Utilization of electrocoagulation-treated spent wash sludge in making building blocks

Abstract

Minimization, utilization and disposal of industrial waste are very important from the environmental esthetic point of view. Sludge generated during the treatment of distillery spent wash by electrocoagulation process is highly complex in nature and requires proper disposal. In this context, the present study was conducted to employ the electrocoagulation-generated sludge as a partial replacement of cement while manufacturing the non-constructional building blocks. Various physiochemical and thermo-gravimetric characterization studies have been carried out on electrocoagulation-generated sludge and cement. Mortar specimens with different proportions of sludge ranging from 0 to 15 % by weight of cement were tested for density, compressive strength and leachability of heavy metals by standard method. Results from the analysis showed that the cement-based solidification of EC sludge reduces the heavy metal concentration in the leachate from cement-sludge mortars compared to the EC sludge alone. Reduction in the compressive strength of mortar with 7.5 % substitution of cement by EC sludge was \5 % against the control mortar (without sludge), thereafter the reduction was substantial. The optimum percentage of sludge that can replace the cement with marginal change in the physiochemical properties is found to be 7.5. This can be used in the manufacturing of the non-constructional building material within the industry for their different types of usages such as paving, pot making and fencing of garden without affecting the environment.

Effect of Current and Initial pH on Electrocoagulation in Treating the Distillery Spent Wash with Very High Pollutant Content

“…The decrease rate of sludge mass could be estimated through Equation (10). Therefore, the increase rate of the scum could be predicted by Equation (11).…”

“…These results were in line with some studies [26,27] where the solution pH usually increases during the EC process. Kobya et al [26] reported that the final pH is always higher than the initial pH (3,5,7,9,11) in EC using iron electrode in treating textile wastewaters. Meanwhile, Kim et al [27] also came to the same conclusion-they found that the solution pH increased at the end of the process with initial pHs of 3, 5, 7 and 9 in the EC when treating the groundwater.…”

“…Furthermore, hydrogen gas, an alternative energy, could also be obtained during the EC process [8]. Moreover, the sludge obtained after the EC process could be utilized in making building blocks [11]. Based on this, EC is the most promising method in treating DSW.…”

Electrocoagulation Sludge Valorization—A Review

“…The possible uses of EC sludge have not yet been widely explored, and only a few studies on sludge utilization or valorization in certain fields have been conducted. While a few studies on the use of sludge as fertilizers, pigments, construction materials, absorbents, and catalysts [9,[21][22][23] Resources 2021, 10, 127 2 of 15 and a few studies on EC sludge valorization have been reported, to our best knowledge, no practical reviews on this subject have been published. Thus, this review focuses on the EC sludge valorization studies that were published between 2010 and 2020.…”

Preparation, Characterization and Decolorization Performance of Magnetic Adsorbent Pellets Formed by the Utilization of Electric Flocculation Sludge

“…Liu et al [17] investigated the application of sludge which were prepared by the electric flocculation of industrial printing and dyeing wastewater in anode materials in Li‐ion batteries. Sharma et al [18] utilized the electrocoagulation‐generated sludge as a partial replacement of cement to manufacture the non‐constructional building blocks. Zheng et al [19] developed a method for effective utilization of electric flocculation sludge, in the study, the sludge from the treatment of source‐separated urine was used to prepare iron phosphate.…”