Brick Production Research Articles

Adobe Blocks Reinforced with Vegetal Fibres: Mechanical and Thermal Characterisation

The present study is based on the characterisation of adobe blocks of the central region of Portugal. It is recognised that the safeguarding of the existing building stock of constructions in the traditional adobe construction technique, through different levels interventions, should also preserve the historical and cultural identity of the area as well as the traditional construction techniques, starting from the ground itself. Soil, as a repository of valuable information on the history of the site, underpins the conservation and preservation process. However, the soil is a local expression of the site, and a precise knowledge of its characteristics is necessary to hypothesise building recovery strategies. For this reason, the characteristics of adobe blocks from old buildings in the village of Torres in Anadia, in a rural area that has not yet been the subject of scientific research, were evaluated. These adobe blocks were taken from the buildings to be used in the laboratory to determine the similar mixing rates for the new adobe mixtures by analysing the material’s chemical, physical, mechanical, and thermal properties, as well as its particle size distribution. In the study area, a wetland was identified characterised by a notable presence of vegetation, namely bunho and junco (Schoenoplectus lacustris L.). These fibres, which can be assimilated to Typha, are wild aquatic plants that can impair the biodiversity of wetlands but which, used as reinforcement for the production of adobe bricks, can stimulate new, more sustainable forms of economy in in the area, which is classified as rural. The fibres were divided into two groups of 10–30 mm and 30–60 mm in length, and compositions with an additional 1 to 3% of fibres were formulated. This experimental approach was useful for understanding how the length and quantity of these fibres influence the performance of the material, thus contributing to improving knowledge about the behaviour of adobe blocks in relation to the incorporation of vegetable fibre reinforcement. The research findings reveal that the length of the fibres and percentage of incorporation have a significant impact on the mechanical behavior of the material, particularly in relation to its compressive strength up to 50%. The tested formulations were also assessed with respect to capillarity, for which most of the formulations were classified as weakly capillary, with a capillary index (Cb) of less than 20. With respect to thermal conductivity, the incorporation of fibres led to a reduction of up to 20%. The characterisations demonstrate that the optimisation of adobe is the initial stage in attaining comprehensive insight into the heritage of traditional construction in the central region of Portugal, with a particular focus on the village of Torres and the ancient adobe construction technique.

Utilizing traditional knowledge and creatively repurposing mining waste to develop new sustainable products geared toward eco-friendly construction

Mining is a very important activity for civil engineering. Important aggregates are removed from this for civil construction, bridges and roads, development of construction materials and several other applications. However, this activity has negatively impacted both the exploration areas and their surroundings. Associated with this environmental concern, it is possible to enter the context of real estate paints, which emit considerable amounts of volatile organic compounds that harm the atmosphere and the health of workers and users, in addition to reducing the air quality of the environment in which they are located was applied. Furthermore, with technological advances, industrial paints with synthetic pigments began to replace natural products, causing environmental pollution. The volatile organic compounds generated by real estate paints have resulted in health problems for the population. The literature has reported a growing search for renewable paint products, such as environmentally friendly paints and other environmentally friendly products for use in construction. In this way, materials from mining waste have been studied as an alternative for the development of ecological bricks. Studies suggest that mining waste, considered an environmental liability, can be an alternative for the production of soil-cement bricks that meet technical and environmental specifications. In addition to ecological bricks, another aspect that has emerged as a viable alternative for using mining waste is the production of ecological paints and the application of possible natural pigments to diversify the colors of ecological paints. Finally, the manufacture of ecological paints, natural dyes, ecological bricks and cement from mining waste, in addition to being an environmental improvement alternative, can be used in socio-environmental projects, allowing social inclusion, teaching and reproducing environmental education, and increasing environmental awareness. In this review we address the main types of mining waste that are used in the production of bricks and paints ecological.

