Abstract
The project goal of this proposal is the manufacture of artificial aggregates obtained by means of multi-step pelletization of polluted industrial wastes, sediments and soils. Specifically, matter recovery will be addressed towards the manufacture of artificial aggregate by means of cold bonding pelletization with particles size ranging from 2 to 20 mm. Cold pelletization process has been preferred to high temperature treatment due to its lower environmental impact. The obtained artificial aggregates will be employed as partial or total substitutes of ordinary aggregates in cement based concretes. Taking into account the above considerations, the proposed process will be validated from a chemical, technological and environmental point of view. From the chemical point of view, it is important to understand how the waste is involved in the chemical processes during waste treatment, since some waste components can form new phases within also pollutants can be entrapped by means of chemical mechanisms (diadochy, chemisorption, reprecipitation, etc.) or physical entrapment (micro- and macroencapsulation). From the technological point of view, it is important to assess the suitability of the treated waste for the intended application. It requires the evaluation of physical and mechanical properties (density, porosity, compressive strength, etc.) and the assessment of their compliance to the technical specifications according to the proposed application. Finally, from the environmental point of view it is important to assess the pollutants release during the artificial aggregate lifetime. Under this point of view, the long-term release behavior can only be predicted, and the leaching tests can be helpful. Moreover, Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing approach will be performed in order to evaluate the entire manufacturing process from an environmental point of view. A further project’s goal is the optimization of the main operating conditions such as: the binding matrix composition with respect to waste nature and composition, the waste/binder ratio, the time and temperature of curing, the use of specific additives and so on. More specifically, in addition to ordinary Portland cement, alternative and innovative matrices from industrial wastes such as coal fly ash and blast furnace slag, will be employed.
Team di ricerca UNIBO
Prof. Stefania Manzi, Prof. Andrea Saccani, prof. Enrico Sassoni
Partner di progetto
University of Naples “Parthenope”, University of Naples Federico II, Marche Polytechnic University, University of Bologna