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2026 (English)In: Frontiers in Materials, Vol. 13, article id 1872082Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The decarbonization of concrete is an urgent goal in sustainable construction because cement is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the growing volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW) also require more circular and efficient management strategies. Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWBA), generated during MSW incineration, has potential as a partial cement replacement in concrete. However, its practical use as a cement replacement remains uncertain because its properties vary depending on its source, treatment, and chemical composition. Therefore, both technical performance and environmental safety must be considered simultaneously. This study examined the feasibility of using MSWBA as a partial cement replacement in concrete through an integrated mechanical and environmental assessment. Specifically, the present work focused on the long-term performance of MSWBA-incorporated concrete, with compressive strength evaluated at the curing ages of 90 and 180 days, alongside assessments of leaching behavior and cradle-to-gate CO2 emissions. Five MSWBA samples (denoted B1–B5) were first characterized, of which B3 and B5 were selected for further use in concrete production. The selected MSWBA samples were used in raw and mechanically activated forms at cement replacement levels of 10% and 20% to assess their long-term mechanical performance and environmental implications. The results showed that performance depended strongly on MSWBA type and replacement level, with the 10% replacement mixtures exhibiting more favorable performance. In contrast, the 20% replacement mixtures generally resulted in greater reductions in compressive strength. From an environmental perspective, partial cement replacement reduced cradle-to-gate CO2 emissions by 9.45% at the 10% replacement level and by 19.27% at the 20% replacement level compared with the control concrete (without MSWBA). Leaching tests further revealed increased release of Al, Ba, Cr, Mo, and chloride ions in mixtures containing MSWBA, although the measured concentrations of individual substances remained below the evaluated limits for the tested concrete specimens. The results also indicated that higher replacement levels led to greater environmental concerns than the 10% replacement level, highlighting the importance of controlling the MSWBA content in concrete mixtures. This study demonstrated that MSWBA can contribute to the decarbonization of concrete when suitable MSWBA samples are appropriately selected and utilized, thereby contributing to both a greener construction sector and a more effective approach to MSW recycling.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers, 2026
Keywords
bottom ash, carbon dioxide emissions, compressive strength, environmental assessment, leaching, sustainable construction
National Category
Civil Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-51003 (URN)
2026-09-102026-09-102026-09-10