Construction Brick Production Industry in Southern Thailand: a Case Study of Kiln

Purpose: To study the kiln that affect the construction brick production industry and to provide guidelines for solving problems. Method: This is qualitative research collecting data from 17 Kiln brick production industry Owners with in-depth interview. Data is analyzed by content and thematic analysis. Results and Conclusion: (1) Physical characteristics of the furnace square brick kiln model. The structure of this kiln is made of cooked bricks into a rectangular permanent wall. There is a firewood compartment and a brick entry door on the side. Production capacity is 50,000-100,000 bricks/stove. Specific energy was 1.6-3.8 MJ/kg of brick, some stoves use 7.8 MJ/kg brick. (2) Burning temperature. Brick firing in Thailand usually ends at 900 degrees Celsius, with brick heating, brick drying, brick kilning, and temperature reduction. which uses a fairly high temperature for burning. (3) The burning time is approximately 7 days, which corresponds to the temperature of the firing side by heating the bricks, baking the bricks, burning the bricks, and reducing the temperature. By using firewood as a leaven. Therefore, there is a lack of technology development in brick production and efficient brick firing with a long firing period. (4) Heat energy loss. Brick firing in Thailand usually ends at a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius and is then turned off for a few days. To reduce cracking due to sudden temperature changes, then turn on the kiln to let the bricks cool naturally allowing the bricks to cool naturally. The heat energy stored is left and that is a loss of heat energy. Research Implications: Brick burning uses a lot of energy, firewood as fuel, and the efficiency of the kilns used is quite low. It is likely that the efficiency of brick kilns will be improved or brick kilns with high thermal efficiency to be used as a replacement to achieve high efficiency. This allows the brick production industry to continue to exist. Originality/Value: The improvement of fuel using for Kiln in brick burning can be improved for more effectiveness and clean environment.

Machine learning models for predicting the compressive strength of agro-waste stabilized bricks for sustainable buildings

Excessive consumption of time and resources are the major challenges of conducting laboratory experiments to determine the mechanical properties of building/construction materials. There is a need to explore various prediction models for mechanical properties of construction materials. This study is aimed at using machine learning models to predict the compressive strength of stabilized bricks for sustainable buildings. Data for the independent variables generated from laboratory experiments were used for the compressive strength prediction. Several machine learning models were explored using Lazy Predict Python library. Extreme Gradient Boosting Regressor with the coefficient of determination (R2) score of 99.45% and root mean square error of 0.06 outperformed all the tested models. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was used to show the distribution of the impacts of the features on the predicted compressive strength. The SHAP analysis results showed that higher percentages of the stabilizers (with reference to 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of stabilizers) have a positive impact on the prediction of compressive strength of stabilized bricks. In addition, higher water content, lower lateritic soil contents, lower cube sizes and curing at higher values of temperature favoured the prediction of compressive strength of stabilized bricks. The proposed model can be adapted by civil engineers and researchers for the prediction of the compressive strength of agro-waste stabilized construction materials. The implication of this study will save the time and resources required by the construction professionals to obtain the compressive strength agro-waste stabilized bricks during the production of bricks for sustainable construction applications.

Humidity-Controlling Ceramic Bricks: Enhancing Evaporative Cooling Efficiency to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effect

Passive evaporative cooling technology using the building envelope is a crucial measure to mitigate the urban heat island effect. This study aims to enhance the cooling efficiency of the surface of enclosure structures by utilizing volcanic ash, potassium–sodium stone powder, and silica-based mesoporous oxide (SMO) as primary materials. These components are incorporated into the ceramic brick production process to create innovative humidity-controlling ceramic bricks (HCCTs). This study extensively investigates the impact of SMO and the amount of applied glaze on the physical and mechanical characteristics of these HCCTs. Additionally, it examines the water absorption and evaporative cooling properties of the studied materials under optimal substitution conditions. Numerical calculations are used to determine the heat and moisture transfer properties of HCCTs. The results indicate that incorporating 2% SMO and applying 70 g/m2 of glaze results in a moisture absorption capacity of 385 g/m2 and a moisture discharge capacity of 370 g/m2. These conditions also yield a notable flexural strength of 15.2 MPa. Importantly, the HCCTs exhibit significantly enhanced capillary water absorption and water retention capabilities. Increased water absorption reduces surface temperature by 2–3 °C, maintaining the evaporative cooling effect for 20 to 30 h. It is also found that the temperature of HCCTs decreases linearly with increasing water content and porosity, while the temperature difference gradually decreases with thickness. Water migration in HCCTs with greater thickness is notably influenced by gravity, with water moving from top to bottom. Therefore, it is recommended that brick thickness does not exceed 15 mm.

