Sustainability in Construction Materials: From Waste Valorization to Circular Economy

2019 ◽  
pp. 279-296
Author(s):  
Maria Letizia Ruello ◽  
Tiziano Bellezze ◽  
Valeria Corinaldesi ◽  
Jacopo Donnini ◽  
Anna Laura Eusebi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Waste Valorization

scholarly journals Production of ceramic construction materials as an environmental management solution for sulfidic mine tailings

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Paiva ◽  
F. Simões ◽  
H. Maljaee ◽  
J. Yliniemi ◽  
M. Illikainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Firing Temperature ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Waste Valorization ◽  
Firing Shrinkage ◽  
Reaction With Water

AbstractMine tailings (MT) waste valorization in construction materials can be one possible solution because they may allow an alternative for some applications as an important contribution for a more circular economy. The aim of this work was to study the feasibility of using a sulfidic mine tailing in the production of building materials such as ceramic roof tiles. The introduction of 5, 10 and 20% MT in ceramic roof tiles promoted an improvement on the final properties of these materials. The use of 20%MT has decreased the firing temperature from 1150º to 1050 ºC, hence promoting energy savings and lower costs. Properties as density and water absorption were improved. Firing shrinkage, many times responsible for cracking, also decrease with the use of MT and, in this way, improve the production rate. The 20% MT ceramic formulation achieved the highest value of strength with lowest firing temperature. For the effects of sulphates' emission (SO2 and SO3 gases) upon firing, a solution was proposed involving their reaction with water and, through condensation, providing afterwards sulphuric acid as a process by-product. The use of high sulphide MT in ceramic roof tiles processing could be viewed as a potential safe waste management solution for these particular mine tailings.

Mine waste reuse and reprocessing: an important step for the implementation of the circular economy in Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Françoise Bodénan ◽  
Yannick Ménard ◽  
Patrick d'Hugues
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mining Waste ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Secondary Resources ◽  
Mineral Fraction ◽  
Long Term Treatment

<p>Whereas there are growing needs for mineral resources (metals for the energy and digital transitions<br>and construction materials), the mining industry must produce them from poorer, more<br>heterogeneous and more complex deposits. Therefore, volumes of mine waste produced (including<br>tailings) are also increasing and add up to waste from mining legacy. For example in Europe (x27): 732<br>Mtons of extractive waste are generated per year and more than 1.2 Btons of legacy waste are stored<br>all over the European territory. The localisation (and potential hazards) are well known and covered<br>by the inventories carried out in EU countries under the Mining Waste Directive.<br>At the same time, Europe is implementing the circular economy approach and put a lot of emphasis<br>on the resource efficiency concept. In this context, reprocessing operation to recover both metals and<br>mineral fraction is studied with the objective of combing waste management (reducing final waste<br>storage and long-term impact) and material production from secondary resources.<br>Numerous industrial experiences of reprocessing of mine waste and tailings exist all over the world to<br>recover metals such as copper, gold or critical raw materials - CRM They concern mainly active mine<br>where both primary and secondary resources are considered in profitable operations; for example in<br>Chile, South Africa, Australia. Mineral fraction recovery is often not considered which still leaves the<br>industry with a high volume of residual minerals to store and manage.<br>In addition, legacy mining waste are potentially available for reprocessing. In this case, numerous<br>mining liabilities issues need to be managed. Some of the European legacy mining waste have residual<br>valuable metals that could be recovered but some of them have very low metal contents. In Europe,<br>classical rehabilitation operations – usually at the charge of member states and local authorities – is<br>the priority and concern the reduction of instabilities and impacts to the environment including heap<br>remodelling, covering and water management with long-term treatment. Completing this risk<br>management approach by a circular economy one is a very active R&D subject in EU27.<br>This presentation will give an overview of EU research projects which tackled the legacy mining waste<br>challenge from inventory to process development. Several process flowsheets to recover metals were<br>designed and tested on several case studies with CRM – REE, Co, W, Sb, etc. Initiatives to reuse mineral<br>fraction are also underway and should be ready for commercialisation in the coming years.<br>Resources efficiency concept and the circular economy implementation starts on mining sites. In order<br>to facilitate the implementation of this approach, the technical solutions will need to be included in<br>innovative global initiatives covering also legal (liability management), environmental (Life Cycle<br>Analysis approaches) and social (acceptance) questions.</p>

scholarly journals Quantification of anthropogenic metabolism using spatially differentiated continuous MFA

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Schiller ◽  
Karin Gruhler ◽  
Regine Ortlepp
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Fresh Concrete ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Recycled Aggregates ◽  
Lower Grade ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Local Conditions

