Recycling of Mining Waste in the Production of Masonry Units

Abstract

Masonry units made of clay or Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) are widely used in constructions from Romania and other countries. Masonry units with superior mechanical and thermal characteristics can improve the energy efficiency of buildings, especially when they are used as the main solutions for building envelope construction. Their production in recent years has increased vertiginously to meet the increased demand. Manufactured with diversified geometries, different mechanical and/or thermal characteristics have a high volume in the mass of the building and a major influence in their carbon footprint. Starting from the current context regarding the target imposed by the long-term strategy of built environment decarbonization, the aim of the paper is to analyze the potential of reusing mining waste in the production of masonry units. Mining waste represents the highest share of waste generated at national level and may represent a valuable resource for the construction industry, facilitating the creation of new jobs and support for economic development. This review presents the interest in integrating mining wastes in masonry unit production and the technical characteristics of the masonry units in which they have been used as raw materials in different percentages. Critical assessment framework using SWOT analysis highlights the key sustainability aspects (technical, environmental, social, economic) providing a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the advantages and disadvantages regarding the integration of mining waste as secondary raw materials into masonry units production.

Assessment of Limestone Waste Addition for Fired Clay Bricks

“…Some opportunities for and threats of using the limestone waste as an admixture in the clay matrix are summarized in Table 3. It is well-known that to determine the environmental impact of a manufacturing process of ceramic materials, the carbon emissions generated during exploitation of materials, technological flux (firing and drying), and decomposition of organic raw materials must be considered [40]. In the analyzed samples, the content of CaO was increased due to the addition of the limestone waste.…”

Geoecological situation in the region of the Erdenet mining and processing facility (Mongolia)

“…For example, an enterprise for the production of construction materials, in which toxic elements are firmly bound and cannot have a harmful effect on humans and other biological objects, can be created from the accumulated waste at the tailings dump site. Modern technologies make it possible to use tailings dumps for cost-effective extraction of residual amounts of valuable elements contained in them [29][30]. The conditions of the production area, after planning the relief and creating isolating covers on it become suitable for organizing a technopark or a logistics center, which is facilitated by the network of transport communications created during the operation of the mine.…”

Recycling and Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Review of Advancements and Their Implications

“…Despite the consolidation of technologies for treatment, disposal, and storage, there is a growing evolution regarding the use of mining waste recycling, especially in developed countries [50][51][52] where an increase in the number of research activities in this area leads to the belief that structural modification of this pyramid is possible in the future [53,54].…”