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Construction Circular Economy: Recycling Construction and Demolition Wastes

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2023) | Viewed by 38480

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Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
Interests: nano biomaterial; biotechnological engineering; nanobiotechnology; catalyst characterization; concrete technologies; bioprocess engineering and fermentation technology; bioprocess optimization; material characterization
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Co-Guest Editor
Resource Efficient Built Environment Lab (REBEL), School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
Interests: life cycle assessment; embodied carbon; circular economy; sustainable development; global south; education for sustainability; sustainable design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste makes a large portion of the global total solid waste which is usually dumped into landfills, even though many of these C&D waste materials can be salvaged, reused, recycled, or reprocessed. C&D waste materials such as concrete, bricks, tiles, ceramics, asphalt, soils, wood, plasterboard, glass, plastics, insulation, and metals have the potential to be recycled and reused for building materials and many other industries. The significant rise in C&D activities has catalyzed the demand for actions to promote the strategies of reusing C&D wastes. The implementation of construction circular economy can lessen the environmental impact of the construction industry by turning the waste generated during construction, renovation, or demolition of buildings or other infrastructure into new materials.

This Special Issue is focused on emerging concepts of construction circular economy and concerns all aspects related to C&D waste minimization by reusing, recycling, and reprocessing construction materials. It also deals with research and studies of the development of new construction materials such as concrete by incorporating waste/by-product materials.

Researchers are invited to share their original research (theoretical and experimental), case studies, and comprehensive review papers dealing with reusing construction, demolition, and renovation waste materials that can be integrated into the construction circular economy. Relevant topics to this Special Issue include but not limited to the following subjects:

  • Reusing concrete, bricks, tiles, ceramics, asphalt, soils, wood, plasterboard, glass, plastics, insulation, and metals
  • Reusing, recycling and reprocessing construction wastes
  • Construction and demolition waste
  • Construction circular economy
  • Opportunities and barriers in construction and demolition waste recycling
  • Sustainable construction materials
  • Sustainable and green concrete
  • Recycled materials in sustainable concrete technology
  • By-product materials in sustainable concrete technology
  • New trends in the design of recycled concrete
  • Properties of construction and demolition waste materials
  • Construction and demolition waste reprocessing techniques
  • Applications of construction and demolition waste materials

Dr. Mostafa Seifan
Dr. Francesco Pomponi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Recycling construction waste 
  • Construction circular economy 
  • Construction and demolition waste 
  • Waste 
  • By-product 
  • Sustainability 
  • Mechanical properties 
  • Durability 
  • Building materials 
  • Concrete 
  • Aggregate 
  • Cement

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 5927 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Fire-Retardant and Sound-Proofing Properties of Stainless Steel EAF Oxidizing Slag Applied to the Cement Panel
by Chuan-Wen Chou, Hung-Ming Lin, Guan-Bang Chen, Fang-Hsien Wu and Chen-Yu Chen
Materials 2023, 16(8), 3103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16083103 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1176
Abstract
Because of incomplete recycling resource management and technology development, inorganic sludge and slag has been misused in Taiwan. The recycling of inorganic sludge and slag is a pressing crisis. Resource materials with a sustainable use value are misplaced and have a significant impact [...] Read more.
Because of incomplete recycling resource management and technology development, inorganic sludge and slag has been misused in Taiwan. The recycling of inorganic sludge and slag is a pressing crisis. Resource materials with a sustainable use value are misplaced and have a significant impact on society and the environment, which greatly reduces industrial competitiveness. To solve the dilemma of EAF oxidizing slag recycled from the steel-making process, it is important to find solutions to improve the stability of EAF oxidizing slags based on the innovative thinking of the circular economy. We can improve the value of recycling resources and solve the contradiction between economic development and environmental impact. The project team intends to investigate the development and application of reclaiming EAF oxidizing slags blended with fire-retardant materials, which will integrate R&D work from four different aspects. First, a verification mechanism is carried out to establish stainless steel furnace materials. Suppliers must be assisted in conducting quality management for EAF oxidizing slags to ensure the quality of the materials provided. Next, high-value building materials must be developed using slag stabilization technology, and fire-retardant tests must be conducted on the recycled building materials. A comprehensive evaluation and verification of the recycled building materials must be undertaken, and high-value green building materials must be produced with fire-retardant and sound-proofing characteristics. Integration with national standards and regulations can drive the market integration of high-value building materials and the industrial chain. On the other hand, the applicability of existing regulations to facilitate the legal use of EAF oxidizing slags will be explored. Full article
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17 pages, 11844 KiB  
Article
Impacts from Waste Oyster Shell on the Durability and Biological Attachment of Recycled Aggregate Porous Concrete for Artificial Reef
by Jiafeng Kong, Songyuan Ni, Chen Guo, Mingxu Chen and Hongzhu Quan
Materials 2022, 15(17), 6117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176117 - 02 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2192
Abstract
Poor biological attachment of artificial reef (AR) prepared by the recycled aggregate limit the application in the area of marine engineering. In this study, the waste oyster shell (WOS) was used as raw materials to prepare the recycled aggregate porous concrete (RAPC), the [...] Read more.
