Designing Efficient Flash-Calcined Sediment-Based Ecobinders

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Dredging generates millions of cubic meters of sediment annually in Europe.
• These dredged materials possess potential as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).
• Sustainable utilization of waste materials is crucial for the construction sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of flash calcined sediments (STFC) as a mineral admixture in cementitious matrices.
• To evaluate the impact of flash calcination on sediment properties.
• To assess the performance of mortars incorporating STFC.

Main Methods:

• Sediments were treated using the flash calcination method (STFC).
• Physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization of STFC.
• Mechanical property testing of mortars with STFC.
• Calorimetry testing to analyze hydration processes.

Main Results:

• Flash calcination positively impacts sediment properties.
• Mortars with STFC show comparable mechanical properties to control mortars.
• At substitution rates below 10%, STFC performance is equivalent to metakaolin (MK80).
• STFC enhances cement hydration, increasing heat release due to pozzolanic activity.

Conclusions:

• Optimized heat treatment transforms waste sediments into valuable SCMs.
• STFC offers a sustainable alternative for the building and infrastructure sector.
• Flash calcination is a low-energy process suitable for valorizing dredged sediments.