New fired bricks based on municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Waste Management
• Ceramic Engineering

Background:

• Municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MSWI BA) is a significant waste stream.
• Valorization of MSWI BA in construction materials like fired bricks is crucial for sustainability.
• Traditional brick production often relies on virgin resources, necessitating alternative materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sintering behavior and technological properties of novel fired bricks.
• To evaluate the feasibility of incorporating high quantities of post-treated MSWI BA with refractory clay.
• To assess the impact of minor flux (Na2CO3) or reinforcing (corundum) additions.

Main Methods:

• Thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and dilatometry for sintering behavior.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) for microstructure.
• High-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) for phase composition.
• Mechanical testing (micro-indentation, strength) and physical tests (porosity, water absorption).

Main Results:

• Successful production of fired bricks with very high MSWI BA content.
• Demonstrated good overall performance of the developed bricks.
• Additives effectively modified crystal phase formation, porosity, and significantly improved strength.

Conclusions:

• High-volume utilization of post-treated MSWI BA in fired brick production is feasible.
• The developed bricks exhibit promising technological and mechanical properties.
• Strategic addition of flux or reinforcing agents allows tailored control over final brick characteristics.