Feasibility of transforming lightweight aggregate made of pulp and paper mill sludge into insulating concrete

摘要

The thriving development of the paper industry leaves behind a great amount of pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS), which constitutes a considerable source of pollution. Experts estimate that global PPMS will increase by 48%-86% in the next 50 years. Therefore, desirable PPMS management and disposal approaches have become crucial for environmental protection. This study conducted an experiment by using pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) samples added to different proportions of reservoir sludge or Diatomaceous earth (DE) to manufacture lightweight aggregates or insulating concrete. Samples were separately sintered at various temperatures for different amounts of time. The sintered aggregates underwent tests to measure their characteristics and were made into insulating concrete. Results exhibited that using PPMS to manufacture building materials by adding reservoir sludge and DE is a possible approach to resource recovery. Such an approach helps reduce the consumption of conventional raw materials, mitigate environmental impacts caused by landfill sites, facilitate waste recovery, and fulfill the spirit of environmental sustainability.