ItemArticle

Recycled Surgical Mask Waste as a Resource Material in Sustainable Geopolymer Bricks

Title
Recycled Surgical Mask Waste as a Resource Material in Sustainable Geopolymer Bricks
Creator
Thoudam K.; Hossiney N.; Lakshmish Kumar S.; Alex J.; Prakasan S.; Chandra S.; Urs Y.; Arunkumar A.S.
Description
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global consumption of single-use surgical masks has risen immensely, and it is expected to grow in the coming years. Simultaneously, the disposal of surgical masks in the environment has caused plastic pollution, and therefore, it is exigent to find innovative ways to handle this problem. In this study, surgical masks were processed in a laboratory using the mechanical grinding method to obtain recycled surgical masks (RSM). The RSM was added in doses of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by volume of geopolymer bricks, which were synthesized with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), rice husk ash (RHA), sand, and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) at ambient conditions for a duration of 28 days. The developed bricks were tested for compressive strength, flexural strength, density, water absorption, efflorescence, and drying shrinkage. The results of the study reveal that compressive strength and flexural strength improved with the inclusion of RSM in the bricks. The highest values of compressive strength and flexural strength were 5.97 MPa and 1.62 MPa for bricks with 4% RSM, respectively. Further, a reduction in the self-weight of the bricks was noticed with an increase in RSM. There was no pronounced effect of RSM on the water absorption and efflorescence properties. However, the RSM played a role in reducing the drying shrinkage of the bricks. The sustainability analysis divulges the catalytic role of RSM in improving material performance, thereby proving to be a potential candidate for low-carbon material in the construction industry. 2023 by the authors.
Source
Recycling, Vol-8, No. 6
Date
2023-01-01
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Subject
durability; geopolymer bricks; recycled surgical masks; strength; sustainability
Coverage
Thoudam K., Department of Civil Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Hossiney N., Department of Civil Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Lakshmish Kumar S., Department of Civil Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Alex J., Department of Civil Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Prakasan S., Research Associate, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117566, Singapore; Chandra S., Department of Civil Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Urs Y., Department of Civil Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Arunkumar A.S., Department of Civil Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, 560019, India
Rights
All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 23134321
Format
Online
Language
English
Type
Article

Collection

Articles

Citation

Thoudam K.; Hossiney N.; Lakshmish Kumar S.; Alex J.; Prakasan S.; Chandra S.; Urs Y.; Arunkumar A.S., “Recycled Surgical Mask Waste as a Resource Material in Sustainable Geopolymer Bricks,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed April 2, 2025, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/13896.

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