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Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2022) | Viewed by 19490

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jessica Giró Paloma

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Guest Editor

Departament de Ciència de Materials i Química Física, Universitat de Barcelona, C/Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: materials in the construction field; recycling; valorization; by-products; revalorization and environment; inertization; MSW usage for construction aggregates; thermal and acoustic insulation; alternative binders; leaching tests; materials for the improvement of energy efficiency; thermal energy storage; industrial processes; pilot plants; optimization processes, circular economy; alkali-activated materials; magnesium phosphate cements; pozzolanic reaction; ceramic materials; lightweight materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Joan Formosa Mitjans

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Departament de Ciència de Materials i Química Física, Universitat de Barcelona, C/Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: sustainable construction materials; recycling and beneficiation of by-products in construction application materials; cement; supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and concrete; advanced materials for energy storage; green buildings; repairing materials for structural concrete; magnesium phosphate cements; alkali-activated materials and cements; waste materials for construction; fireproof materials; fire behavior; research in municipal solid waste management; environmental and mechanical behavior; environmental impact assessment; alternative binders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recycling is a key part of decreasing present-day waste. The reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste maintains an ecological economy by substituting crude material contributions to, and diverting waste yields out of, the monetary framework.

Due to the growing amount of residual waste, it is encouraged to apply a waste hierarchy to provide viable alternatives in managing waste and efficiently using resources to move towards a low-carbon economy. This includes the development of sustainable alternatives that can reuse different kinds of waste by formulating them into secondary materials.

Human activities, such as construction, impact the environment. Recycling waste reduces disposal costs and carbon emissions. It also helps to comply with environmental legislation and landfill restrictions. In this sense, it is important to find appropriate alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in the field of construction.

This “Recycling Waste in Construction Materials” Special Issue solicits contributions on some of the following areas and subjects:

Sustainable development and production considering management, instruments, methods, and processes
Innovation processes and methodologies related to improving the productivity of waste/by-products and resource management practices
Life cycle assessment and management of waste/by-products to improve their efficiency and productivity
Construction and demolition waste (CDW). Properties and applications of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste
Development of construction material from nontraditional concrete including waste/by-products
Geopolymers and alkali-activated materials
Magnesium phosphate cements
Repairing materials
Lightweight materials and aggregates
Reliability studies of formulations including waste/by-products
Aggressive environments: damage and fracture
Long-term behavior
Environmental assessments of construction materials including waste/by-products
Recycling and reuse
Landfill disposal
Economic analysis

Dr. Jessica Giró Paloma
Dr. Joan Formosa Mitjans
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

construction materials
waste recycling and management
demolition wastes
secondary materials
aggregates
reuse
life cycle assessment
landfill
profit and revaluation of industrial wastes and by-products
revalorization
valorization
inertization
environment

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 178 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on “Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II”

by Jessica Giro-Paloma

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7679; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13137679 - 29 Jun 2023

Viewed by 608

Abstract

Recycling plays a key role in decreasing present-day waste [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 16661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recovery of Cork Manufacturing Waste within Mortar and Polyurethane: Feasibility of Use and Physical, Mechanical, Thermal Insulating Properties of the Final Green Composite Construction Materials

by Beatrice Malchiodi, Roberta Marchetti, Luisa Barbieri and Paolo Pozzi

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(8), 3844; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12083844 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2318

Abstract

The valorization of industrial waste is a hot topic toward circular economy and sustainability. Several wastes have been proposed as resources for different production processes; however, others are still disposed to landfill or waste-to-energy plants. For the first time, this work suggests a sustainable alternative to managing cork waste from bottle caps manufacturing; this is generated by a local company at about 220,000 m³/year. The powder waste has a 0.063–1 mm particle size and is mainly composed of cork, polyurethane adhesive, and paraffin. Its valorization is proposed as filler in construction materials such as lime-based mortar (1–4 wt%) and polyurethane (5–15 wt%). Thermal, spectroscopic, and physical characterizations are performed on the cork waste, and mainly result in a low apparent density (340 kg/m³) and high-water absorption (177%). Cork properties allow consideration of extra water in the mortar mix and improve lightness without significantly affecting compressive, bending strength, and thermal insulation. Cork waste in polyurethanes promotes a color change, slightly increases the density (up to 12.5%), and still results in producing a thermally insulating material (<0.06 W/mK). Considering the promising results, this study demonstrates the feasibility of using the manufacturing waste from cork bottle caps to produce green construction materials, thus upgrading it from waste to secondary raw material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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21 pages, 17917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Biochar-Based Geopolymer Materials

by Federica Piccolo, Fernanda Andreola, Luisa Barbieri and Isabella Lancellotti

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10945; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112210945 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2773

