Sludge Ash as Lightweight Concrete Material

Abstract

Sludge is an inevitable by‐product of wastewater treatment. Its abundance poses disposal problems that can be drastically reduced if sludge can be converted for economical uses in construction as substitute materials. Digested and dewatered sludge, after incineration at a high temperature, yields a hard, cellular, porous mass with low unit weight. This hardened mass of sludge ash can be crushed to smaller‐sized aggregates, which, when graded in suitable proportions, manifest the basic attributes required of lightweight aggregates. When used as aggregates in the production of lightweight concrete, experimental results show that the resulting concrete satisfies the physical requirements of a lightweight concrete in terms of unit weight, strength, heat‐insulating properties, and fire resistance, thus indicating that sludge ash could be a potential source of suitable lightweight aggregates.