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This study explores the mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of environmentally friendly polymer composite rebar, created using locally discarded vegetable waste biochar and areca fiber. The material underwent various characterization following ASTM standards in order to evaluate its suitability for construction applications. The integration of biochar and areca fiber aims to improve both the sustainability and performance of the composite rebar. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were analyzed to offer insights into the material's microstructure and morphology behind the performance change. From rebar composite 'C,' with 2 wt% biochar and 40% areca fibers, superior load-bearing capacity was observed with a tensile strength of 58 MPa, flexural strength of 99 MPa, and compression strength of 75 MPa, indicating enhanced mechanical performance. In contrast, rebar composite 'E' exhibited notable shore-D hardness of 81 due to excessive biochar content, enhancing material rigidity. The increased biochar content positively influenced the thermal conductivity of the composite rebar material, with the collaborative effect of areca fibers and biochar particles enhancing overall thermal performance. Consequently, rebar composite 'E' displayed a thermal conductivity value of 0.544 W/mK. Water absorption behavior in the rebar composites was influenced by 1 µm-sized biochar particles, rendering them hydrophobic. Despite the natural hydrophilic nature of areca fibers, the biochar content intensified hydrophobic behavior. Rebar composite 'E,' with 8 wt% biochar, exhibited minimal water absorption at 0.0009. In the three-point bending strength analysis of beams constructed with rebar composites, 'C' rebar-made beams demonstrated robust bending strength at 29.6 MPa. This heightened strength is attributed to the structural strength inherent in the 'C' rebar composite, enabling effective resistance and absorption of applied loads. Therefore, this overall characterization provides valuable insights into the performance of the eco-friendly polymer composite rebar, establishing their potential for sustainable construction practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation abstract Investigating natural rubber latex (NRL) composites through compressive testing for renewable and sustainable building materialsThis article explores the innovative use of natural rubber latex (NRL) as a fundamental component in the development of sustainable and renewable composite building materials, particularly focusing on incorporating wood chips as reinforcing particles. The study investigates the compressive mechanical properties of various composite formulations, analysing the influence of NRL contents and particle types – considering different wood species, shapes and sizes. Key factors such as particle geometry, NRL content, and sample preparation methods are identified as crucial factors in enhancing the mechanical properties of these composites. The results show that NRL composites exhibit distinctive characteristics like non‐linear behaviour, hysteresis, stress relaxation, and the Mullins effect during compression tests. The significance of these composite materials in construction is heightened by their potential to utilize NRL sourced from plants other than rubber trees, such as dandelions, thus advancing sustainable construction practices. This research aims to focus attention on exploring new, flexible, and highly customized composite materials by utilizing natural fibres and NRL across a range of construction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air movement dries surfaces by increasing evaporation and convection, which may prevent mould growth. Cladosporium sp. is used as the test organism (dominant fungi in the envelope of rural houses in hot summer and warm winter areas), and the effect of fans on inhibiting mould growth on building materials is investigated. Surface mould growth on materials was simulated and compared after rain leakage and surface condensation, and spore germination was studied in high humidity, with or without airflow. The results are as follows: (1) Airflow has an evident inhibitory effect on mould growth on wet building materials. This observation was linked to the availability of moisture content in the building materials. (2) Airflow can slow the appearance of visual mould on the material surface. Mould did not appear on the gypsum surface due to the airflow, and mould growth on a wood surface was delayed for about two days. (3) Periodically, spore eluates were examined by electron microscopy to determine the stage of spore germination, and it was found that airflow delayed mould spore germination for about 2–3 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rates of 55 stony material samples divided into three groups (Gneiss, Granite and Marble) were estimated by means of laboratory tests. The activity concentration range was found: 5.5 ± 1.3–125.5 ± 6.5 Bq.kg−1 for 226Ra, 4.4 ± 0.6–157.4 ± 8.4 Bq.kg−1 for 232Th and 35.0 ± 0.4–1093 ± 15 Bq.kg−1 for 40K. The data were used to evaluate radiation hazard parameters. The radon exhalation rate ranged from 0.17 ± 0.01 to 2.56 ± 0.20 Bq.m−2.h−1. Granite building materials show the highest radon exhalation rates while the marble group shows the lowest exhalation rates. Positive correlation coefficients of radon exhalation rate with radium concentration and porosity of the samples have been observed. This study also presents radon diffusion coefficient values determined for 50 waterproofing materials. A radon-proof ability comparison of waterproofing materials and a conclusion about material groups which can be considered very effective radon barriers were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern advancements in structural and construction materials have prompted researchers to focus on the adaptation of these innovations. Particularly, ceramic tiles have garnered attention due to their aesthetic appeal in various indoor and outdoor settings, alongside their simplicity of installation. The utilization of ceramic tiles isn't only geared towards providing structural integrity, but similarly towards enhancing their visual attributes, which hold significant value. In terms of affixing these tiles onto surfaces, the conventional approach entails the employment of sand-cement grout. Nonetheless, this method presents certain limitations such as inadequate water retention, rigid surfaces, extended drying periods, lack of pliability, and thicker paste application, among other issues. These obstacles can be effectively addressed through the incorporation of redispersible polymer powder (RPP) in conjunction with additional cementitious elements. Through their combined application, polymers synergize with cement constituents to bolster physical and mechanical characteristics, thereby improving adhesion strength, minimizing shrinkage, and reducing water absorption. The main goal of this review article is to highlight the significance of ceramic tile adhesive while offering a thorough explanation of cementitious tile adhesive (CTA) and all of its components. We focused emphasis on the commercially available RPP and its incorporation into CTA formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of waste to capture CO2 has been on the rise, to reduce costs and to improve the environmental footprint. Here, a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum waste is proposed, which allows us to obtain a CaCO3-based solid, which should be recycled. The CO2 capture stage has primarily been carried out via the direct carbonation method or at high temperature. However, a high energy penalty and/or long reaction times make it unattractive from an industrial perspective. To avoid this, herein an indirect method is proposed, based on first capturing the CO2 with NaOH and later using an aqueous carbonation stage. This allows us to capture CO2 at a near-ambient temperature, improving reaction times and avoiding the energy penalty. The parameters studied were Ca2+/CO32− ratio, L/S ratio and temperature. Each of them has been optimized, with 1.25, 100 mL/g and 25 °C being the optimal values, respectively, reaching an efficiency of 72.52%. Furthermore, the utilization of the produced CaCO3 as a building material has been analyzed. The density, superficial hardness and the compressive strength of a material composed of 10 wt% of CaCO3 and 90 wt% of commercial gypsum, with a water/solid ratio of 0.5, is measured. When the waste is added, the density and the mechanical properties decreased, although the compressive strength and superficial hardness are higher than the requirements for gypsum panels. Thus, this work is promising for the carbonation of FGD-gypsum, which involves its chemical transformation into calcium carbonate through reacting it with the CO2 of flue gasses and recycling the generated wastes in construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fly Ash Comprehensive Utilization is the property of Hebei Fly Ash Comprehensive Utilization Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

