Performance of Sustainable Green Concrete Incorporating Quarry Dust and Ferronickel Slag as Fine Aggregate.

This paper presents a study on the combined use of two by-products, namely quarry dust (QD) and ferronickel slag (FNS), as a full substitute for natural sand to improve the greenness of concrete production. Quarry dust was used in increments of 25% to a maximum of 75% substitution, where nickel slag was used as the remaining proportion of fine aggregate. All the combinations of quarry dust and nickel slag were found to be compliant with AS 2758.1 and they showed notably better grading than 100% sand. In this research, standard concrete tests, such as the slump test for fresh concrete, and compression, tensile and shrinkage tests for hardened concrete, were conducted. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were also conducted for microstructural investigation. The results concluded that the combinations of quarry dust and nickel slag in concrete as a whole substitution of sand provide similar results for these properties. Specifically, 25% quarry dust with 75% nickel slag proved to be the most promising alternative to sand, with compressive and splitting tensile strengths of 62 and 4.29 MPa, respectively, which were 16% and 20% higher than those of the control mix. Also, lower drying shrinkage was observed for this combination compared to the control mix. The higher strength is attributed to the rough texture and angular shape of both quarry dust and nickel slag providing a better mechanical interlocking. The validity of this result has also been confirmed through image analysis of micrographs from various specimens. In microstructural investigations, specimens with QD and FNS exhibited fewer voids and a more compact surface compared to the control specimen. This shows the potential for further research into the use of quarry dust and nickel slag in the production of green concrete.

A Sustainable Reuse of Agro-Industrial Wastes into Green Cement Bricks.

The fabrication of bricks commonly consumes relatively high natural resources. To reduce the carbon footprint in the brick production industry, repurposing industrial wastes in the making of sustainable bricks is a recent trend in research and application. Local wastes, such as oil palm shell (OPS), palm oil fuel ash (POFA), and quarry dust (QD), are massively produced annually in the palm oil-exporting countries. Moreover, QD from mining industries is hazardous to both water and air quality. For better waste management in marching towards sustainability, these wastes should be given their second life as construction materials. Therefore, this paper investigates the possibility of incorporating agro-industrial wastes into the brick mixture by examining their properties by means of several standardized tests. For the mix design, a 100% replacement of coarse aggregate with OPS, 20% replacement of cement with POFA, 20% cement weight of limestone as admixture, and 0 to 50% replacements of fine aggregate with QD are experimentally considered. The optimum mix of these wastes is preliminarily determined by focusing on high compressive strength as an indicator. Other examinations include splitting tensile, flexural strength, water absorption, and efflorescence tests. Although the agro-industrial waste cement brick is 18% lower in the strength to weight ratio compared to that of conventional, it is observed that it has better late strength development due to its POFA pozzolanic properties. Moreover, the proposed green cement brick is further checked for compliance with several standards for feasible use in the construction industry. Financially, the cost for the brick with the new mix design is almost equivalent to that of conventional. Hence, this green cement brick is reasonable to be employed in the construction industry to promote material sustainability for better waste management.

Experimental Investigation on Geopolymer Concrete with Various Sustainable Mineral Ashes.

The aim of this research was to find the best alternative for river sand in concrete. In both geopolymer concrete (GPC) and cement concrete (CC), the fine aggregates are replaced with various sustainable mineral ashes, and mechanical and durability tests are conducted. Specimens for tests were made of M40 grade GPC and CC, with five different soil types as river sand substitute. The materials chosen to replace the river sand are manufactured sand (M-sand), sea sand, copper slag, quarry dust, and limestone sand as 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively by weight. GPF50 and CC50 were kept as control mixes for GPC and CC, respectively. The test results of respective concretes are compared with the control mix results. From compressive strength results, M-sand as a fine aggregate had an increase in strength in every replacement level of GPC and CC. Additionally, copper slag is identified with a significant strength reduction in GPC and CC after 25% replacement. Copper slag, quarry dust, and limestone sand in GPC and CC resulted in considerable loss of strength in all replacement levels except for 25% replacement. The cost of GPC and CC is mixed with the selected fine aggregate replacement materials which arrived. Durability and cost analyses are performed for the advisable mixes and control mixes to have a comparison. Durability tests, namely, water absorption and acid tests and water permeability and thermal tests are conducted and discussed. Durability results also indicate a positive signal to mixes with M-sand. The advisable replacement of river sand with each alternative is discussed.

Ternary and quaternary blends as partial replacement of cement to produce hollow sandcrete blocks.

Hollow sandcrete blocks constitute more than 90% of residential building construction in developing countries especially in West Africa. Over-reliance on dredged river sands and conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC) contributes to environmental degradation and post-construction problems such as swelling and shrinkage-induced cracks prevalent in construction projects. The study investigates potential utilization of locally available materials such as laterite, calcite and calcined clay as ternary and quaternary blends to replace cement and quarry dust as 100% replacement of river sand with the aid of Taguchi-Response surface methodology approach. Optimum ternary blend of 24% calcined clay +1% calcite +75% OPC is recommended to achieve volume stability, higher compressive strength and higher flexural load capacity. Alternatively, ternary blends of 24% calcite +4% calcined clay +72% OPC can also be utilized. The improved mechanical properties were attributed to the Na- and Ca-rich aluminosilicates provided by the blended cements. Successful utilization of ternary and quaternary blended cements to produce stronger, durable and eco-friendly sandcrete blocks depends on utilization of high binder-to-aggregate ratio, optimal combination of the constituents, appropriate water-cement ratio and curing/production method. Partial and 100% replacement of river sand with granite dust is possible and contributes to reduction of environmental problems caused by river dredging as well as cleaner, ecofriendly construction. Ternary and quaternary blended cements is recommended to avert post-construction problems such as swelling and shrinkage-induced cracks prevalent in construction projects.

