Sustainable Glass Foams Produced from Glass Bottles and Tobacco Residue

Abstract

In this work, discarded soda-lime-silica glass bottles and tobacco residue (after oil extraction to produce biodiesel) were prepared in different formulations to obtain glass foams. The formulated compositions were homogenized and uniaxially compacted at 40 MPa then fired at 850 °C and 900 °C for 60 min to investigate the effects of tobacco residue and temperature in thermal and mechanical properties of the glass foams. The results show that glass foams obtained are promising materials for applications where thermal insulation and mechanical strength are desired, with values of 0.087 W.m-1 K-1 and 2.1 MPa, respectively for 45% of the tobacco residue that was added to the glass foam and fired at 850 °C. These characteristics occur through a suitable combination of thermal conductivity and compressive strength, showing advantageous properties for applications in sustainable constructions and industrial energy efficiency.

Glass Lightweight Aggregates from Glass Cullet and Mining and Food Industry Carbonate Waste

“…The difference in behavior observed in the expansion capacity of the different wastes used as additives is related to the starting temperature of carbonate decomposition [ 39 , 44 ]. In the CF and PC8 additives, the decarbonation reactions of MgCO 3 (the beginning of the endothermic drop in Figure 2 ) start at 520 and 600 °C, respectively, and develop up to 800 °C.…”

“…As base glass, the use of waste glass of different natures has been reported, such as fluorescent tubes [ 21 ], cathode ray tubes [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], bottles [ 28 , 29 , 30 ], flat glass [ 31 ], float glass [ 27 ], calcosodic glass [ 26 , 32 , 33 ] and glass cullet [ 34 , 35 ]. For foaming additives, the use of several materials, such as alkaline or alkaline earth carbonates of both mineral origin [ 36 , 37 , 38 ] and animal origin, such as eggshell [ 21 , 22 , 29 , 39 ] or porcine bone [ 40 ]; NaOH [ 27 ]; SiC [ 31 , 35 , 41 ]; metallic oxides; graphite [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]; organic compounds, such as glycerin, gelatin, starch or saccharose [ 30 ]; and agro–food wastes, such as banana leaves [ 28 ] or tobacco residue [ 44 ], has been reported. However, it should be noted that the main objective of the aforementioned studies is the production of glass foams to be applied as a thermal or acoustic insulator.…”

Expanded Glass for Thermal and Acoustic Insulation from Recycled Post-Consumer Glass and Textile Industry Process Waste

“…Carbon-based foaming agents, such as organic carbon compounds, can release CO 2 upon oxidation while leaving no solid residues that could change the glass properties [ 23 , 27 ]. Some studies focused on the use of alternative and natural sources as foaming agents, such as eggshells [ 23 , 32 ], oysters [ 33 ] plant parts and leaves [ 34 , 35 ]. Some authors showed the possibility to use calcium sulfate from the ceramic industry waste [ 36 ], silicon carbide [ 37 , 38 , 39 ] and silicon nitride [ 40 ].…”