IntroductionBuildings that constitute cultural heritage and that are the identity of a defined geographical area are increasingly being restored to offer the community historical places to enjoy. Often the restoration preserves the original structure and building materials, which are usually natural stones. In this study, a radioprotection protocol dedicated to this kind of built environment was proposed and validated.MethodsAfter identifying the two predominant types of building material stones (Rosso ammonitico and Pietra Serena), radiometric measurements for natural gamma-emitting radionuclides (Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40) and measurements of the emanation coefficient and calculation of the exhalation rate of radon gas were carried out.ResultsThe two types of stone have a content of natural radionuclides that do not exceed the levels recommended by the regulations. The difference between the two types of stone is of an order of magnitude indicating that the red ammonite has a greater radiological impact than the pietra serena.DiscussionThe results, in addition to ensuring the radioprotection of the population, highlighted the need to increase the number of this kind of investigations to implement scientific knowledge and serve the stakeholders involved.

Research objectives: The purpose of the article is to complement the existing scientifically based narratives about the origin of the stone mausoleums in the Bulgar ulus of the Golden Horde. Research materials: In the territory of the Volga-Ural region, to varying degrees of preservation, we have the medieval mausoleums in the city of Bolgar (Khan’s tomb, Eas­tern and Northern mausoleums). Located in the territory of the Chishminsky district of Bashkortostan, we have the Keshene mausoleum (currently called the Tura Khan mausoleum) and mausoleum of Husain Bek. The sources for this analysis were architecture and construction techniques, drawings of plans and sections of buildings, materials from archaeological excavations, and descriptions from scientific expeditions of the 19th century. Research results and scientific novelty: A reliable and significant source in the study is the architecture of the Golden Horde mausoleums in the territory of the city of Bolgar and the periphery of the state that is now the territory of the Chishminsky district of Bashkortostan. The specific features of the architectural appearance of the mausoleum buildings and the influence of regional schools of Muslim monumental architecture are revealed. Comparative analogies of the architecture of buildings make it possible to outline the problem of the origin of the Chishma mausoleums and draw a conclusion about the common style and traditions of Bulgarian Golden Horde architecture over the vast territory of the Volga-Ural region.