Poor biological attachment of artificial reef (AR) prepared by the recycled aggregate limit the application in the area of marine engineering. In this study, the waste oyster shell (WOS) was used as raw materials to prepare the recycled aggregate porous concrete (RAPC), the compressive strength, split tensile strength, chloride penetration resistance, freezing-thawing resistance, low temperature resistance, and the biological attachment were tested, aiming to improve the biological attachment and decrease carbon dioxide emission. The experiment results demonstrate that the use of WOS can decrease the compressive and split tensile strength, but the effect of designed porous structure on the mechanical strength is higher than that of WOS. To ensure the durability of RAPC, the contents of WOS should not exceed 20%. Additionally, the addition of WOS and designed porous structure are beneficial to biological attachment. However, the porous structure of RAPC only improves biological attachment in the short term, and the reverse phenomenon is true in the long term. As the partial replacement of cement with WOS is 40%, the total carbon dioxide emission decreases by about 52%. In conclusion, the use of WOS in the RAPC is an eco-friendly method in the artificial reef (AR) with improved ecological attachment and reduced carbon dioxide emission. Full article
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14 pages, 4530 KiB  
Article
Inerting Waste Al Alloy Dust with Natural High Polymers: Sustainability of Industrial Waste
by Bo Liu, Wenjing Yin, Kaili Xu and Yuyuan Zhang
Materials 2022, 15(16), 5540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15165540 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1176
Abstract
A large amount of waste dust will be produced in the process of metal grinding, resulting in a waste of resources and environmental pollution. Therefore, we present a new method of inerting waste aluminum (Al) alloy dust for recycling purposes. Three natural high [...] Read more.
A large amount of waste dust will be produced in the process of metal grinding, resulting in a waste of resources and environmental pollution. Therefore, we present a new method of inerting waste aluminum (Al) alloy dust for recycling purposes. Three natural high polymers—starch, pectin, and hydroxypropyl cellulose—were selected to inert waste metal dust in order to prevent the alloy from hydrolyzing and keep the dust pure enough for reuse. The particles of the Al base alloy before and after dust reaction were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and the relevant reaction mechanism was clarified. The hydrogen evolution test indicated that, across the temperature interval of 313–333 K, 0.75 wt% pectin inerted hydrogen evolution most efficiently (90.125%). XRD analysis indicated that the inerted product is composed of Al monomer and Al3Mg2, with no detectable content of Al hydroxide. The purity of the Al alloy dust was preserved. SEM and FTIR analyses indicated that the -OH, -COOH, and -COOCH3 functional groups in the high polymer participated in the coordination reaction by adsorbing on the surface of the waste Al alloy particles to produce a protective film, which conforms to Langmuir’s adsorption model. Verification of the inerted Al alloy dust in industrial production confirmed the possibility of reusing waste Al alloy dust. This study provides a simple and effective method for recycling waste Al alloy dust. Full article
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12 pages, 56223 KiB  
Article
Structure of Sewage Sludge-Clay Multiscale Composite Particles to Control the Mechanism of SO2 and H2S Gas Release
by Haihong Fan, Lin Li, Zhou Li and Shuo Shang
Materials 2022, 15(5), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051855 - 02 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1282
Abstract
In order to address the problem of sulfur gas and other odors released in the process of using sewage sludge as a construction material, this study prepared multiscale composite particles with a “large scale-medium scale-small scale-micro scale” structure by mixing sludge with silica-alumina [...] Read more.
