Resource utilization of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash: Engineering performance and life cycle...

To achieve low-carbon development in the construction sector and further enhance the utilisation rate of fine-grained municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MSWI-BA). This study systematically investigates the feasibility of employing fine-grained MSWI-BA as a cementitious component in the preparation of ecological seawater sea-sand mortars (EM). Findings reveal a trade-off between engineering performance and environmental benefits: incorporating MSWI-BA diminishes mechanical properties, primarily attributable to its porous structure and comparatively lower reactivity than cement. Nevertheless, substantial environmental advantages counterbalance this drawback. EM can effectively solidify heavy metal ions in MSWI-BA. Life cycle assessment (LCA) confirmed that EM20 achieved the lowest environmental impact across all evaluated categories. Furthermore, while meeting engineering requirements, the material sustainability index (MSI) indicates that the EM20 simultaneously reduced energy consumption, carbon emissions, and costs by 25.17%, 25.19%, and 19.89% respectively. This study validates a sustainable waste-to-resource pathway for converting MSWI-BA into high-value construction materials, contributing to resource conservation and achieving sustainable waste management.