PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF OIL-RICH SLUDGE-CLAY MIXED BRICKS

Oil-rich sludge (ORS) is a by-product of oleochemical industry. The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of sludge on the mechanical and durability properties of clay brick. Eight partial replacements of 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 %, 30 %, 35 % and 40 % of sludge types in clay formulation were evaluated. Eight hundred bricks with uniform size of 50 mm × 50 mm × 50 mm were hand-molded, burnt in a furnace at 900 oC, and were subjected to water absorption test and compressive test. The result shows that the water absorption of sludge blended bricks increased with increasing amount of sludge. The water absorption percentage is between 29 % and 69 %. The compressive strength of bricks is ranging between 0.85 N/mm2 and 13.26 N/mm2, whereby wet and dry sludge revealed a greater compressive strength of more than 5 N/mm2 for partial replacements up to 20 %. Clay with 20 % and less blend of ORS shows good quality of brick. Brick formulated with ORS could be beneficial for the construction economy and environment.