Abstract

The aim of this research is to evaluate the possibility to realize alkali-activated materials exploiting biochar, a secondary raw material coming from pyrolysis/gasification processes, for environmental benefits, such as improvement of soil fertility and reduction of CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere thanks to the carbon sink process where carbon dioxide is subtracted from the cycle of carbon. For the matrix of the geopolymers, a waste material derived from incinerator bottom ash was used and compared to pure metakaolin matrix. The materials obtained are lightweight and porous, with high water absorption capacity and moisture adsorption/desorption. BET analysis shows an increase in specific surface by increasing the biochar content and the biochar acts as a filler in the pores. From porosimetry analysis it is possible to follow the evolution of the curing process of the geopolymer prepared: specimens containing 70 wt% biochar after 28 and 90 days showed an increase in total Hg intrusion volume, pore area and total porosity but a decrease in the dimensions of pores. Due to the technical properties of materials containing biochar, they can be used in the future for a cleaner design of products in the field of sustainable construction for insulating panels or lightweight materials for houses and gardens in terraces and balconies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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18 pages, 3136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Organizing Maps to Assess the Recycling of Waste in Ceramic Construction Materials

by Ivan Salas, Eva Cifrian, Ana Andres and Javier R. Viguri

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10010; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112110010 - 26 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1507

Abstract

Circular economy promotes the use of waste materials into new production processes as a key factor for resource efficiency. The construction sector, and specifically the fired clay industry, is able to assimilate large amounts of waste in their processes, without significantly altering the technical properties of products. The introduction of different waste in ceramic products at the laboratory level has been extensively studied in the literature, but most of these studies have not yet been scaled-up to industrial production. Differences in processing with respect to laboratory conditions introduces uncertainty in relation to the expected properties of the final products. This paper uses a Self-Organizing Map (SOM)-based methodology for analysing and assessing the incorporation of industrial waste, Waelz slag (WS) and foundry sand dust (FSD), in ceramic products obtained sequentially at laboratory, semi-industrial and industrial level, over technological properties and metals release. As a result, from the SOM analysis, a clustered map of the samples developed is obtained that highlights the most important parameters affecting the technological and environmental properties to be the type of clay and therefore, the firing temperature; secondly, the Waelz slag content, being independent of the foundry sand addition; and finally, the type and level of processing (laboratory-pressing, semi-industrial extruder, industrial extruder). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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14 pages, 3050 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Valorization of Insulation Cellulose Waste as Solid Biomass Fuel

by Sandra Espuelas, Sara Marcelino-Sádaba, Jesus Maria del Castillo, Benat Garcia and Andres Seco

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 8223; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11178223 - 04 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1824

Abstract

This paper investigates the ability of insulation cellulose fiber powder (CFP) to be pelletized for its valorization as biomass fuel. CFP is a waste originating from insulation cellulose manufacturing that lacks any method of valorization because of its boron salts content. A sugar byproduct and lignosulfonate (LS) were considered as binders for the pellet manufacturing process. Physical tests were carried out to characterize the pellets’ performance. Chemical and combustion tests were considered to state the pellets’ potential as a green energy source. Raw CFP showed good ability in its pelletization and durability in the range of 15–30% of moisture content. The pellet’s density decreased as water content increased. Binders increased the pellet’s length before and after the durability test. Binders also increased the CFP pellet’s water absorption, demonstrating a potential decrease in durability against environmental factors. Binders also decreased the lower heating value. Ultimate analysis showed a slight Nitrogen increase in both binder combinations that could potentially raise the pollutant NO_x combustion emissions. All the combinations showed adequate combustion characteristics, but binders increased ash production. Additives decreased the CFP volatile matter content and increased the fixed carbon, which could facilitate a more stable combustion. DTA curves showed a mass loss rate decrease in the volatile stage for the binder combinations, which also could be considered as an indicator of a more stable combustion. The ashes’ chemical compositions when analyzed by XPS showed boron contents oscillating between 10.03% and 16.42%, demonstrating the possibility of recovering them from the combustion ashes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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11 pages, 25435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Valorization of Climatic Conditions Effects on Curing of Air Lime-Based Mortars for Restorative Applications in the Pasargadae and Persepolis World Heritage Sites

by Parsa Pahlavan, Stefania Manzi, Hashem Shariatmadar and Maria Chiara Bignozzi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 7925; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11177925 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1261

Abstract

Air lime mortars with addition of two types of sesame cooking oil were synthesized and cured in two different conditions: laboratory and natural climatic conditions of the Pasargadae and Persepolis World Heritage Sites. For the mortars cured in the laboratory, addition of oils in the mortar induced hydrophobic effects, but it adversely affected on permeability values and carbonation rates. However, the air lime mortars cured in the site conditions demonstrated increment in their hydrophobicity and superficial durability without retarding their setting time and adverse effects on their calcium carbonate formation values, due to various climatic parameters existing in natural outdoor conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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17 pages, 1809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure, Durability and Mechanical Properties of Mortars Prepared Using Ternary Binders with Addition of Slag, Fly Ash and Limestone

by Javier Ibáñez-Gosálvez, Teresa Real-Herraiz and José Marcos Ortega

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6388; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11146388 - 10 Jul 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1903