AbstractCoefficient-based, bottom-up material flow analysis is a suitable tool to quantify inflows, outflows and stock dynamics of materials used by societies, and thus can deliver strategic knowledge needed to develop circular economy policies. Anthropogenic stocks and flows are mostly of bulk nonmetallic mineral materials related to the construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructures. Consequently, it is important to be able to quantify circulating construction materials to help estimate the mass of secondary materials which can be recovered such as recycled aggregates (RA) for fresh concrete in new buildings. Yet as such bulk materials are high volume but of low unit value, they are generally produced and consumed within a region. Loops are thus bounded not only by qualitative and technical restrictions but also spatially to within regions. This paper presents a regionalized continuous MFA (C-MFA) approach taking account of these restrictions of local consumption, quality standards and technical limitations, illustrated using the example of Germany. Outflows and inflows of stocks are quantified at county level and generalized by regional type, considering demand and supply for recycled materials. Qualitative and technical potentials of recycling loops are operationalized by defining coefficients to reflect waste management technologies and engineering standards. Results show that 48% of outflows of concrete and bricks are suitable for high-quality recycling, while 52% of outflows do not fulfill the quality requirement and must be recovered or disposed of elsewhere. The achievable inflow to RA is limited by the building activity as well as the requirements of the construction industry, e.g. the RA fraction of fresh concrete must not exceed 32%. In addition, there exist spatial disparities in construction across the country. In Germany, such disparities mean that there will be a shortfall in RA of 6.3 Gt by the year 2020, while the technically available but unusable RA (due to a regional mismatch of potential supply and demand) will total 3.2 Gt. Comprehensive recycling strategies have to combine high-quality recycling with other lower-grade applications for secondary raw materials. Particularly in the case of building materials, essential constraints are not only technical but also local conditions of construction and demolition. These interrelations should be identified and integrated into a comprehensive system to manage the social metabolism of materials in support of circular economy policies.

scholarly journals Potential Uses of Copper Wastes in the Building Sector: Inertization and Added Value Solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Santiago Rosado ◽  
Lidia Gullón ◽  
Luis Felipe Mazadiego Martínez ◽  
Juan Francisco Llamas Borrajo
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Mining Activity ◽  
Added Value ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Leaching Behavior ◽  
Reactive Property ◽  
New Applications

Mining activity is the second biggest producer of waste in the European Union (EU), so to develop processes that allow the reuse of waste and the consequent creation of markets for these secondary raw materials are relevant for a desirable transition to a circular economy. Copper waste such as cakes, tailings, pyrite roasting residues, or slags present very different physical characteristics and hazards. There are two important aspects to consider for the residue of hazardous determination and its reuse: the particle size and the leaching behavior. Also, the reactive or non-reactive property of the waste depends on their origin, which is important for new applications. Based on these parameters (and other specifics for each application), the intention of this paper is to review and study the different applications of copper residues, aiming for new possibilities of cement-based construction materials with added value that allow to economically justify the use of cement.

scholarly journals Coffee biowaste valorization within circular economy: an evaluation method of spent coffee grounds potentials for mortar production

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giada La Scalia ◽  
Manfredi Saeli ◽  
Pier Paolo Miglietta ◽  
Rosa Micale
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Spent Coffee Grounds ◽  
Hydraulic Lime ◽  
Impact Reduction ◽  
Coffee Grounds

