Utilization of Domestic Wastewater and Textile Effluent Treatment Plant Sludge as Brick Material

Abstract

The increase in demand for the construction materials in the recent years as resulted in the alternative way to produce the construction materials. As a result of demand for raw materials needed in the manufacturing of bricks, the sludge produced in various wastewater treatment plant units were used for the manufacturing of bricks. Physico-chemical properties of the sludge were studied. Thecharacteristics of bricks with replacement of sewage sludge (0-30%) and textile sludge (0-50%)with an increment of 3% were determined. The brick samples with replacement of sewage sludgeup to 15% and textile sludge up to 50% satisfied the requirements of the Indian Standard in termsof weight loss on ignition. A 9% of domestic wastewater treatment plant sludge and 15% textile sludge was found to be satisfying the compressive strength required for first class brick. 12% domestic wastewater treatment plant sludge and 15% textile sludgewas found to be satisfying the norms of water absorption required for a first class brick. The characteristics of bricks such as efflorescence and density for bricks with replacement of clayey soil with sewage sludge up to 9% and textile sludge up to 15% also satisfied the requirements of Indian Standard. Thus, sewage sludge up to 9% and textile sludge upto 15% can be added effectively to make brick material.