Application of Organic and Inorganic Wastes in Clay Brick Production: A Chemometric Approach

The goal of this study was the research on the usage capability of various industrial wastes in clay bricks. Changes in product's behavior were studied in terms of relative differences in ceramic-technological parameters compared to samples without waste materials addition. The effects of organic and inorganic wastes were investigated in terms of changes introduced to products during shaping, drying, and firing. Samples with coal dust addition showed the highest sensitivity to drying, whereas the greatest plasticity and shaping moist were detected in samples with 50 wt.% of fly and landfill ashes. Waste material addition quantities and firing temperatures were independent parameters that influenced dependent parameters such as compressive strength, water absorption, firing shrinkage, weight loss during firing, and volume mass. The optimization results demonstrated that sunflower hulls, wood sawdust, soybean husks, and saturation sludge are best to be used in solid-brick production. Coal dust, landfill ashes, and neutralization (inorganic) sludge are best to be used in hollow-brick production. Sunflower hulls ash can be added in higher quantity to heavy clay to produce blocks or in lower quantity in roof tiles. The addition of 50 wt.% fly ash allows production of roof tiles.