Development of eco-brick with incorporation of treated sludge

Samari, Nur Faiza (2024) Development of eco-brick with incorporation of treated sludge. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

For thousands of years, bricks have been an important part of building and construction. It is commonly recognised that the process of producing fired clay brick has always required a significant amount of energy and resources, even with its consistent workability and accessibility. Authorities seek sustainable and eco-friendly options as an urgent requirement to minimize the effect of these difficulties. This project focuses on the development of sustainable clay bricks using treated sludge. The focus of this study is to explore how to incorporate treated sludge into eco-bricks. The study's objective is to determine the specific components that are present in the sludge and to evaluate the viability of using it for brick manufacture. The sludge was analysed using XRF and EDX methods, which revealed the presence of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). All these heavy metals were found to be within the allowed limits established by the Department of Environment from the beginning of the investigation. This provides evidence that the sludge is safe concerning the presence of heavy metals. The EDX study provided additional confirmation of the chemical composition, which enhanced the possibility of the sludge being used for the manufacturing of eco-bricks. The study examined several combinations of materials and successfully produced bricks containing up to 20 weight percent of sludge. Nevertheless, an increased sludge concentration of 50 wt.% adversely affected the mechanical stability of the bricks. The EDX study of the eco-bricks verified that the materials do not contain any harmful compounds that are controlled by TTLC regulations, therefore assuring their environmental and health safety. The compressive strength tests revealed a significant decrease as the sludge concentration increased. Bricks that did not contain any sludge had a compressive strength of 7.87 N/mm², but those with 20% sludge had a compressive value of 0.18 N/mm². These findings establish an initial basis for enhancing the composition of eco-bricks, ensuring an optimal balance between environmental advantages and mechanical functionality.

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