Polymer mortars have attracted immense interest as effective and rapid repair materials in the modern construction industry owing to their advantages over conventional Portland cement mortar. Various types of polymer binders, such as unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), have been used in polymer mortar owing to their low cost, excellent strength, high workability, and rapid curing. However, the brittleness of Unsaturated polyester resin mortar (UPRM) limits its applications in construction. Herein, we investigated the feasibility of reutilizing locally available industrial crumb rubber (CR) (CR,

The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in four common types of building materials (carbonate, quartz, clay and granite) in North Vietnam were determined by HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity of these radionuclides were 15, 17 and 213 Bq kg−1 for carbonate; 43, 35 and 462 Bq kg−1 for quartz; 80, 99 and 824 Bq kg−1 for clay; and 98, 198 and 1440 Bq kg−1 for granite. The results showed significant differences in the activities of these radionuclides in different building materials as follows: ACarbonate < AQuartz < AClay < AGranite. The radioactivity of building materials originated from granite and clay are high, while those observed for ones derived from carbonate and quartz are low. Regarding radiation hazard indices, granite exceeded the recommended value, while carbonate fell below this maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Sciences Studies is the property of Social Sciences Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water treatment plants (WTPs) produce thousands of tons of sludge annually, which is destined for landfill disposal, an environmentally and economically impractical alternative. Chemical, mineralogical, and morphological characterization besides environmental classification has been performed for WTP sludge and it was evaluated application potential in building materials, from a literature review. The characterization was carried out by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy analysis, and leaching and solubilization tests. The results show that the presence of activated charcoal residues from water treatment in one type of sludge was of little relevance for changes in the properties of the waste. Both sludges have a wide range of particle sizes, consisting mainly of silica, aluminum and iron oxides, as well as kaolinite, quartz, and iron minerals. Special attention must be paid to the solubilization of metallic contaminants to avoid contamination risks and order to make the application safer and more effective, it is necessary to study deeply ways to inert the WTP sludge. The sludges studied have a high potential for application in ceramic products, mortars, geopolymers and concrete paving stones. Depending on the type of building material, different contents of sludge in natural or calcined state can be incorporated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofinish is an innovative wood protection system inspired by biological processes. It enhances the hydrophobicity of wood through oil treatment, resulting in improved dimensional stability. Living cells of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans effectively protect wood from deterioration caused by other decaying fungi. The melanin pigment produced by the fungus provides an appealing dark surface and additionally protects the wood substrate against UV radiation. The significant advantage of Biofinish is its remarkable self-healing ability, which distinguishes it from conventional wood protection methods. This research aimed to explore fungal species colonising surfaces exposed to natural weathering and assess the survival of A. pullulans on wood surfaces coated with Biofinish during its in-service period. This study was performed on a facade composed of European larch wood (Larix decidua) treated with linseed oil and coated with Biofinish at the InnoRenew CoE building in Izola, Slovenia, following a 9-month exposure period. The majority of the detected species belonged to the genera Aureobasidium. The results indicated the survival and effective antagonistic action of A. pullulans, the living and active ingredient of the coating, against other wood-decaying fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building and construction industry faces mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices and materials due to its significant environmental impacts. Corncob (CC), a by-product of the corn industry, has shown great potential as a sustainable and versatile building material as contained in literature. Although no study has categorised the different repurposing applications of CC in building and construction. This systematic review investigates the potential of corncob, an abundant agricultural by-product, as a sustainable building material. Through analysis of 33 peer-reviewed studies from 2000 to 2023, it examined the diverse applications and evolving research trends of corncob in the building and construction industry. Key findings highlight corncob's global availability, low carbon footprint, and favourable properties for building applications. The review reveals nine distinct uses, including thermal/acoustic insulation, soil stabilization, fillers, cement replacement, aggregates, composite materials, particleboard production, and alkali-activated binders. Emerging research focuses on corncob ash as a supplementary cementitious material, with optimal cement replacement levels of 5–30 % by weight identified. Corncob-based materials demonstrate enhanced fire resistance, chemical durability, thermal insulation, and long-term strength development, though compressive strength remains a limitation for structural applications. The study concludes that corncob shows significant promise for advancing environmental sustainability in construction, particularly for non-structural and insulation applications. However, further research is needed to optimize material properties, standardize production methods, and evaluate full lifecycle impacts to enable widespread commercial adoption. This review provides a foundation for future investigations into innovative, low-carbon building materials derived from agricultural residues.

