Comparative study of the use of different biomass from olive grove in the manufacture of sustainable ceramic lightweight bricks

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2020-01, Vol.231, p.117103, Article 117103
• Main Authors: Pérez-Villarejo, L., Eliche-Quesada, D., Martín-Pascual, J., Martín-Morales, M., Zamorano, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass olive residues; Olive leaf; Olive prunings; Olive wood; Porosity; Sustainable clay bricks
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117103

•Residues from olive grove to produce ceramic bricks as a new environmental-friendly.•Modifying porosity behavior of clay bricks by adding organic residues.•Using lightweight bricks can solve the problem of energy efficiency in construction.•New ceramic products with higher added value and lower environmental impact. In the present study, residue from olive groves has been used for the manufacture of clay ceramic bricks as a new environmentally-friendly solution. For this purpose, waste products of olive cultivation, such as olive prunings, leaves and wood, were ground to obtain a particle size of 0–2 mm; 7.5%, 15% and 25% of olive waste was added to the clay, clay bodies were moulded in pastes with the incorporation of 7.5, 15 and 25% by volume of waste; and finally, the green bodies were fired at 850 °C. The influence of the type and ratio of waste on the physical and mechanical properties of waste clay bricks was studied and compared with clay bricks without waste following standard procedures. Ceramic samples were characterized using a series of technological tests, such as linear shrinkage, bulk density, apparent porosity, water absorption, suction, compressive strength and thermal conductivity. The best results were obtained from the samples containing 7.5% olive waste showing that these organic pore-forming wastes have the potential for producing lighter bricks that could be marketed as low density clay masonry units with adequate mechanical properties and higher thermal insulating capacity.