Valorization of oil well drilling cuttings as a raw material in ceramic manufacturing

This study investigates the effect of clay replacement by oil well drilling cuttings (DC) in ceramic materials manufacturing. DC was added at 0, 15, 30 and 45 wt%. The raw materials were characterized by physical, chemical, and mineralogical analyses. Ceramic specimens were produced via uniaxial pressing and sintered at a constant heating rate (5 degrees C/min) for 90 min at three temperatures (750, 850, or 950 degrees C). Then, the samples were evaluated by linear firing shrinkage, apparent specific mass, water absorption, color, and flexural strength. Ceramic materials were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD/Rietveld). Environmental risk assessment of ceramic products containing DC was investigated by leaching and solubilization tests. The results allow classifying the raw and the ceramic materials as non-hazardous and inert. Ceramics consisted mainly of quartz, illite, hematite, feldspar, primary mullite, and spinel. The sintering temperatures (from 750 up to 950 degrees C) and the increasing DC contents (up to 45%) directly affect the mechanical properties of the red ceramic, which are suitable to produce bricks, blocks and tiles. In the analyzed scenarios, the results indicated DC as an alter-native raw material environmentally appropriate for the ceramic manufacturing.

Automated summary

This study examines the possibility of using oil well drilling cuttings (DC) as a replacement for clay in ceramic manufacturing. Various concentrations of DC were added to the raw materials, and the resulting ceramic specimens were evaluated for their physical and mechanical properties. The results showed that DC can be a suitable alternative raw material for ceramic production, as it does not pose any environmental risks and can produce ceramics suitable for various applications such as bricks, blocks, and tiles.