IJEP 45(8): 711-719 : Vol. 45 Issue. 8 (August 2025)
Afeefa Ateeq1* and Neeraj Jain2
1. Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Department of Environmental Science, Meerut – 250 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. CSIR – Central Building Research Institute, Environmental Science and Technology Group, Roorkee – 247 667, Uttarakhand, India
Abstract
Feasibility studies have been carried out using waste-to-energy (WtE) ashes, specifically fly ash and bottom ash, as partial replacements for fine aggregate in the development of construction materials, like road paving blocks. Ordinary Portland cement was used as the binding agent in all studies. Initial tests with these ashes as fine aggregates showed promising results, producing high compressive strength suitable for product development. The paving blocks were tested according to Indian Standards and the results met the required standards. It was observed that using 30-50% WtE ashes as fine aggregate enables the production of these products, which could be used for low-cost construction. The toxicity test [toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP)], performed following USEPA guidelines, showed no leaching of toxic metals. All heavy metals were immobilized within the cement matrix after 28 days of curing.
Keywords
Flyash, Bottom ash, Paving blocks, Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure
References
- Bansal, D., et al. 2024. Waste to resource: enviro-mechanical suitability of MSW incineration bottom ash in flexible pavements and embankments. Int. J. Geosynthetics Ground Eng., 10(2):17.
- Zimar, Z., et al.2022. Waste-to-energy ash for treating highly expansive clays in road pavements. J. Clean. Prod., 133854
- Wang, J., et al. 2024. Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash recycling assessment: Carbon emission analysis of bottom ash applied to pavement materials. Construction Building Mater., 421: 135774.
- Saja, M.A., A.M.Z. Zimar and S.M. Junaideen. 2021. Municipal solid waste management practices and challenges in the southeastern coastal cities of Sri Lanka. Sustain., 13:4556.
- Bualuang, T., et al. 2024. Utilization of dumped coal ash from power-plant landfills for carbon footprint reduction in sustainable pavement base constru-ction. Construction Building Mater., 441:137462.
- Mark, O. G., et al. 2019. Influence of some selec-ted supplementary cementitious materials on workability and compressive strength of concrete – A review. IOP Conference Series: Mater. Sci. Eng., 640(1): 012071.
- Fuoco, R., et al.2005. Innovative stabilization/solidification processes of flyash from an incinerator plant of urban solid waste. Microchem. J., 79(1–2): 29-35.
- Malaiðkienë, J., et al. 2024. The influence of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash on portland cement hydration and binder properties. 2nd International conference on Innovation in low-carbon cement and concrete technology. London, United Kingdom.
- Gao, T., et al. 2014. Aerogel-incorporated concrete: An experimental study. Construction Building Mater., 52: 130-136.
- Nowak, B., et al.2010. Heavy metal removal from municipal solid waste flyash by chlorination and thermal treatment. J. Hazard. Mater.,179 (1–3): 323-333.
- Pan, Y., et al. 2013. Chemical characteristics and risk assessment of typical municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) flyash in China. J. Hazard. Mater., 261(15): 269-276.
- Da Silva, W. B. C., et al. 2024. Analysis of the manufacturing of concrete paving blocks with by-products from thermoelectric power plant. Caderno Pedagógico. 21(3): e3257.
- Ashraf, M.S., Z. Ghouleh and Y. Shao. 2019. Production of eco-cement exclusively from municipal solid waste incineration residues. Resour. Conser. Recycling.149: 332-342.
- Fan, Y., et al. 2021. Recycling of municipal solid waste incineration flyash in foam ceramic materials for exterior building walls. J. Building Eng., 44: 103427.
- Ponsot, I. 2015. Recycling of pre-stabilized municipal waste incinerator flyash and soda-lime glass into sintered glass-ceramics, J. Clean. Prod., 89:224-230.
