Recycling PC and TV waste glass in clay bricks and roof tiles.
Disposal of PC monitors and TV sets is a growing problem, with over 40% of the weight of these systems comprised of waste glasses with high Pb (funnel) or Ba-Sr concentrations (panel), making them unsuitable for recycling and manufacturing new glass. A possible way to re-use these glasses is in the manufacturing of clay bricks and roof tiles. This possibility was appraised by laboratory simulation of the brickmaking process and technological characterization of unfired and fired products. The recycling of both funnel and panel glasses into clay bodies is technologically feasible, resulting in a substantially reduced plasticity behaviour during shaping-drying (implying a reduction of mechanical strength), and a promotion of sintering during firing. No significant release of Pb, Ba, and Sr was observed during the firing and leaching test for the carbonate-poor body; in contrast, some Pb volatilization during firing and Sr leaching were observed for the carbonate-rich body. Additions of 2 wt.% appear to be practicable, while 5 wt.% glass induces unacceptable modifications of technological properties. The recommended amount is within 2 and 4 wt.%, depending on the characteristics of the clay bodies. The main constraint is that the glass must have a particle size below the limit of the pan mills used in brickmaking (<1mm).
Dondi
M
M
Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy. dondi@istec.cnr.it
Guarini
G
G
Raimondo
M
M
Zanelli
C
C
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000592:standards*; D008838:Microcomputers; D013690:Television / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014866:Waste Products
D014866:Waste Products