Use of calcined water treatment sludge as supplementary cementitious material

Abstract When sludge from water treatment plants (WTP), is calcined, it has chemical compounds similar to those found in cementing raw materials, enabling its use as supplementary cementitious material (SCM). The aims of this study are as follows: 1) chemical and physical characterisation of calcined sludge originated from a WTP located in Venâncio Aires (RS) at a temperature of 700 ° C (LETAC) for 1 hour,, 2) evaluation of the influence of its incorporation, in percentages of 10% and 25% , as SCM in pastes and mortars. Microstructural and mechanical tests were performed. The calorimetry results indicate that the waste has a filler and chemical effect. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the incorporation of sludge in cement pastes promoted the consumption of calcium hydroxide (40% reduction in the composition with 25% of LETAC) and consequent formation of C-S-H. The results of the DRX show that the amount of amorphous phases was 11% higher in the paste with 25% of LETAC, confirming the additional development of C-S-H. Concerning the mechanical properties, no significant loss of compressive strength was observed in pastes when waste substitution of up to 25% was used.