Experiments Using Different Types of Waste to Manufacture Ceramic Materials: Examples on a Laboratory Scale

Abstract

Reusing waste as raw materials to produce other materials can entail a decrease in production costs and in the abusive use of natural resources. Furthermore, it can even improve the properties of the end product or material. In this sense, a review of the most relevant literature published in recent decades shows that numerous solutions have been proposed or implemented, such as its use to produce construction materials, catalysts, pigments, pozzolana, refractory materials, glass-ceramic products, etc. Our research group has verified the viability of using different types of waste as secondary raw materials to obtain several types of ceramic, glassy and glassceramic materials, as well as frits. This article highlights several types of industrial waste that have both non-toxic (Li, Ca and Mn) and highly toxic (Cr VI) differentiating elements that can be used in sintering and vitrification industrial processes to immobilise them or render them inert. We studied the compositions and characterised the various materials obtained, conducting toxicity and leaching tests on waste/materials designed with high amounts of chromium. A suggestion for future lines of research has been proposed.