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Turning sewage sludge into concrete
Dried sewage sludge could be an alternative cement material for concrete, researchers in Malaysia have found.
SELANGOR, Malaysia, Sep 01, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - The disposal of sludge from sewage water treatment is a big issue for wastewater plants in Malaysia. While studies show that the volume of sludge is expected to rise, disposal options are limited due to stricter environmental regulations including a ban on burying sludge in soil due to its high heavy metal content that could cause adverse impacts to the environment. Meanwhile, the construction sector is seeking economic and ecological cement replacement materials in order to meet an increasing demand for concrete.
In a study published in the Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, researchers from Universiti Teknologi MARA investigated the potential of sludge as an alternative cement material for making concrete.
To find out, the researchers first produced domestic waste sludge powder (DWSP). The team dried and burnt wet sludge cake to remove moisture, and then ground and sieved the dried sludge cake to make DWSP. Using different proportions of DWSP (3, 5, 7, 10 and 15%), the researchers mixed it with cement to produce different types of concrete (normal strength Grade 30 and higher strength Grades 40 and 50). They then compared each DWSP concrete mixture with normal concrete in terms of their compressive strength, water absorption, water permeability and rapid chloride ion penetration (i.e. permeability to salt).
The team found that the compressive strengths of DWSP concrete decreased as the proportion of DWSP increased in concrete mix, with the exception of Grade 40 concrete containing 7% DWSP. Also, both water absorption and water permeability increased as the percentage of DWSP increased. However, normal concrete was more permeable than DWSP concrete of Grade 40, suggesting that DWSP enhanced the durability of this concrete. Additionally, the resistance to chloride permeability increased for concretes with up to 15% DWSP.
"Overall, there is potential for using DWSP as a partial cement replacement. However, more detailed research should be conducted to yield methods for producing quality powder," the researchers concluded.
For more information about each research, please contact:
Kartini Kamaruddin
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Universiti Teknologi MARA
40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Email: ce_kartini2002@yahoo.com
Tel: +603 5543 6438; Mobile: +6012 381 6266
About Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology (JST)
Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology (JST) is published by Universiti Putra Malaysia in English and is open to authors around the world regardless of nationality. Currently, it is published twice a year in January and July. Other Pertanika series include Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science (JTAS), and Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (JSSH).
Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology aims to provide a forum for high quality research related to science and engineering research. Areas relevant to the scope of the journal include: bioinformatics, bioscience, biotechnology and bio-molecular sciences, chemistry, computer science, ecology, engineering, engineering design, environmental control and management, mathematics and statistics, medicine and health sciences, nanotechnology, physics, safety and emergency management, and related fields of study.
Website: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/
The paper is available from this link: http://bit.ly/1Jty77E
For more information about the journal, contact:
The Chief Executive Editor (UPM Journals)
Head, Journal Division, UPM Press
Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (R&I)
IDEA Tower 2, UPM-MDTC Technology Centre
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia.
Phone: +603 8947 1622 | +6016 217 4050
Email: nayan@upm.my
Press release distributed by ResearchSEA for Pertanika Journal.
Source: Pertanika Journal
Sectors: Water, Engineering, Science & Research, Environment, ESG
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