Buildings consume more than a third of the world's energy demand, and painstaking adjusting the insulation thickness of external walls is an effective way to save energy. Thermal insulation plays an important role by reducing the heat transfer rate to save energy, and it is important to determine the thickness of the appropriate insulation material in the walls. In this research, considering only the heating factor, four different building materials (Pumice, Hollow concrete block - HCB, Hollow red clay block - HRCB and Reinforced concrete - RC) and eight different insulation materials (Extruded polystyrene - XPS, Expanded polystyrene - EPS, Expanded polyurethane - PUR, Wood fiber - WF, Hemp fiber - HF, Linen fiber - LF, Fiber glass - FG and Sheep wool - SW) are investigated on the exterior of a building in Sivas province of Türkiye. To reach more accurate results, life cycle cost analysis is taken as a basis, and the optimal insulation thicknesses, payback periods and energy savings of 32 different wall + insulation combinations with solar radiation (SR) are estimated using heating degree-hours. The heating requirement of a building covers more than three quarters of the year in Sivas, depending on different facing walls. These rates are calculated as 85 % (without SR), 80 % (North), 78 % (West), 77 % (East) and 75 % (South). Results also showed that the total minimum heating cost, the total maximum energy saving cost and the shorthest payback period are obtained HRCB + FG + South with 14.19 €/m2, RC + FG + solar radiation free with 72.76 €/m2 and RC + LF + solar radiation free with 1.60 year.

Background: The high demand for building bricks underscores their essential role in the construction industry, which pushes researchers to continuously improve the characteristics of these products. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating oleic components (Margins) in fired bricks manufacturing of by substituting water with different percentages of margins. Methods: Fired bricks were produced at the laboratory using clays taking from the Tangier region in northern Morocco. During this process, water used in the bricks production was substituted with margins in increasing percentages ranging from 10 % up to 30 %. To validate the results obtained from the physicochemical analyses performed on the manufactured bricks, three types of vegetable samples from three different regions of Morocco were utilized. Result: The study results are very remarkable, demonstrating a significant enhancement in compressive strength. The strength increased from 15.16 MPa for conventional bricks to 33.77 MPa for bricks manufactured with a 30 % substitution. Furthermore, porosity decreased from 33 % to 19 %. Conclusion: By integrating oleic components into the manufacturing process, we were able to achieve three main objectives.1. We have improved the characteristics of the bricks, which tend towards the load-bearing wall standards.2. We reduced the water quantity used in the bricks manufacturing by 30 %.3. We minimized the processing cost of the waste resulting from olive oil production, as well as its harmful effects on the environment.

The applications and researches of the aerogel in the field of building materials and building energy conservation had been widely concerned due to its excellent thermal insulation properties. However, it has not been paid attention that the potential application values for excellent CO2 adsorption properties of aerogel in building materials. The CO2 adsorption properties of aerogel and the research progress on utilizing SiO2 aerogel in building materials had been reviewed. And the application prospect of the technologies that exploit the CO2 adsorption properties of aerogel and the carbonization technology to prepare SiO2 aerogel-based low-carbon building materials was discussed. It was shown that the type, morphology, and pore structure of aerogel significantly affect the resulting carbon adsorption performance. Amino modification was an effective method for improving the carbon adsorption capacity of aerogel. The performance of aerogel-incorporated cement-based composites could be optimized by improving the performance of binder materials, modifying the aerogel, or preparing new aggregates by loading aerogel into porous materials with higher strength. In addition, it was feasible to prepare new green low-carbon building materials by using aerogel as thermal insulating aggregate and carbon adsorption material, industrial solid wastes rich in alkali metal ions as cementitious materials, and carbonation curing technology. The purpose of this review was to promote the application of CO2 adsorption properties of aerogel in building materials, and enhance the development of low-carbon (or zero-carbon, or negative-carbon) building materials. This is of great significance for reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector and promoting the ''carbon neutrality'' of global.

