Use of sewage sludge in the production of light aggregates: a systematic review of literature

ABSTRACT

Sewage sludge is the main by-product from wastewater treatment. Its production is growing worldwide. At the same time, environmental agencies have been restricting various methods of disposal of this waste, increasingly demanding the creation of sustainable practices. In this context, construction stands out as a potential partner. Several studies have used sewage sludge in the development of new building materials, including lightweight aggregate (LWA). Thus, this study evaluated, from a systematic review of the literature, the potential application of sewage sludge in the light aggregate manufacturing process. Important data such as: chemical composition; density; granulometry; mechanical resistance; absorption; sintering temperature; concrete application and leaching, international guidelines and / or commercial aggregates were analyzed and compared. The results are encouraging, since in all evaluated aggregates the sewage sludge aggregates met international standards and / or showed similar results to those of commercial aggregates. Therefore, it has been demonstrated that sewage sludge has technical feasibility for LWA's manufacture, confirming the potential of sustainable management of this waste.

Keywords
Lightweight aggregate; Sewage sludge; LWA; Reuse; Systematic review