Abstract Purpose Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are biowastes extensively generated within the coffee supply chain. Nowadays, their disposal represents an increasing environmental concern due to its toxicity and organic nature. With the estimated increase of coffee production and consumption in the upcoming years, there is an imperative need to find a proper reverse option, along with a novel industrial application, which allows for the valorization of this coffee by-product within a circular economy perspective. This study aims at investigating a potential reuse of spent coffee grounds to produce novel construction materials to be used for sustainable buildings. Methods After having illustrated the forward flows within the coffee life cycle and the potential reverse flow options, an evaluation method based on multi-criteria analyses was elaborated to test not only the technical but also the environmental and economic performances of novel materials originating from the incorporation of SCG as an aggregate in natural hydraulic lime and geopolymer-based mortars. Moreover, we focus on the reuse of another waste streams— biomass fly ash—deriving from the paper-pulp industry, rarely investigated in both traditional construction applications and in geopolymer manufacture. The two (geopolymer- and lime-based) mortar typologies are here studied and compared as potential green material for applications in construction, with satisfying engineering performance and high insulation attitude, giving a new life to a common organic waste. Consequently, we compare eight formulations by means of multi-criteria approaches that are nowadays claimed as a useful and effective decision aiding support instrument to assess the development of new sustainable construction materials. They permit to consider simultaneously some controversial and often uncertain aspects like technological (as the usual scientific studies do), environmental, and economic (more difficult to easily approach and evaluate). For this purpose, in this paper, we have analyzed the performance of the novel bio-composite mortars using VIKOR and TOPSIS methods to rank a set of alternatives according to various evaluation criteria that often conflict one with each other. Results Results show that adding spent coffee grounds can efficiently improve the technical and sustainable performances of the novel mortars for different applications in the building sector. The presence of SCG increases water absorption and improves the insulation performance along with an environmental impact reduction. The considered technological properties are highly promising—such as the improvement in thermal insulation. In particular, even the addition of only 5% SCG leads to a significant reduction of the thermal conductivity and consequently to a greater insulating performance. Conclusions To date, most of the available literature on recycling SCG in construction materials do not consider mortar-based applications and, moreover, nor multi-criteria approaches. Therefore, our study proposes itself as an innovative track solution to food waste management lowering the employment of non-renewable natural resources and the costs associated to construction material production. At the same time, a novel and innovative way of such waste disposal is suggested, pursuing the sustainability and substantially reducing the environmental impact of construction and building materials. This study is a fundamental step in assessing the applicability of our designed and produced materials and its potentials to be produced at an industrial scale.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Environmental Sustainability of Hemp as a Building Material, through Life Cycle Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1215-1228
Author(s):  
Salvatore Emanuele Di Capua ◽  
Luisa Paolotti ◽  
Elisa Moretti ◽  
Lucia Rocchi ◽  
Antonio Boggia
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Material ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Ecological Design ◽  
Sustainable Procurement

Abstract Environmental issues, especially those related to the over-exploitation of natural resources, are leading towards considering alternative solutions and new approaches, such as the circular economy. Currently, some key elements of the circular economy approach are sustainable procurement of raw materials, improvement of production processes and ecological design, adoption of more sustainable distribution and consumption models, development of secondary raw material markets. This work aims to analyse the use of hemp as a building material, replacing traditional construction materials, but respecting at the same time the thermal, insulating and acoustic characteristics required in the construction of a building. The methodology used was Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which considered the hemp cultivation phase and the production phase of hemp-lime (“hempcrete”) walls. The hempcrete product was compared with two different solutions: a hemp and lime block, and a traditional perforated brick block with external insulation in polystyrene. In particular, the differences among the products in terms of embodied energy and net CO2 emissions were analysed. Results showed that the hempcrete wall had better environmental performances than the other two solutions.

Waste valorization of iron ore tailings in Brazil: Assessment metrics from a circular economy perspective

2022 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 102477
Author(s):  
A.S.I. Vilaça ◽  
L. Simão ◽  
O.R.K. Montedo ◽  
A.P. Novaes de Oliveira ◽  
F. Raupp-Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Waste Valorization ◽  
Iron Ore Tailings ◽  
Assessment Metrics

scholarly journals Inflows and Outflows from Material Stocks of Buildings and Networks and their Space-Differentiated Drivers: The Case Study of the Paris Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1376
Author(s):  
Vincent Augiseau ◽  
Eunhye Kim
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Central City ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Flow Analysis ◽  
Paris Region ◽  
Context Specific

Urbanization causes massive flows of construction materials and waste, which generates environmental impacts and land-use conflicts. Circular economy strategies at a local scale and in coordination with urban planning could respond to those issues. Implementing these strategies raises challenges as it requires a better knowledge of flows and their space-differentiated drivers. This article focuses on the case of the Paris region (Ile-de-France) in 2013. Construction materials inflows and outflows to and from anthropogenic stocks of buildings and networks are estimated and located though a bottom-up approach based on the collection and processing of geolocalized data. Flow analysis focuses on the relationship between urbanization and flows with a view to establishing context-specific circular economy strategies. Results show that regional inflows of construction materials to stocks in 2013 reach between 1.8 and 2.1 t/capita while outflows are between 1.0 and 1.5 t/capita. Both inflows and outflows are mainly driven by building construction and demolition as well as by road renewal. The region is composed of three sub-urban areas and flows per capita in the dense central city of Paris are significantly lower than in the low-density outskirt area of Grande Couronne (GC). Road renewal accounts for a larger share of flows in GC. Future research will address methodological limits.

scholarly journals Cisco de Café como posible material sustituto de arcilla en la fabricación de materiales cerámicos de construcción en el área metropolitana de Cúcuta

Respuestas ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Sanchez-Molina ◽  
Diana Carolina Alvarez-Rozo ◽  
John Fredy Gelves-Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Ceramic Industry ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Linear Shrinkage ◽  
Mechanical Resistance ◽  
Clay Material ◽  
Coffee Husk