Influence of phosphate and boron addition to mixed liquid fertilizer on the growth and yield of red chili cultivated in the subsoil layer

This study assesses the impact of adding phosphate and boron in a mixed liquid fertilizer (MLF) on the growth and yield of red chili plants cultivated in a subsoil environment. The experiment was conducted to comprehend how these nutrients affect the performance of red chili plants, particularly when cultivated in less ideal conditions such as subsoil, a remnant of excavation for brick production. The research was carried out at the Ciparanje Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. The research design employed a Randomized Completely Block Design with the following treatments: A = Control (degraded soil without fertilizer), B = 0% MLF + 1 NPK, C = 0.25% MLF + 1 NPK, D = 0.50% MLF + 1 NPK, E = 0.75% MLF + 1 NPK, F = 1.00% MLF + 1 NPK, G = 0.5% MLF + 3/4 NPK, H = 0.5% MLF + 1/2 NPK, I = 0.5% MLF + 1/4 NPK, J = 0.5% MLF + 0 NPK, and K = 1 NPK in normal soil. The results revealed that the addition of phosphate and boron in MLF significantly influenced the growth and yield of red chili in subsoil conditions. The recommended MLF concentration was 0.75%, alongside the standard NPK dose. These findings provide crucial insights for the development of more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices, especially in challenging soil conditions like subsoil, where nutrient availability can be a determining factor for agricultural success.

Fly Ash and Rice Husk Ash Utilization to Enlarge Clay Brick Dimension

Burnt clay bricks, mostly used as non-structural wall unit materials in Indonesia, contain only clay in Bengkulu Province. A large amount of clay is used during clay brick production as a shrinkage effect of burning, while clay is a limited natural resource. Available non-plastic materials that can withstand combustion contraction are required to reduce the use of clay. Ash materials like fly ash and rice husk ash are non-plastic materials. The purposes of this research are to reduce clay usage, enlarge dimensions, and improve brick performance at the same time by adding coal fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA). This research is an experimental study of FA clay brick (FCB) and a combination of 50% FA and 50% RHA clay brick (FRCB). The ash was added to the mixture at weights of 10%, 20%, and 30% of clay. The factory-specified production method was used to create bricks. After the materials and water meltdown process to produce plastic material, bricks were molded, dried, and burned. Green and burnt brick measurements and weights were gathered. The Brick Indonesian Standard Code (SNI 15-2094-2000) was used while determining the bricks' compression strength and absorption. The mean values of the quantitative data were used after being analyzed through coefficient of variation values less than 10%. The result shows that the compressive strengths and absorption of 10% and 20% of the ash content of FCB meet the Indonesian code. Both brick volumes expand as the ash content increases. FRCB volume weight is 11%, 7.8%, and 8.1% lighter than FCB for 10%, 20%, and 30% ash content, respectively. Both brick varieties meet the ASTM code for nonload-bearing concrete masonry units. The use of FA and a mixture of FA and RHA enhances shrinkage, increases brick dimensions, and simultaneously lowers brick weight. Using lighter and larger bricks for the walls helps to recycle waste, reduce the mass of the building, and reduce the use of clay resources. Application 10% and 20% fly ash is recommended for increasing the size of clay bricks in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia.