Lung Function and Respiratory Health of Populations Living Close to Quarry Sites in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Environmental exposure to dust from quarrying activities could pose health dangers to the population living nearby. This study aimed to investigate the health effects of dust exposure on people living close to quarry sites and compared them with those who live far from the quarry sites. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 79 exposed participants, who lived less than 500 m away from the quarry sites, and 79 control participants who lived more than 500 m away. All participants answered a questionnaire on dust exposure at home and health effects, as well as performed a lung function test in which both reported and measured health effects were investigated. People who live in close proximity to the quarry sites reported exposure to dust at home (98%), land destruction (85%), plant leaves covered with dust (97%), and an inability to grow crops (92%). The exposed group reported significantly higher eye and nasal allergy (22% vs. 3%), eye soreness (18% vs. 1%), and dryness (17% vs. 3%), chest tightness (9% vs. 1%), and chronic cough (11% vs. 0%) compared to the control group. Lung function parameters were significantly lower among the exposed group compared to the control group; mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 3.35 L vs. 3.71 L (p = 0.001), mean forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was 2.78 L vs. 3.17 L (p = 0.001). Higher levels of airway restriction were found among the exposed group. Among the exposed group, lung function parameters worsened with the increasing closeness of home to the quarry site. This study demonstrates the negative health effects of environmental dust exposure among two communities living near quarry sites in Palestine. The results highlight the importance of developing and strictly enforcing rules and regulations in Palestine to protect population health.

Quarry Waste as Precursors in Geopolymers for Civil Engineering Applications: A Decade in Review.

Carbon footprint reduction of paving materials could be explored through recycling mining by-products into different applications, which will preserve natural resources and decrease environmental issues. One possible approach is to reuse quarry dust and mining ore waste as precursors in geopolymer applications. geopolymers are mineral polymers rich in aluminosilicates with an amorphous to a semi-crystalline three-dimensional structure. The current review aims to summarize the studies conducted during the past decade on geopolymers containing quarry dust and mine tailings. The first section discusses various precursors used for geopolymer cement production such as metakaolin, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash, and quarry/mining ore wastes including silt, tungsten, vanadium, copper, gold, zinc, marble, iron, basalt, and lithium. Different calcination treatments and curing conditions have been summarized. In some cases, the precursors are required to be calcined to increase their reactivity. Both ambient temperature and elevated temperature curing conditions have been summarized. Less attention has been paid to room temperature curing, which is necessary for field and industrial implementations. Engineering properties such as compressive strength, density, durability and acid resistance, water absorption and abrasion of geopolymers containing mining waste were reviewed. One of the main barriers preventing the widespread use of waste powders, in addition to economic aspects, in geopolymers could be due to their unstable chemical structure. This was shown through extensive leachate of Na+ or K+ cations in geopolymer structures. The review of over 100 articles indicated the need for further research on different aspects of quarry waste geopolymer productions before its full industrial implementation.

Dataset on impact strength, flammability test and water absorption test for innovative polymer-quarry dust composite.

In this article data on impact strength, flammability and water absorption tests for innovative plastic-quarry dust composite is presented. The composites were prepared through moulding with virgin HDPE and PP plastics and quarry dust. The quarry dust was used at 0%, 5%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% weight percentages. The prepared samples were characterised for strength, fire resistance and hydrophobic properties using Charpy impact, flammability and water absorption tests respectively. For impact strength test was conducted according to ISO 179-1:2010 (E). The flammability test was conducted according to ASTMD 2863 while the water absorption test was carried out in accordance to ASTM D 570-98. These data illustrate the potential of the plastic quarry dust composite application in construction industry and model for regeneration of waste plastics for green building technologies.

Aging and Curing Temperature Effects on Compressive Strength of Mortar Containing Lime Stone Quarry Dust and Industrial Granite Sludge.

In this study, the researchers investigated the potential use of locally available waste materials from the lime stone quarry and the granite industry as a partial replacement of cement. Quarry sites and granite industry in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia produces tons of powder wastes in the form of quarry dust (QD) and granite sludge (GS), respectively, causing serious environmental problems along with frequent dust storms in the area. According to ASTM C109, identical 50-mm3 specimens were cast throughout this study to evaluate the compressive strength development of mortars (7, 28 and 91 days) containing these waste materials. Experimental variables included different percentage replacement of cement with waste materials (GS, QD), fineness of GS, various curing temperatures (20, 40 and 60 °C as local normal and hot environmental temperatures) and curing moisture (continuously moist and partially moist followed by air curing). Finally, the results of mortar containing waste materials were compared to corresponding results of control mortar (CM) and mortar containing fly ash (FA). The test results indicated that under normal curing (20 °C, moist cured), the compressive strength of mortar containing the different percentage of waste materials (QD, GS, FA and their combinations) remained lower than that of CM at all ages. However, the compressive strength of mortar containing waste materials slightly increased with increased fineness of GS and significantly increased under high curing temperatures. It was recommended that more fineness of GS be achieved to use its high percentage replacement with cement (30% or more) incorporating local environmental conditions.