Scrap Glass Effect on Building Materials Characteristics Manufactured from Water Treatment Plant Sludge

Eco-bricks were manufactured using water treatment plant (WTP) sludge and scrap glass. Samples with controlled particle size distributions that contained up to 40% scrap glass were fired at a temperature ranged between 800 and 1,000 degrees C to produce sustainable ceramic materials for construction work. Scrap glass addition increased the compressive strengths of the sintered products. Higher scrap glass addition decreased the sintering temperature and/or energy requirement. The experimental results also revealed that the sintered product water absorption decreased as the amount of scrap glass addition increased. Materials containing 20% scrap glass and above, sintered at 1,000 degrees C produced low water absorption and relatively high compressive strength in compliance with the relevant Taiwan code requirement for construction building bricks. These results confirm the feasibility of using scrap glass and WTP sludge to produce sintered construction eco-brick.