INVESTIGATION OF THE REFRACTORY PROPERTIES OF KANKARA CLAY FOR ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

The refractory properties of Kankara clay have been investigated with a view to understanding its suitability for various engineering and industrial applications. The experimental procedures include thermal shock resistance, thermal conductivity, shrinkage, apparent porosity, refractoriness under load with rising temperature mode, and refractoriness under loadmaintained temperature mode. The results obtained from the research work showed the clay has good refractory properties that can be used for both Engineering and industrial applications. The value obtained through the thermal conductivity test 0.48W/m℃ , as compared with 0.35- 0.45 W/moC for insulating fire brick and 1.05- 1.45W/m℃ for dense fire brick. 2kg/cm2 of the sample was further subjected to refractoriness test where the sample was heated to 1405oC as compared to 1750oC for the production of fire bricks. Further investigation indicated that a glassy surface structure was formed when the samples was heated above 1400℃ . The value obtained as regard the porosity level was 25% which fell between 20-30% as the acceptable standard. The sample was also subjected to apparent porosity and a value of 38% was obtained. Kankara clay formed a glassy and surfaces when heated above 1400oC. In this research, these bricks porous with an apparent porosity of 38.07%. Attempts to produce these bricks with acceptable porosity level of 20-30% were not successful. Kankara clay exhibits moderate thermal shock resistance, moderate thermal conductivity, moderate shrinkage, high apparent porosity, and high refractoriness under load in both rising temperature mode and maintained temperature mode. "Based on these results, Kankara clay appears to be well-suited for use in applications where moderate levels of thermal shock resistance, thermal conductivity, and shrinkage are acceptable, such as in the manufacture of low-temperature bricks, but less suited for high-temperature applications, such as furnace linings, due to its high apparent porosity and susceptibility to deformation under load. Further research could be conducted to explore strategies for reducing the porosity and improving the refractoriness of this clay for broader applications.

Rebuilding with sand roses: Cold sintering of sand-gypsum mixture for sustainable brick production

In the arid climate of the Sahara Desert, several historical cities dating back to the 16th century were constructed using bricks made from sand roses, a rosette-like rock composed of sand and gypsum. This study proposes the cold sintering of sand – dihydrate gypsum (uncalcined) mixtures as a sustainable approach to develop geomimetic sand roses with satisfactory mechanical performance. The results showed that crucial factors for enhancing the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the cold-sintered sand-gypsum mixtures are reducing gypsum size, utilizing cyclic loading, and applying higher pressures. Reducing sand size or introducing lubricant has minimal or negative effects. Cold-sintered sand-gypsum mixtures containing over 30 % micron-sized gypsum, subjected to cyclic pressures of 100 MPa for 15 minutes, can achieve superior UCS values compared to equidimensional concrete bricks. In addition, coating the mixture with calcium carbonate can be a viable approach for protecting against weathering agents. Coating and recycling the sand-gypsum mixture do not compromise the mechanical performance of the bricks. The proposed integration of sustainable materials and manufacturing practices has the potential to reduce costs, energy consumption, and industrial emissions, while promoting a circular economy and resource preservation. The proposed brick is referred to as “sand rose brick.”

Effect of lightweight composite brick’s waste on the removal of malachite green from aqueous solution and phytotoxicity assessment

ABSTRACT This study investigates the removal of malachite green (MG) dye by adsorption process using as adsorbent a waste byproduct from lightweight composite brick production, composed of clay and 5 wt.% argan nut shell and designed as waste bricks (WB). Characterization of the adsorbent (WB) was conducted using several techniques such as XRD, XRF, FTIR, etc. Optimal conditions for the adsorption process of MG dye with WB were carried out, considering adsorbent dose (0.02–0.4 g/mL), pH (2–12), contact time (0–360 min), and MG dye concentration (20–210 mg/L). The obtained outcomes indicated that the optimal parameters for a dye concentration of 20 mg/L are an adsorbent dose of 0.15 g/mL, a pH of 10, and an adsorption time of 180 minutes. Furthermore, kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic adsorption have been evaluated. The results highlighted that the pseudo second-order and Langmuir model described accurately the adsorption process with an adsorption capacity of about 2.66 mg/g and 23.48 mg/g respectively. While the thermodynamic study conducted at four temperatures (298 K, 308 K, 318 K, 328 K) revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Finally, a phytotoxicity test of malachite green dye solutions was carried out using wheat and lentil seeds confirming the treatment effectiveness of the adsorbent.

Feasibility and Application of Local Closed-Loop Materials to Produce Compressed and Stabilized Earth Blocks.

The validation of a feasible application for the production of sustainable bricks with local materials in humid and hot climates, which would allow the current housing needs of a constantly growing population with scarce economic resources to be met while also reducing energy inputs for climate control, is a current challenge without a definitive solution. Therefore, this research studied the incorporation of local aggregates and two second-generation materials to produce lime-stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks (CSEBs) using a semi-automatic machine for their manufacture. An initial matrix was designed as a baseline, and three more were developed with variations to incorporate second-generation materials individually and as mixtures. The stabilizer was added in concentrations of 5, 10, and 15%, resulting in a total of 12 batches of CSEBs. Eleven of the studied batches exceed the normative limits for simple compressive strength and initial water absorption coefficient. The best result of simple compressive strength was obtained in two batches of the same matrix that used construction demolition waste (CDW), reaching 4.3 MPa (43% above the minimum limit established by the most restrictive regulations and 115% above the least restrictive). It was possible to produce sustainable bricks in situ with average ambient temperatures of 32 °C and relative humidity of 91%.

