Potential Use of Oyster Shell Waste in the Composition of Construction Composites: A Review

Abstract

The oyster shell is a residue rich in calcium carbonate, which can be reused as a raw material for creating building materials. For this reason, many researchers focused on the incorporation of oyster shell in the composition of composites, as it is a means of contributing to the economic sustainability by reducing the presence of pollution caused by aquaculture waste in the environment, thus increasing the value chain of the construction sector and reducing its carbon footprint. This paper intends to systematize the scientific production related to oyster shell-based composites in construction, carrying out a search using the Scopus tool and a systematic review based on the PRISMA statement. The results show that research on the incorporation of oyster shell into cementitious mortar mixtures, with a focus on its use in concrete, dominates existing scientific research. There is a lack of studies on the incorporation of the oyster shell that address its application as an aggregate or binder in the composition of coating and laying mortars. Most existing research is from Asia, and there is a lack of research in some parts of Europe. In the Americas, Africa and Oceania, no existing studies were found. Despite the growing understanding of the importance of sustainability and economic issues related to products used in the blue circular economy sector, there are still few studies that consider the incorporation of waste or by-products of aquaculture. Future investigations that cover these practical and contextual gaps can contribute to the better use of oyster shell waste and its insertion in the blue circular economy.

Strength and Microstructural Changes in Cementitious Composites Containing Waste Oyster Shell Powder

“…In addition, the specific surface area (SSA) of waste oyster shell powder (WOSP) is expected to significantly affect the mechanical properties of cementitious composites. WOSP with a high SSA and a regular particle shape can effectively enhance properties such as strength, stiffness, and durability when used as a replacement material in cementitious composites [39,49,78]. This enhancement is attributed to the increased reactivity and nucleation sites provided by the high SSA of WOSP, leading to improved hydration and densification of the cementitious matrix.…”

Biomimetic Use of Food-Waste Sources of Calcium Carbonate and Phosphate for Sustainable Materials—A Review

“…The microstructures of oyster layers comprise lamellar (folia) and sharper (chalky) characteristics, as indicated in Figure 8 [103]; the former are around 400 µm thick, while the latter range from 250 to 300 µm. Apart from the initial attempts at introducing oyster shell powder in construction materials, which have also recently been implemented at a European level [104], only some studies have concentrated more on the use of oyster shell powder (OSP) for the reinforcement of polymers. A typical case was applying OSP in polypropylene through an injection molding process and comparing it with mussel shells.…”

“…The only limitation was in terms of elongation to break, which was considerably reduced with bio-calcium carbonate, which was attributed to the not entirely ineffective control of the granulometry [105]. However, the aforementioned issues Apart from the initial attempts at introducing oyster shell powder in construction materials, which have also recently been implemented at a European level [104], only some studies have concentrated more on the use of oyster shell powder (OSP) for the reinforcement of polymers. A typical case was applying OSP in polypropylene through an injection molding process and comparing it with mussel shells.…”

Blue Circular Economy—Reuse and Valorization of Bivalve Shells: The Case of Algarve, Portugal

“…Shells are often considered nuisance waste rather than a valuable commodity, resulting in them being dumped in landfills or incinerated. Promoting the circularity of this waste is crucial to achieving environmental, economic, and socio-cultural benefits [25], beyond researching solutions for this waste, which can be applied across various sectors including construction, cosmetics manufacturing, artificial stone production, food supplement production, insulation material in thermal renders, agriculture, livestock farming, soil recovery, water and effluent treatment, as well as animal feed formulation [16,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. The tradition of using oysters in civil construction dates back to ancient times, since the 16th century, rooted in the history of coastal regions, where the local population benefited from local resources for construction needs [35].…”