In order to address the problem of sulfur gas and other odors released in the process of using sewage sludge as a construction material, this study prepared multiscale composite particles with a “large scale-medium scale-small scale-micro scale” structure by mixing sludge with silica-alumina building materials. Analysis of the structural changes formed by the internal gas of composite particles due to diffusion at different temperatures and a study of the characteristics of SO2 and H2S release from composite particles were conducted, as well as being compared with the release characteristics of pure sludge, which clarified the mechanism of controlling sulfur-containing-gas release from composite particles. The results showed that compared with pure sludge, the sludge-clay multiscale composite particles were able to reduce the release of SO2 and H2S up to 90% and 91%, and the release temperatures of SO2 and H2S were increased to 120 °C and 80 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, the special structure of the sludge-clay multiscale composite particles and the clay composition are the main factors that hinder the diffusion of sludge pyrolysis gases. Additionally, there are three layers of “gray surface layer-black mixed layer-dark gray spherical core” formed inside the composite particles, which is the apparent manifestation of the diffusion of volatile gases. This study provides theoretical support for the application of multiscale composite particle inhibition of odor-release technology in industrial production. Full article
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14 pages, 19792 KiB  
Article
Selective Leaching of Inert Mineral Product and the RO Phase in Steel Slag with Acetum to Improve Total Fe Content
by Xinkai Hou, Yiming Shi, Xiangfeng Wang, Yuyi Tang, Meng Wu and Hua Zhan
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031242 - 08 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1582
Abstract
The chemical and mineral components of the leaching residues obtained during the leaching of inert mineral product (IMP) and two samples of divalent metal oxide continuous solid solution (RO phase) by acetum at 20 °C were analyzed to reveal the selective leaching characteristics [...] Read more.
The chemical and mineral components of the leaching residues obtained during the leaching of inert mineral product (IMP) and two samples of divalent metal oxide continuous solid solution (RO phase) by acetum at 20 °C were analyzed to reveal the selective leaching characteristics of the chemical and mineral components in steel slag, and clarify the leaching rates and differences of MgO and FeO in the RO phase. The results indicated that the content of total Fe (TFe) in the leaching residue increased, whereas the contents of CaO, SiO2, and MgO decreased during the leaching of the inert mineral product by acetum. Fe3O4 was insoluble in acetum. The leaching rates of the RO phase and metallic Fe were very low, while those of calcium silicate (C2S + C3S) and dicalcium ferrite (C2F) were quite high. MgO and FeO in the RO phase continuously leached over time, and the leaching rate of MgO reached 1.9 times that of FeO. Therefore, during the leaching of the RO phase by acetum, the FeO content increased, whereas the MgO content decreased. In conclusion, acetum leaching can effectively improve the TFe content of the RO phase and the inert mineral product. Full article
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14 pages, 4296 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on Carbonation Durability of Kaolin Strengthened with Slag Portland Cement
by Qingbiao Wang, Yiming Ma, Fuqiang Wang, Zhenyue Shi, Hongyue You, Yuanyuan Tian, Yunfei Liu, Zhongjing Hu, Hongxu Song, Dong Wang, Yueqiang Sun, Rongshuai Yang and Haoran Sun
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031240 - 07 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Slag Portland cement is an environmentally friendly and energy-saving product, which is widely used in cement-reinforced soil. This study used slag Portland cement-reinforced soil as the research object and P.O 42.5 + kaolin (POK) as the reference group. The carbonation depth and strength [...] Read more.