Raw material design, sintering temperature optimization and development mechanism investigation of self-foaming porous bricks with high solid waste addition

In recent years, the contradiction between the huge production of municipal sludge and industrial residue and the shortage of landfill space has driven the exploration of novel effective methods to valorize these solid wastes. In this research, blast furnace slag (BFS), municipal sewage sludge (MSS) and kaolin are combined innovatively as precursor materials to manufacture self-foaming porous bricks, and the sintering behavior of bricks under different BFS doses and sintering temperatures is deeply studied to reveal the development mechanism. The results indicate that the formation of Fe2O3-hematite during sintering leads to a reddish-brown appearance of the bricks, while the generation of CaAl2Si2O8-anorthite with lower melting points helps to enhance the vitrification process. Besides, the increase in BFS dose or sintering temperature has significant impacts on the evolution of the brick physicochemical properties. This occurs because changing the dose of BFS or sintering temperature can obviously regulate the internal morphological characteristics of bricks, such as particle consolidation, pore size and structural compactness. Among them, large-sized pores are considered as the weak areas of mechanical strength, which is also the responsibility for the worst compressive strength of bricks sintered at 1300 °C. Finally, under the optimal sintering conditions of 15 % BFS dose and 1250 °C sintering temperature, the compressive strength, water absorption, apparent porosity, bulk density and linear shrinkage of the resulting brick are 65 MPa, 0.45 %, 2.50 %, 2.34 g/cm3 and 19.56 %, respectively. Overall results demonstrate that using recycled sludge and waste slag in brick manufacturing can produce products with desired performance, providing preferable solutions for solid waste valorization and sustainable brick production.

Re-using an oleic by-product in the manufacturing of fired clay bricks

BackgroundThe high demand for building bricks underscores their essential role in the construction industry, which pushes researchers to continuously improve the characteristics of these products. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating oleic components (Margins) in fired bricks manufacturing of by substituting water with different percentages of margins. MethodsFired bricks were produced at the laboratory using clays taking from the Tangier region in northern Morocco. During this process, water used in the bricks production was substituted with margins in increasing percentages ranging from 10 % up to 30 %. To validate the results obtained from the physicochemical analyses performed on the manufactured bricks, three types of vegetable samples from three different regions of Morocco were utilized. ResultThe study results are very remarkable, demonstrating a significant enhancement in compressive strength. The strength increased from 15.16 MPa for conventional bricks to 33.77 MPa for bricks manufactured with a 30 % substitution. Furthermore, porosity decreased from 33 % to 19 %. ConclusionBy integrating oleic components into the manufacturing process, we were able to achieve three main objectives.1. We have improved the characteristics of the bricks, which tend towards the load-bearing wall standards.2. We reduced the water quantity used in the bricks manufacturing by 30 %.3. We minimized the processing cost of the waste resulting from olive oil production, as well as its harmful effects on the environment.

Utilizing Sludges from Tanneries, Water Treatment Plants and Textile Industries in Cement, Concrete and Brick Production: A Review

The abstract describes the use of industrial sludges from tanneries, water treatment plants, and textile companies to make cement, concrete, and bricks. It emphasizes the potential of this methodology to deal with industrial sludge disposal difficulties and contribute to eco-friendly industrialization by discovering novel reuse ways for these by-products.

