Use of Textile Effluent Treatment Plant Sludge as Sustainable Material in Brick Manufacturing

Abstract

The objective of this study is to use the unused of textile Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) sludge in bricks. The physical and chemical and other engineering properties of the ETP sludge from Tirupur are studied. The tests were conducted as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification to study the suitability of the ETP sludge for the use of bricks as a structural and non-structural application. The ETP sludge mixed with varying percentages of Flyash failed to meet the compressive strength requirements. The sludge mixed without varying the flyash requirement has met the requirement for the use of bricks. The strength and other durability properties of the bricks met the standards as prescribed by the Indian Standards. It is concluded that the use ETP sludge with quarry dust, flyash, lime and gypsum is possible to manufacture the bricks used for the non-structural applications. In particular, the 10% sludge mixed specimens with quarry dust 30%, flyash 40% after 28 days curing were found to have higher strength of 8.5% when compared with the companion specimens. Through the results obtained in this study, it has been found out that the mixing of ETP Sludge in bricks is beneficial and that it is one of the safest and efficient ways of disposing of the sludge