Slag Portland cement is an environmentally friendly and energy-saving product, which is widely used in cement-reinforced soil. This study used slag Portland cement-reinforced soil as the research object and P.O 42.5 + kaolin (POK) as the reference group. The carbonation depth and strength of P.S.A 42.5 + kaolin (PSK) at different curing times were analyzed using carbonation depth, uniaxial ground pressure strength, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The test results show the following: (1) The active substances in PSK samples can react with calcium hydroxide produced during cement hydration and can reduce the content of OH. The PSK samples react with OH and CO2 in the carbonation environment. Both processes considerably reduce the content of OH. (2) Due to the decrease in OH content, the carbonation durability of slag Portland cement-reinforced soil is significantly less than that of ordinary Portland cement. (3) The carbonation of slag Portland cement-reinforced soil improves its strength. (4) The results of SEM + EDS and XRD confirm the carbonation depth and strength of the POK and PSK samples. The results show that PSK has important applications in subgrade or building grouting materials and in cement-soil mixing piles (walls). Full article
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17 pages, 4525 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Lightweight Ceramsite from Solid Waste Using SiC as a Foaming Agent
by Shuo Shang, Haihong Fan, Yuxiang Li, Lin Li and Zhou Li
Materials 2022, 15(1), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010325 - 03 Jan 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2283
Abstract
SiC was chosen as the foaming agent, and river bottom silt, waste oil sludge, paint bucket slag, and fly ash were used as raw materials, to prepare lightweight ceramsite without adding any chemical additives. The effects of SiC dosing and sintering temperature on [...] Read more.
SiC was chosen as the foaming agent, and river bottom silt, waste oil sludge, paint bucket slag, and fly ash were used as raw materials, to prepare lightweight ceramsite without adding any chemical additives. The effects of SiC dosing and sintering temperature on various properties of the ceramsite were studied, and the pore-forming mechanism of the lightweight ceramsite was clarified by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results showed that the single ceramsite compressive strength, water absorption, bulk density, and porosity of ceramsite sintered at 1180 °C with 1.0% SiC were 2.15 MPa, 2.02%, 490 kg/m3, and 23.85%, respectively. The major mineralogical compositions were quartz, fayalite, and kyanite, with small amounts of albite-low from 1140 to 1190 °C. Furthermore, the concentration of all tested heavy metals from ceramsite was lower than the maximum allowable concentration of the leaching solution specified in the Chinese national standard (GB 5085.3-2007), which reveals that this solid waste ceramsite will not cause secondary environmental pollution. The prepared ceramsite, exhibiting lower bulk density, high water absorption and porosity, and effective solidification of deleterious elements, can be used to prepare green lightweight aggregate concrete. Importantly, preparation of solid waste ceramsite is an effective way to dispose of hazardous wastes. Full article
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15 pages, 3186 KiB  
Article
Study on Performance Tests and the Application of Construction Waste as Subgrade Backfill
by Qingbiao Wang, Jie Zhang, Kang Liu, Andong Xu, Haolin Xu, Mingcong Yang, Cun Wang, Rongshuai Yang, Guangtao Bao, Yunfei Liu, Zhongjing Hu and Zhenyue Shi
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2381; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092381 - 03 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2131
Abstract
The application of construction waste as an aggregate in subgrade backfilling is an important recycling option. This study analyzed a subgrade backfill material consisting of lime-fly ash construction waste mixture (LFCWM). Compaction and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were performed on LFCWM under [...] Read more.
The application of construction waste as an aggregate in subgrade backfilling is an important recycling option. This study analyzed a subgrade backfill material consisting of lime-fly ash construction waste mixture (LFCWM). Compaction and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were performed on LFCWM under different cement-aggregate ratios (CARs, 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 8:2). Different normal stresses (100, 200, and 300 kPa) and aggregate sizes (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% of P4.75) were also evaluated. The experimental results indicated that: (1) when the CAR was 4:6, the optimum water content and the maximum dry density reached their maximum values of 10.1% and 2.03 g/cm3, respectively, the maximum CBR value was 42.5%, and the shear strength reached its maximum value. (2) With an increase in shear displacement, the shear stress showed a rapid initial increase, then a slow decrease, and finally tended to stabilize. (3) Normal stress had a positive effect on the shear strength of the mixture. (4) When P4.75 was 40%, the shear strength of LFCWM was the maximum. The research results have been successfully applied to road engineering, providing an important reference for the application of construction waste aggregate in roadbed engineering. Full article
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16 pages, 3775 KiB  
Article
Effect of Pre-Wetting Recycled Mortar Aggregate on the Mechanical Properties of Masonry Mortar
by René Sebastián Mora-Ortiz, Ebelia Del Angel-Meraz, Sergio Alberto Díaz, Francisco Magaña-Hernández, Emmanuel Munguía-Balvanera, Mayra Agustina Pantoja Castro, Justino Alavez-Ramírez and Leobardo Alejandro Quiroga
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061547 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2298
Abstract
In this research we evaluated the use of recycled fine mortar aggregate (RFMA) as a fine aggregate for new masonry mortar creation. The pre-wetting effect on the aggregate before creating the mixture was analyzed as a method to reduce its absorption potential. A [...] Read more.