ResumenLa industria cerámica representa un sector representativo para la economía del Norte de Santander. A pesar del reconocimiento de la calidad de los productos fabricados a nivel nacional e internacional, el desarrollo del sector aún se encuentra en fase de consolidación si se compara con los grandes referentes del mundo, entre estos, la industria cerámica Española e Italiana. En la búsqueda de alternativas que permitan entrar en esta dinámica global, el equipo de investigación realizó algunas actividades encaminadas a aplicar el concepto de la economía circular (reutilización de residuos a los sistemas de producción) al proceso cerámico regional. En este caso particular se ha propuesto la reutilización del cisco de café (residuo de agroindustria regional) como sustituto del material arcilloso en la fabricación de materiales cerámicos de construcción. El trabajo experimental se desarrolló a nivel de laboratorio, usando la extrusión como técnica de conformado. Las materias primas fueron caracterizadas mediante fluorescencia y difracción de rayos X (FRX/DRX), así como por análisis térmico (TG/DSC); las propiedades tecnológicas del cerámico evaluadas fueron: la contracción lineal de secado/cocción, porcentaje de absorción de agua, resistencia mecánica a la flexión y resistencia a la abrasión profunda. Al material de mejor comportamiento físico cerámico le fue evaluada la conductividad térmica mediante un método transitorio de flujo de calor. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian el potencial del cisco para reducir la conductividad térmica del material y el aporte calórico al sistema. La utilización del cisco de café permite obtener cerámicos para uso como revestimientos y pavimento de tipo residencial.Palabras clave: Caracterización, cisco de café, economía circular, materiales cerámicos.AbtractThe ceramic industry is a representative sector for the economy of Norte de Santander (Colombia). Despite the recognition of the quality of the products manufactured nationally and internationally, the development of the sector is still in the consolidation phase if it is compared with the major references in the world, including the Spanish and Italian ceramic industry. In the search for   alternatives that allow entering this global dynamic of being recognized, the work team has carried out some activities aimed at applying the concept of the circular economy (reuse of waste to production systems) to the regional ceramic process. In this   particular case, the reuse of coffee husk (waste from regional agro-industry) as a substitute for clay material in the manufacture of ceramic construction materials has been proposed. The experimental work was developed at the laboratory level, using extrusion as a forming technique. The raw materials were characterized by fluorescence and X-ray diffraction (XRF / XRD), as well as by thermal analysis (TG / DSC). The technological properties of the ceramic evaluated were the linear shrinkage of drying / firing, percentage of water absorption, mechanical resistance to bending and resistance to deep abrasion. To the material with the best ceramic physical behavior, the thermal conductivity was evaluated by means of a transient heat flow method. The results obtained show the potential of the coffee husk to reduce the thermal conductivity of the material and the caloric contribution to the system. The use of coffee husk allows to obtain ceramics for use as coatings and residential type pavement.Keywords: Characterization, coffee husk, circular economy, ceramic materialsResumoA indústria cerâmica representa um setor representativo para a economia do Norte de Santander. Apesar do reconhecimento da qualidade dos produtos fabricados nos níveis nacionais e internacionais, o desenvolvimento do setor ainda está em fase de consolidação, quando comparado com as grandes figuras do mundo, entre eles, a indústria cerâmica espanhol e italiano. Na busca de alternativas que permitissem entrar nessa dinâmica global, a equipe de pesquisa realizou algumas atividades voltadas à aplicação do conceito de economia circular (reutilização de resíduos aos sistemas produtivos) ao processo cerâmico regional. Neste caso particular, tem sido proposto o reuso do café cisco (resíduo da agroindústria regional) como substituto do material argiloso na fabricação de materiais cerâmicos de construção. O trabalho experimental foi desenvolvido em nível de laboratório, usando a extrusão como técnica de formação. As matérias-primas foram caracterizadas por fluorescência e difração de raios-X (FRX / DRX), bem como por análise térmica (TG / DSC); As propriedades tecnológicas das cerâmicas avaliadas foram: retração linear de secagem / cozimento, porcentagem de absorção de água, resistência mecânica à flexão e resistência à abrasão profunda. Para o material com melhor comportamento físico cerâmico, a condutividade térmica foi avaliada por meio de um método de fluxo de calor transiente. Os resultados obtidos mostram o potencial do cisco para reduzir a condutividade térmica do material e a contribuição calórica para o sistema. O uso do café cisco permite obter cerâmicas para uso como revestimentos e pavimentos residenciais.Palabras Chave: Caracterização, cisco de café, economia circular, materiais cerâmicos.

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