Abstract
Waste mud coming from an aggregate washing plant was formerly used as filling material for a pond, aimed at the recovery of an abandoned quarry. Once completed the filling capacity of the pond, the need for identifying a possible reuse of mud produced by the plant arose in order to avoid landfill disposal. Therefore, mud has been geometrically, physically and chemically characterised for its recovery as construction material. A variety of tests was carried out on mud samples as required by EN technical specifications and by Italian environmental standards, focusing particularly on leaching behaviour. The tested material showed satisfactory physical and chemical properties and a release of pollutants below the limits set by the Italian code. Many mix-designs for the production of unfired bricks made of waste mud, sand and straw, stabilised and non-stabilised with lime, gypsum or cement, were developed. The bricks were tested in order to evaluate mechanical properties and leaching behaviour. Mud bricks provided remarkable compressive strength, even if not suitable for structural elements. The use as interior design to minimise humidity changes and to facilitate a thermal insulation is fostered, thus strengthening the so-called green building economy.
Highlights
The construction industry is a main issue for environmental sustainability because it produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, exploits natural resources and produces but rarely reuses/recovers wastes
This study aims at investigating the possible recovery of waste mud obtained from an aggregate washing plant as unfired bricks
Alkali-silica reactivity was not detected, assuring the absence of cracking phenomena in unfired bricks. x The evaluation of chemical requirements [11] provided, for all waste mud samples and parameters investigated, values below the more restrictive limits set by the reference standard. x Concerning chemical properties, recycled mud samples highlighted a slightly high variability in chemical composition, probably due to the variability of the material treated in the aggregate washing plant and for which an accurate selection should be carried out
Summary
The construction industry is a main issue for environmental sustainability because it produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, exploits natural resources and produces but rarely reuses/recovers wastes. In recent years the green building economy and the popular environmental awareness were mainly focused on energy, material (i.e. natural resources) saving and waste recycling have probably the most significance for green economic transformation. Following this idea, it will be possible to decrease quarrying activities (considering that natural aggregates are not a renewable resource) and amount of wastes to dispose of in landfills, avoiding environment degradation and pollution. Italian regulation on waste recovery allows the use of these materials both directly in the environment (road and railway basements, excavation filling etc.), and indirectly, through the production of concrete and bitumen [2, 3]
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