Integrating Plastic and Industrial Waste into Fly Ash Bricks An Approach Towards Solid Waste Management

Abstract

The rising production of solid waste, driven by industrial growth and expanding human newlineactivities, poses a serious threat to environmental sustainability and public health. This newlineincreasing waste stream, which spans from household garbage to industrial byproducts, newlinepresents various challenges. Poor waste management practices, including open newlinedumping and inadequate landfill facilities, lead to severe environmental contamination. newlineThis study examined waste Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) and newspaper newlinesludge (NS) as alternatives to sand and cement in the production of fly ash bricks. newlineNumerous studies have been carried out to examine the influence of various waste newlinematerials on the physical, mechanical, thermal and microstructural properties. These newlineproperties include but are not limited to, compressive strength, water absorption, newlineporosity, thermal conductivity, and occurrence of efflorescence. Advanced analytical newlinetechniques such as Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermogravimetric Analysis newline(TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) have newlinebeen extensively utilized to gain deeper insights into the behaviour and performance newlineof fly ash bricks. These investigations aim to understand how waste incorporation newlineaffects the properties of bricks, paving the way for sustainable material development newlineand waste management practices. newlineThe maximum compressive strength of 13.35 MPa was obtained for the sample NPS-2 newlinein which 20% of sand was replaced with NS, among the sand replacement samples. newlineHowever, in cement replacement samples, the maximum compressive strength of 12.65 newlineMPa was obtained for the NPC-2 sample where 20% of cement was substituted with newlineNS. Based on the findings of thermal conductivity and porosity, it is inferred that the newlinesamples containing NS in replacement of cement are more porous and thermally newlineinsulated. The samples containing newspaper sludge demonstrated superior newlineperformance in strength and thermal properties compared to those made with waste newlineCPVC. Furtherm