NON-FIRED LATERITE SOIL BRICKS WITH NA-BASED STABILIZER ADDITION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Fired bricks are widely used, but they are energy-intensive and non-eco-friendly. Non-fired bricks with chemical stabilisers can be the alternative solution, which is a low-energy-intensive and environmentally friendly manufacturing product. Laterite soil can be the raw material for the synthesis of non-fired clay brick in sodium hydroxide solution and sodium silicate solution. However, it may have been mixed with other laterite soils with different optimum moisture contents and grain sizes during extraction. Thus, the mixing ratio of laterite soil, Na-based stabilisers, and water for non-fired brick production is determined. Besides, two types of laterite soil, LAT 1 and LAT 2, from different locations were prepared, and another type of laterite soil, LAT 3, was prepared by mixing LAT 1 and LAT 2. Both three are compared primarily in terms of compressive strength and water absorption, which are mixed with the Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio. As a result, the new mixing ratio with increased water content was determined based on the optimum moisture content of the soil. Besides, the optimum mixing ratio of each type of brick was determined. Overall, based on the Malaysian standard, all types of brick samples from each ratio could be used as load-bearing class 1 and internal wall bricks. Additionally, LAT 2 and LAT 3-based bricks with a ratio of 1.5 Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio can be used as load-bearing brick class 2.

Taguchi Method for Optimizing Economic Product Selling Prices in MSMEs Concrete Industry

This article examines research related to determining the economic selling prices for concrete brick products at Karunia MSMEs, with the aim of optimization for production cost while still maintaining process quality. The method used in this research is Design of Experiment (DoE) based, namely Taguchi with regression, then continued with cost analysis to determine the optimal cost of production for efficiency. The technique in this method uses 3 variables, there are sand, cement and the length of time for mixing the concrete mixture with the quality parameters and production costs of the concrete bricks. Based on the experimental results, in achieving the goal of increasing cost efficiency, through sensitivity analysis it was obtained that the optimal composition of the cost of production was IDR 5,000 per piece of concrete brick, while maintaining SNI quality standards in optimal results of compressive strength is 117.37 kg/cm2, water permeability is 7.77% and roughness is 52.42 µm. The cost of production is the same as the initial cost of production before composition optimization efforts are carried out, where the initial concrete brick product is indicated as not meeting SNI quality standards because it has a compressive strength value below standard. The results of this research are expected to be able to provide recommendations for economic selling price for concrete brick by production costs optimizing while maintain the SNI standard quality of concrete brick products.

Utilization of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Waste as a Mixing Material for In-terlocking Brick Production

The choice of building materials has a considerable influence on the reliability of a building. Conventional bricks, despite their frequent use, pose a challenge due to their weight, as they affect the load-bearing capacity of the building, unlike interlocking bricks, which have holes at the top and bottom for reinforcement, potentially reducing the effects of earthquakes. In this study, interlocking bricks made from a mixture of empty oil palm fruit stalks and sand with different sand replacements (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) are investigated. The research results consistently show that the average density of EFB fiber composite bricks with a density of 1.48 grams/cm³ is lower than that of standard composite bricks. Although the compressive strength of these bricks is initially lower than that of standard bricks, it increases with the substitution of part of the sand with EFB fibers, although not significantly, with the highest compressive strength observed at a substitution rate of 12.5%, reaching 5.201 MPa. Water absorption rates ranged from 13.97% to 21.99%, which increases compared to standard bricks but still meets the requirements. With ongoing research and innovation, EFB-based interlocking bricks have the potential to address environmental challenges and support sustainable and environmentally friendly building practices.

Evaluating Technical properties of fired clay Brick production with mosaic sludge: A comprehensive study on heavy metal leachability for sustainable environmental and economic benefits