Abstract

In order to improve the contribution to sustainability of cement production, several strategies have been developed, such as the incorporation of additions as clinker replacement. Regarding the production of commercial cements with additions, those made with binary binders are mostly produced. However, the use of ternary binders for manufacturing commercial cements is still very low, at least in Spain, and they could also be an adequate solution for producing eco-friendly cements. The objective of this research is to study the effects in the long term produced by ternary binders which combine the additions of blast furnace slag, fly ash and limestone in the microstructure, durability and mechanical performance of mortars, compared to mortars without additions and mortars made with binary binders. The ternary and binary binders accomplished the prescriptions for a cement type CEM II/B. The microstructure was characterized using mercury intrusion porosimetry, electrical resistivity and differential thermal analysis. Absorption after immersion, diffusion coefficient, mechanical strengths and ultrasonic pulse velocity were studied. The best performance was noted for ternary binder with both slag and fly ash, probably produced by the synergetic effects of slag hydration and fly ash pozzolanic reactions. These effects were more noticeable regarding the compressive strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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14 pages, 4389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Polymer Waste Addition on the Compressive Strength and Water Absorption of Geopolymer Ceramics

by Numfor Linda Bih, Assia Aboubakar Mahamat, Jechonias Bidossèssi Hounkpè, Peter Azikiwe Onwualu and Emmanuel E. Boakye

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3540; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11083540 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2110

Abstract

The quantity of polymer waste in our communities is increasing significantly. It is therefore necessary to consider reuse or recycling waste to avoid an increase in the risk to public health. This project is aimed at using pulverized low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste as a source to reinforce and improve compressive strength, and to reduce the water absorption of geopolymer ceramics (GC). Clay:LDPE composition consisting of 5%, 10%, and 15% LDPE was geopolymerized with an NaOH/Na₂SiO₃ solution and cured at 30 °C and 50 °C. Characterization of the geopolymer samples was carried out using XRF and XRD. The microstructure was analyzed by SEM and chemical bonding by FTIR. The SEM micrographs showed LDPE particle pull-out on the geopolymer ceramics’ fracture surface. The result showed that the compressive strength increases with the addition of pulverized polymer waste compared to the controlled without LDPE addition. Water absorption decreased with an increase in LDPE addition in the geopolymer ceramics composite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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12 pages, 3330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Study of New Sustainable, Alkali-Activated Cements Using the Residual Fraction of the Glass Cullet Recycling as Precursor

by Jessica Giro-Paloma, Alex Maldonado-Alameda, Anna Alfocea-Roig, Jofre Mañosa, Josep Maria Chimenos and Joan Formosa

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3528; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11083528 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1682

Abstract

During the glass selection process by optical sorting equipment, a rejection material called CSP (ceramic, stone, and porcelain) is generated, which is lower than 2 wt % of the glass cullet collected in Catalonia (Spain). Although this process should only separate non-glass impurities from the glass cullet, around 84 wt % of glass is found in the CSP. The CSP characterization reveals that CSP is mainly compound by SiO₂, Al₂O₃, alkali metals, and CaO, which are key components for the alkali-activated cement (AAC) development. Consequently, this study is focused on the potential of CSP as a precursor to synthesize AAC. The concentration of the alkali activator (NaOH: 1 M, 4 M, and 8 M) and the liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio were tested in the formulation of the AAC. The AAC specimens at 28 days cured were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), apparent density (ρ_app), and compressive strength (σ_s). The results obtained showed that the L/S of 0.5 and 4.0 M for NaOH concentration are the best conditions, due to the mechanical properties (ρ_app = 1.75 g·cm⁻³; σ_s = 52.8 MPa), cohesion (SEM), and formed phases (XRD and FT-IR). Therefore, CSP can be a precursor for developing new, sustainable binders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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21 pages, 8067 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Effects of the Substitution of Freshly Mined Sands with Recycled Crushed Glass on the Properties of Concrete

by Rajeev Devaraj, Jonathan Jordan, Christophe Gerber and Ayodele Olofinjana

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3318; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11083318 - 07 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2402

Abstract

Although many works have reported on the effects of using waste materials on the functional properties of concrete, the results are generally diverse. In this work, the effects of substitution of fresh sands with crushed waste glass (CWG) for a concrete mix design of 32 MPa concrete is explored. The mechanical properties were followed with standardised mechanical tests including compression, indirect tensile, and four-point bend tests. It is shown that the compressive strength of concrete containing 15% of CWG produced the highest compressive strength of 34.54 MPa. The splitting tensile and flexural strengths of the concrete mixtures containing CWG both exhibited a maximum strength of 3.21 and 4.90 MPa, respectively at 15% CWG content. Furthermore, it was found that a maximum of 30% CWG can be substituted without a reduction in the mechanical strength. The loss of strength with higher volume proportion of CWG is attributed to the morphological difference between the riverbed and CWG sand particles. The latter had sharp ends that at a critical content might promote stress concentration. Semiquantitative analysis by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) suggests the presence of alkaline silica reaction (ASR) gel at the interface of glass particles and the mortar matrix. Further exploration of glass mortar interfaces found evidence of ASR gel-induced cracking in the vicinity of the CWG particles in mortar matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling Waste in Construction Materials, Volume II)

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