In this research we evaluated the use of recycled fine mortar aggregate (RFMA) as a fine aggregate for new masonry mortar creation. The pre-wetting effect on the aggregate before creating the mixture was analyzed as a method to reduce its absorption potential. A control mixture of conventional mortar and two groups of recycled mortars were designed with a partial replacement of natural sand by RFMA (pre-wetted and not pre-wetted) performed in different proportions. The results established that the pre-wetting process allows a reduction in the amount of water required during the creation of new mixtures, regulating the water/cement (W/C) ratio and improving the properties of recycled mortars such as air content, fresh and hardened densities, and compressive and adhesive strength for all substitution levels. Mortar made with a 20% substitution and pre-wetted until it was at 67% of its absorption capacity displayed adhesive values higher than the ones shown by the reference mortar. The pre-wetting process proves to be an easy performance technique; it is inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and the most valuable fact is that specialized equipment is not necessarily needed. This process is the most profitable option for improving RFMA exploitation and reuse. Full article
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13 pages, 14343 KiB  
Article
Kinetics of Dehydroxylation and Decarburization of Coal Series Kaolinite during Calcination: A Novel Kinetic Method Based on Gaseous Products
by Simeng Cheng, Shaowu Jiu and Hui Li
Materials 2021, 14(6), 1493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061493 - 18 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1637
Abstract
The analysis of gaseous products reveals the characteristics, mechanisms, and kinetic equations describing the dehydroxylation and decarburization in coal series kaolinite. The results show that the dehydroxylation of coal series kaolinite arises from the calcination of kaolinite and boehmite within the temperature range [...] Read more.
The analysis of gaseous products reveals the characteristics, mechanisms, and kinetic equations describing the dehydroxylation and decarburization in coal series kaolinite. The results show that the dehydroxylation of coal series kaolinite arises from the calcination of kaolinite and boehmite within the temperature range of 350–850 °C. The activation energy for dehydroxylation is 182.71 kJ·mol−1, and the mechanism conforms to the A2/3 model. Decarburization is a two-step reaction, occurring as a result of the combustion of carbon and the decomposition of a small amount of calcite. The temperature range in the first step is 350–550 °C, and in the second is 580–830 °C. The first step decarburization reaction conforms to the A2/3 mechanism function, and the activation energy is 160.94 kJ·mol−1. The second step decarburization reaction follows the B3 mechanism function, wherein the activation energy is 215.47 kJ·mol−1. A comparison with the traditional methods proves that the kinetics method utilizing TG-FTIR-MS is feasible. Full article
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19 pages, 3988 KiB  
Article
Compacted Anthropogenic Materials as Backfill for Buried Pipes
by Andrzej Głuchowski, Raimondas Šadzevičius, Rytis Skominas and Wojciech Sas
Materials 2021, 14(4), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040717 - 03 Feb 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1684
Abstract
Buried pipe design requires knowledge about the fill to design the backfill structure. The interaction between the backfill envelope and the pipe impacts the structural performance of the buried pipe. The backfill material and compaction level respond to the backfill’s overall strength and, [...] Read more.