The adoption of sustainable building policies and the society’s increasing emphasis on sustainability underscore the urgent need to evaluate the environmental and economic impact of construction materials. This study examines the effects of incorporating polyurethane foam waste into gypsum-based ceiling tiles. It compares its economic performance and eco-efficiency with conventional alternatives. Methodologically, Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) quantifies total life cycle costs, followed by Eco-Efficiency Assessment (EE), considering results from both Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and LCCA. Our findings reveal a compelling 5.91% cost advantage for the novel precast, driven by enhanced production capacity resulting from shorter drying times. The economic benefits of this approach are underscored by a detailed breakdown of cost savings in production phases. Furthermore, the EE remarks a substantial 7.5% boost, emphasizing the positive environmental impact achieved through reduced resource consumption and lower emissions combined with lower life-cycle costs. These results highlight the economic viability and eco-efficiency of polymeric waste-integrated gypsum ceiling tiles for environmental sustainability. The specific percentage improvements in cost and eco-efficiency provide a quantitative basis for understanding the advantages of adopting these innovative materials.

This study shows an alkaline activated cement (AAC), also known as geopolymer, made from red brick waste with partial addition of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). This is a sustainable material since incorporates waste from the brick industry to make cements, therefore increasing the materials circularity and this reducing pollution. The material was cured at room temperature. The brick residue was activated with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in aqueous solution to form the hybrid cement. Several mixtures were made with different amounts of waste and proportions of alkaline activator. The mechanical properties of the materials were studied to determine their feasibility to be used in the construction sector. Three contents of OPC were used: 10, 20, and 30 wt%, which were added to improve the mechanical behavior and post-curing time. The activated hybrid cement was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compression, and flexural tests. The main results show that the addition of OPC to the brick derived AAC produces an increased compressive strength of 106 MPa when 30 wt% OPC was added, a very significant result since the control sample found was 33 MPa in compression strength, an improvement for more than 3 times. The data were corroborated by statistical analysis.

The authors present the latest information obtained during the archaeological research of the central mausoleum of the Golden Horde memorial complex, located near the village Lapas of the Astrakhan region. Within the scientific circle, the complex of mausoleums is associated with the burial place of the Juchid khans and representatives of the Golden Horde elite. The article gives a detailed description of the building material and architectural decoration used in the construction of the mausoleum. The analysis of the obtained samples of bricks and tiles allows us to propose their classification and typology based on the use of various materials and manufacturing techniques. The connection with architectural traditions and construction techniques of medieval Khorezm is traced. Based on the preliminary analysis, the prospects for further study of the construction technologies used in the creation of this unique architectural complex are outlined.