- Pataras, M., et al. 2023. Material substitution for flexible pavement using waste material flyash and bottom ash from Bukit Asam Electric Steam Power Plant. 6th First 2022 International Conference (FIRST-ESCSI-22). Procedings, pp 220-232.
- Zhao, R., et al. 2020. Research on thermal insulation properties of plant fiber composite building material: A review. Int. J. Thermophysics. 41(6): 87.
- Aubert, J.E. B. Husson and N. Sarramone. 2006. Utilization of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) flyash in blended cement: Part 1: Processing and characterization of MSWI flyash. J. Hazard. Mater.,136(3): 624-631.
- Yan, K., L. Li and D. Ge. 2019. Research on properties of bitumen mortar containing municipal solid waste incineration flyash. Construction Building Mater., 218: 657-666.
- Caprai, V., et al. 2019. MSWI bottom ash as binder replacement in wood cement composites. Construction Building Mater., 196: 672-680.
- Guo, X. and T. Zhang. 2020. Utilization of municipal solid waste incineration flyash to produce autoclaved and modified wall. J. Clean Prod., 252: 119759.
- Fan,C., et al. 2021. A comparative study on solidification/stabilization characteristics of coal flyash-based geopolymer and Portland cement on heavy metals in MSWI flyash. J. Clean. Prod., 319 (15) : 128790
- wongsa, A., et al. 2017. Use of municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash in high calcium flyash geopolymer matrix. 148: 49-59.
- Show, K.Y., J.H. Tay and A.T. Goh. 2003. Reuse of incinerator flyash in soft soil stabilization. J. Mater. Civil Eng., 15(4): 335-343.
- IS: 8112. 1998. Specification for 43 grade ordinary Portland cement. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
- NEN 7341. 1993. Determination of the leaching behaviour of granular materials: Availability test, Netherlands Normalization Institute, Delft, Holanda, 1993.
- EN 12457-27. 2002. Characterisation of waste – Leaching – Compliance test for leaching of granular waste materials and sludges – Part 2: One stage batch test at a liquid to solid ratio of 10 l/kg for materials with particle size below 4 mm (without or with size reduction).
- Izquierdo, M., et al. 2008. Comparison between laboratotry and field lechability of MSWI bottom ash as aroad materials. Sci. Total Env., 389(15): 10-19.
- Nowak, P., et al. 2021. Synthesis and characterization of zeolites produced from low-quality coal flyash and wet flue gas desulphurization wastewater. Mater., 14(6): 1558.
- IS: 15658. 2006. Precast concrete blocks for paving. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
- Liu, Y., et al. 2023. Efficient utilization of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash for autoclaved aerated concrete formulation. J. Building Eng., 71:106463.
- Zimar, Z.,et al. 2022. Application of coal flyash in pavement subgrade stabilization: a review. J. Env. Manage., 312: 114926.
- Jiong, H.U., Zhi Ge and Kejin Wang, 2014. Influence of cement fineness and water-to-cement ratio on mortar early-age heat of hydration and set times. Constr. Building Mater., 50: 657-196.
- Tamanna, K., et al. 2023. Coal bottom ash as supplementary material for sustainable construction: A comprehensive review. Construction Building Mater., 389: 131679.
- Banar, M. and A. Zkan. 2008. Characterization of the municipal solid waste in Eskisehir city, Turkey. Env. Eng. Sci., 25: 1213-1219.
- IS: 4031. 1988. Methods of physical tests for hydraulic cement. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
- IS: 2386. 1963. Method for tests for aggregates for concrete. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
- US EPA. 1992. SW-846 test method 1311: Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. Part of test methods for evaluating solid waste, physical/chemical methods. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- IS: 383. 1970. Specification for fine and coarse aggregates for natural source for concrete. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
- IS: 3495. 1992. Method of tests of burnt clay building bricks. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
- Magnuson, J. K., et al. 2023. Processing municipal solidwaste incineration bottom ash for integration into cement product manufacture. Resour. Conser. Recycling. 198: 107139.