Hardened state and binder efficiency of concrete produced with wastes of porcelain polishing and scheelite

Abstract

Reducing Portland cement consumption in concrete compositions, managing industrial waste, and conserving natural resources are contemporary challenges to achieving sustainable development. One solution has been the utilization of these industrial wastes as partial replacements for Portland cement or aggregates in concrete production. Due to the significant variability of these wastes, further research on this topic is necessary. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the properties of concrete mixtures containing porcelain polishing residue (PPR), scheelite residue (SR), and different types of Portland cement. The physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of the wastes were determined. The fresh and hardened properties of the concretes, as well as the analysis of environmental impact, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions related to binder consumption, were investigated. The results showed that the utilization of these wastes resulted in reductions in consistency, water absorption, porosity, and compressive strength at 28 days by up to 33%, 16%, 13%, and 7%, respectively. Furthermore, improvements in microstructure, binder index, and CO₂ index were observed. The wastes reduced the cement content and CO₂ emissions per cubic meter of concrete to achieve 1 MPa by up to 12%. These findings suggested that the utilization of these wastes may be a viable and sustainable alternative to reduce Portland cement consumption and mitigate the environmental impact of the concrete industry. However, further research and studies are needed to assess other aspects, such as long-term durability and economic feasibility before their widespread adoption in the construction industry.

Keywords:
pozzolanic activity; porosity; mechanical properties; microstructure; sustainability