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Environmental pollution caused by waste is constantly increasing. In this context, waste disposal efforts have gained importance. Among possible solutions, the disposal of waste by converting it into a new product stands out. In addition to preventing environmental pollution, it is also possible to obtain a new product by utilizing wastes, especially generated by agricultural production. A new insulation material (HSIB) has been developed from hazelnut shells used in different proportions. The aim of this study has been to produce insulation boards by using the shells released as waste after hazelnut production. For this purpose, 5 mm thick insulation boards were made by gluing very fine-grained (0-4 mm) hazelnut shells with epoxy and pressing. Two separate types of board were formed, composed of 80% and 90% of the hazelnut shells and 20% and 10% epoxy as binder, respectively. Thermal conductivity, sound transmission, water absorption, unit volume and compressive strength tests were carried out on both board types. The results showed that the unit volume weights of the boards were 1.543-1,592 g cm-3, thermal conductivity coefficients were 0.136-0.148 W(m.K)-1, and sound transmission velocities were 1196-1270 m s-1. Thermal conductivity and sound transmission values have a strong linear correlation with volume. Within the scope of the research, it can be said that the insulation board (HSIB) developed by using hazelnut shells, which are agricultural waste, can be used to improve thermal insulation in different parts of buildings, such as walls and ceilings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ferdowsi Civil Engineering is the property of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor in the development of new building materials. In terms of the sustainability of concrete components, the biggest challenge is the high energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions in the production of Portland cement. A common strategy used by the construction industry to improve sustainability is to use residuals to develop lower‐emission geopolymer concretes that eliminate high‐emission cement‐based concretes. Because construction and demolition waste, at 3 trillion tons per year worldwide, also represents an environmental risk, this work will investigate the suitability of geopolymers based on real construction waste. In the course of the investigations, the manufactured geopolymer samples are examined for the material parameters relevant to building materials, namely compressive strength, flexural strength, raw density, total porosity, and thermal conductivity. The setting behavior and the forming structures are investigated by infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The present study is intended to contribute to the development of a suitable recycling strategy for the material recycling of construction waste in novel geopolymer material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mollusk remains retrieved from eṭ-Ṭuweiri serve as evidence of food consumption, trade and the sources of construction material in Western Galilee in the Byzantine and Umayyad periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry increasingly poses significant threats on the environment, highlighting the importance of developing life cycle assessments (LCAs). Research on building LCA databases has been carried out in many countries. However, in China, the absence of public data for environmental impact assessments poses significant challenges for building life cycle assessments (LCA). Therefore, this study aims to facilitate the life cycle assessment of buildings in China by comparing and analyzing databases from South Korea and the European Union. The goal is to establish a unit-based environmental impact database for Chinese building materials. Three environmental impact factors of ten major building materials in these three databases were compared and a basis for the inter-application of the databases was established. Based on the combination of the analysis results, the supplementation of the environmental impact factor database of building materials in China was proposed. In addition, a case study using a quantity take-off (QTO) for an actual building in China was performed to review the plan's applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A concept of magnetic separation of regolith for production of lunar aggregate is presented in the paper. Future construction effort on the Moon will require significant amounts of concrete-like composites. The authors formulate a hypothesis that magnetic separation of regolith would be a very efficient beneficiation procedure solving multiple civil engineering problems associated with properties of raw lunar soil. For the research program, 10 lunar soil simulants were used. The magnetic separation was feasible in majority of cases. Acquired lunar aggregate would be useful for both concrete-like composite production and covering the surface of a habitat. The aims of future research are pointed out in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves into the imperative of sustainable building materials, spurred by the ecological fallout from traditionally mined construction methods that inflicted harm on our shared ecosystem. As the 21st century dawned, a heightened consciousness necessitated a paradigm shift toward innovative and sustainable construction approaches, particularly in the dynamic urban landscape of Bangalore, a tier I city. The crux lies in harnessing smart, renewable, and bio-based materials, endowed with the dual prowess of carbon reduction and absorption across their lifecycle. However, the journey towards ecofriendly construction encounters barriers, ranging from limited material understanding to standardization dilemmas, the entanglement of multiple decision-makers, fiscal demands, perceived risks, and the pervasive influence of societal dynamics. Within this maze, we examine the role of green consumption goals as an instrumental variable to overcome these obstacles. Employing a carefully constructed questionnaire, data originates from 289 respondents within the construction sector in Bangalore and judgement sampling technique is used. The data are analysed using chi-square, ANOVA, correlation analysis, multiple regression. The finds showed that 38% agreed that their building material purchase decisions were influenced by social groups, while only 15% believed their decisions were unaffected by social group influence. As per Duncan Multiple Range Tests (DMRT), age plays a role in shaping individuals' perspectives and preferences related to sustainable construction practices. In summation, this exploration vigorously advocates for the expeditious adoption of sustainable construction practices, spotlighting the salience of green consumerism as an indispensable agent of change. The narrative converges on the imperative for a recalibration towards intelligent, sustainable practices a trajectory indispensable for forging an environmentally fortified future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the production of geopolymers from brick flour and mixed rubble using an alkaline activator solution. The study aims to investigate whether these geopolymers can be reactivated several times without having to add new starting material, and how the number of reactivations affects the structure and material properties. The results show that geopolymers can be made from a mixture of brick flour and mixed rubble and can be ground up and reactivated up to three times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of the global construction industry has resulted in the generation of large amounts of ceramic solid waste, such as ceramic tile waste (CTW). The efficient waste recycling into high-value products is considered to contribute to the realization of sustainable development goals. The preparation of construction materials, such as foam ceramics, concrete, and ceramic tiles, using CTW has recently piqued significant interest. In this regard, this study presents an overview of the technologies for recycling CTW into construction materials. CTW is primarily composed of SiO2 and Al2O3, including two minerals, namely, quartz and mullite. Furthermore, CTW has not only been identified as potential substitutes for conventional concrete aggregates but also as substitutes for ceramic raw materials in the industrial production of ceramic tiles. Foam ceramics can be synthesized from polishing tile waste using silicon carbide contained in the polishing tile waste as a foaming agent. In this review, current achievements in CTW recycling are highlighted. The pending challenges and the points to be considered for further research are also discussed. It is hoped that this review serves as a preliminary step to promote the widespread adoption of CTW as feedstocks for construction materials by construction industries.

