks and was made a comparative analysis, in accordance with the technical standard ABNT NBR 6136, of physical and mechanical characteristics (dimensional, absorbing, compression) obtained in blocks manufactured with groundwater and wastewater. Images were also captured by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of all samples of blocks produced and compared to the results of mechanical properties obtained. It was observed that both physical and mechanical characteristics of the blocks manufactured with the treated effluents meet completely the requirements established by this technical standard. The better results for blocks manufactured were using groundwater, which can enable the reuse of water from the treated effluent in the manufacture of hollow concrete blocks to masonry. DOI: 10.5935/1984-6835.20160075