Buried pipe design requires knowledge about the fill to design the backfill structure. The interaction between the backfill envelope and the pipe impacts the structural performance of the buried pipe. The backfill material and compaction level respond to the backfill’s overall strength and, therefore, for pipe-soil interaction. The strength of backfill material is described in terms of modulus of soil reaction E’ and constrained modulus Eode. As the E’ is an empirical parameter, the Eode can be measured in the laboratory by performing the oedometer tests. In this study, we have performed extensive oedometric tests on five types of anthropogenic materials (AM). Three of them are construction and demolition materials (C–D materials) namely, recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), crushed brick (CB), and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). Two of them are industrial solid wastes (ISW) namely, fly ash and bottom slag mix (FA + BS) and blast furnace slag (BFS). The results of the tests revealed that AM behaves differently from natural aggregates (NA). In general, the Eode value for AM is lower than for NA with the same gradation. Despite that, some of AM may be used as NA substitute directly (RCA or BFS), some with special treatment like CB and some with extra compaction efforts like RAP or FA + BS. Full article
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Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 16220 KiB  
Review
Performance of Building Solid Waste Powder in Cement Cementitious Material: A Review
by Yongcheng Ji, Wenhao Ji and Wei Li
Materials 2022, 15(15), 5408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15155408 - 05 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1550
Abstract
Recycled powder (RP) is a by-product of preparing recycled aggregates from construction waste through debris removal, step-by-step crushing, screening, and mechanical strengthening. It is a fine powder with a particle size of less than 75 μm. Reasonable use of RP can increase the [...] Read more.
Recycled powder (RP) is a by-product of preparing recycled aggregates from construction waste through debris removal, step-by-step crushing, screening, and mechanical strengthening. It is a fine powder with a particle size of less than 75 μm. Reasonable use of RP can increase the utilization rate of construction waste and reduce dust pollution. This study introduces the current research status of RP. It describes the source of RP; the activation mode of activity; the effect on several aspects, such as early performance and mechanical properties of cement-based materials; and its mechanism of action in light of the research and development. Moreover, the linear regression analysis method was used to obtain the mathematical model between the content of RP and the performance of cement-based materials. The correlation degree between the content of RP and the performance of cement-based materials was obtained based on the gray relation analysis method. It was concluded that the change of the content of RP had the most significant influence on the compressive strength of foamed concrete over 28 d. Finally, some feasible suggestions and prospects for RP are provided. Full article
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25 pages, 2612 KiB  
Review
Circular Economy of Construction and Demolition Waste: A Literature Review on Lessons, Challenges, and Benefits
by Callun Keith Purchase, Dhafer Manna Al Zulayq, Bio Talakatoa O’Brien, Matthew Joseph Kowalewski, Aydin Berenjian, Amir Hossein Tarighaleslami and Mostafa Seifan
Materials 2022, 15(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010076 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 77 | Viewed by 16193
Abstract
Conventionally, in a linear economy, C&D (Construction and Demolition) waste was considered as zero value materials, and, as a result of that, most C&D waste materials ended up in landfills. In recent years, with the increase in the awareness around sustainability and resource [...] Read more.
Conventionally, in a linear economy, C&D (Construction and Demolition) waste was considered as zero value materials, and, as a result of that, most C&D waste materials ended up in landfills. In recent years, with the increase in the awareness around sustainability and resource management, various countries have started to explore new models to minimize the use of limited resources which are currently overused, mismanaged, or quickly depleting. In this regard, the implementation of CE (Circular Economy) has emerged as a potential model to minimize the negative impact of C&D wastes on the environment. However, there are some challenges hindering a full transition to CE in the construction and demolition sectors. Therefore, this review paper aims to critically scrutinize different aspects of C&D waste and how CE can be integrated into construction projects. Reviewing of the literature revealed that the barriers in the implementation of CE in C&D waste sectors fall in five main domains, namely legal, technical, social, behavioral, and economic aspects. In this context, it was found that policy and governance, permits and specifications, technological limitation, quality and performance, knowledge and information, and, finally, the costs associated with the implementation of CE model at the early stage are the main barriers. In addition to these, from the contractors’ perspective, C&D waste dismantling, segregation, and on-site sorting, transportation, and local recovery processes are the main challenges at the start point for small-scale companies. To address the abovementioned challenges, and also to minimize the ambiguity of resulting outcomes by implementing CE in C&D waste sectors, there is an urgent need to introduce a global framework and a practicable pathway to allow companies to implement such models, regardless of their scale and location. Additionally, in this paper, recommendations on the direction for areas of future studies for a reduction in the environmental impacts have been provided. To structure an effective model approach, the future direction should be more focused on dismantling practices, hazardous material handling, quality control on waste acceptance, and material recovery processes, as well as a incentivization mechanism to promote ecological, economic, and social benefits of the CE for C&D sectors. Full article
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