Mosaic sludge, generated from mosaic industrial activities such as cutting, polishing, and grinding, is often disposed of in landfills or discharged into drainage systems without adequate treatment. This study aims to reuse mosaic sludge from the mosaic industry by incorporating it into fired clay bricks. This approach offers an alternative disposal method, improves brick quality, and minimizes heavy metal leachability, contributing to environmental and economic sustainability. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) was conducted to determine the heavy metal concentration from two types of mosaic sludge bodymill mosaic sludge (BS) and polishing mosaic sludge (PS). The result indicates that the highest element concentration in mosaic sludge (BS and PS) shows that barium is the highest with 3253 ppm and 3260 ppm. Meanwhile, the lowest element concentration obtained in BS and PS is cesium with 14 ppm and 17 ppm. SPLP and TCLP also conducted in this study and the result show that, even though the element such as ferum (Fe) and cadmium (Cd) was not detected in XRF but in SPLP and TCLP, it shows that these two elements exist in clay, BS and PS with low concentration. In order to evaluate the compressive strength conducted by incorporating with different proportions 0 %, 1 %, 5 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 % of BS and PS into fired clay brick. The result shows that compressive strength BS brick was stronger than PS brick. The maximum sludge percentage used in BS brick is 5 % with value of compressive strength is 28.10 MPa. Meanwhile, PS brick had the higher value of compressive strength at 30 % sludge percentage with the value 23.46 MPa. Static Leachate Test (SLT) was performed to evaluate heavy metal leachability from bricks containing different proportions of BS and PS sludge. In the SLT results, Fe exhibits the highest concentration of heavy metals at various proportions of BS and PS: 2.11 mg/L and 2.27 mg/L at 1 %, 1.77 mg/L and 1.88 mg/L at 5 %, 2.34 mg/L and 3.29 mg/L at 20 %, and 2.79 mg/L and 3.64 mg/L at 30 % respectively, among other elements. On the other hand, elements including Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb demonstrated lower concentrations ranging from 0.00 mg/L - 1.0 mg/L. The result for control brick, BS brick and PS brick shows the same pattern. However, overall results show that the concentration still under limit set by USEPA.

Effective sludge management: Reuse of biowaste and sewer sediments for fired bricks

ABSTRACT This study partially replaced the clay with sewer sludge (SS) and rice husk (RH-SS) to make fired bricks. The brick samples were examed in terms of shrinkage, water absorption, and compressive strength. Besides, they were analyzed via XRD and metal extraction to determine the heavy metal residuals in the products. The results showed that it was possible to fabricate fired bricks using sewer sludge or rice husk-blended sludge with up to 30% by weight. These brick samples complied with the technical standard for clay brick production, in which the compressive strength was more than 7.5 MPa, water absorption was from 11–16%, and the linear shrinkage was all less than 5%. The rice husk addition helped mitigate the heavy metal residuals in the bricks and leaching liquid, in which all the values were lower than the US-EPA maximum concentration of contaminants for toxicity characteristics. Implications: Previous studies have proved the possibility of mixing sewage sludge from different origins (sewage sludge, river sediment, canal sediment, sewer sediment, etc.) with clay and some wastes to make bricks. In which, mostof the studies used sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, very fewdealt with lake/river or sewer sediment. This study shall be the first to study the possibility of employing sewer sediments with the addition of rice husk powder to achieve two targets, including (1) the reuse of biowaste and sludge for brick fabrication and (2) the reduction of heavy metals in final calcined bricks. Different ratios of the rice-husk blended sewer sludge (RH-SS) – clay mixture shall be tested to find the optimized compositions. The results showed that it was possible to fabricate fired bricks using sewer sludge or rice husk-blended sludge with up to 30% by weight, which meant reduce 30% of clay in the brick production. The final products were proved to meet the quality standard in terms of compressive strength (more than 10 MPa), water absorption(from 11–16%), and the linear shrinkage (less than 5%). Larger scale of this study can be an evident to recommend for policy change in the waste reuse in construction field.

Repurposing plastic waste: Experimental study and predictive analysis using machine learning in bricks

The construction industry significantly contributes to environmental degradation and resource depletion. This paper investigates the use of waste plastic from post-consumer and post-industrial sources as a sustainable alternative in brick manufacturing. By substituting plastic waste for traditional materials like clay or cement, the ecological footprint of brick production is reduced, and plastic pollution is mitigated by diverting waste from landfills and oceans. This study employs dual approach of experimentation as well as machine learning for assessing the strength behaviour of bricks enhanced with plastic, emphasising compressive strength, durability, thermal insulation, and moisture resistance. Utilization of Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) for Waste plastic bricks (WPB) was done by replacing cement and sand in different proportions i.e. 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % of fly ash bricks The best performance was observed at 30 % replacement of sand with waste CPVC. A Deep Neural Network (DNN) model also predicted compressive strength and water absorption, identifying key material components influencing brick properties through SHAP value analysis. This combined experimental and predictive modelling approach demonstrates the potential of waste plastic in creating lightweight, sustainable building materials for structural applications, contributing to sustainable construction practices.