State-of-the-art review on recycled mussel shell waste in concrete and mortar

Abstract

Concrete is a building material consisting of a mixture of gravel, sand, cement, and water. It is one of the most widely used materials on earth. The concrete industry generates harmful effects on the environment. The cement industry is a testimony to the air pollution generated by greenhouse gases. The use of mussel shell waste as a substitute for concrete components is an alternative that may reduce the dependency on conventional natural materials. As a result, several scientific studies have been carried out to produce so-called ecological concrete. This article summarizes various scientific studies on the evaluation of mussel shells as a building material in concrete and mortar. First of all, the physical–chemical characteristics of the mussel shells will be treated. The influence of the incorporation of mussel shell waste on the fresh and hardened properties of formulated composites will then be discussed. The obtained results show that mussel shell waste can be used for nonstructural concrete or for mortar formulation.