Reuse of UK alum water treatment sludge in cement-based materials

Alum salts are commonly used as coagulants in the purification of surface water for potable supplies. The resultant waste alumina-rich sludge is currently landfilled in the UK. This study aimed to valorise sludge by using heat-treated alum sludge as an additive in cement. Alum sludge was calcined at 475-1100 degrees C and then characterized to correlate physical and mineralogical changes with cementitious activity and engineering performance. Alum sludge calcined at 825 degrees C transforms to poorly crystalline eta-alumina (eta) and has cementitious activity. The calcined sludge rapidly reacts with gypsum to form ettringite which leads to a shortening of the induction period and onset of alite hydration. Gypsum depletion leads to undersulfated C(3)A hydration which consumes ettringite to form monosulfoaluminate thereby inhibiting further alite hydration. The poorly crystalline eta-alumina is metastable, transforming to highly crystalline alpha-alumina at 1100 degrees C. In pastes containing more crystalline sludges, alite hydration is enhanced because the undersulfated C(3)A reactions are avoided, leading to improved performance. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

Alum sludge can be valorized by heat treatment and used as an additive in cement to improve its performance by forming cementitious substances and enhancing engineering properties.