Wastewater treatment sludge has increase due to the increasing of population and economic potential. Sludge generally contains heavy metals that could lead to environmental effect as well as to human health. This study is focus on utilization of sludges into incorporated fired clay brick. The samples of sludge were gathered from IWK in Perwira and Senggarang. The heavy metal concentration in the wastewater treatment sludge was identified using X-Ray Fluorescence. Sludges were incorporated into bricks at various percentages: 0 %, 1 %, 5 %, 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %. The physical and mechanical characteristics of brick after being integrated with both types of sludges were identified. Furthermore, heavy metals leachability of sludge bricks was tested. The findings reveal that Barium (Ba) has the highest heavy metal concentration in the raw materials, and the chemical composition is Silicon Dioxide (SiO2). Bricks with 5 % sludge content exhibited optimal physical and mechanical attributes for both sludge types. However, sludge from Senggarang exhibited the better results compared to Perwira sludge. In terms of leachability, heavy metals were analysed in bricks from both sludge types. Bricks containing up to 20 % sludge from Senggarang exhibited the lowest heavy metal leachability. Nevertheless, value of heavy metals from both sludges is complied with USEPA standard. In conclusion, 5 % of both sludges is the best percentage to be utilized into fired clay brick by considering it properties and leachability. This study also demonstrated that adopting cleaner production techniques for building bricks can make a substantial contribution towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Indonesian government is making a tremendous effort in the provision of affordable public apartments (Rusunawa) across the country. Rusunawa buildings were designed and built considering urban planning, environmental impact, architecture, strength, safety, health, comfort, and accessibility requirements. However, in terms of climate change mitigation, there is little analysis of the building type’s embodied energy and carbon emissions. In this study, we investigated the Rusunawa buildings built by the central government, local government, and state-owned housing company considering the typical layout of the existing Rusunawa to identify the building’s embodied energy and carbon emissions using the cradle to end of use boundary. Rusunawa documents were collected and selected based on the required bill of quantity and drawings to quantify the building materials. The impacts of typical building materials on the embodied energy and carbon emissions of the roof, exterior wall, and partition wall were identified. The results showed that the building’s structural systems influenced the resultant embodied energy and carbon footprints the most, followed by walls, roof, painting, ceiling, doors and windows, and flooring. Among these structural systems, the precast concrete had a lower impact than the conventional reinforced concrete on these footprints. Overall, the Rusunawa buildings had an average embodied energy of 3950 to 8766 MJ/m2 and an average embodied carbon emissions of 328 to 871 kgCO2/m2. In particular, Rusunawa clusters, 1BR2 and 2BR1 had the smallest embodied energy and carbon emissions for the one- and two-bedroom apartment types. A high-rise Rusunawa had the smallest embodied energy and carbon emissions per floor area compared to those of low- and mid-rise. Several embodied energy and carbon values were proposed to be the baselines for the future lower-carbon Rusunawa design. These results could be adopted and developed for the central government’s regulations and guidelines to determine the current energy intensity and carbon emission of the existing Rusunawa and also to verify the future Rusunawa design.

This is an essay in the field of mining engineering. Copper tailings are mainly concentrated in east China, southwest China and central South China, which are stored in dry dumps or wet discharge in tailings pond. The lack of multi-gradient and multi-direction utilization mode, brings great threat to the environment and safety around the mining area. It is an important measure to ensure the safety of resources and environment in mining area to strengthen the technical research on the utilization of domestic copper mine tailings and realize its large-scale consumption. This paper introduces the general situation and distribution of copper mine tailings resources, summarizes the utilization status of copper mine tailings in valuable element recovery, building materials, filling, reclamation and other aspects, and discusses the existing problems in the utilization of copper mine tailings resources and gives a prospect of reasonable development and utilization, providing a reference for further research and application of copper mine tailings resources.

The use of waste to capture CO2 has been on the rise, to reduce costs and to improve the environmental footprint. Here, a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum waste is proposed, which allows us to obtain a CaCO3-based solid, which should be recycled. The CO2 capture stage has primarily been carried out via the direct carbonation method or at high temperature. However, a high energy penalty and/or long reaction times make it unattractive from an industrial perspective. To avoid this, herein an indirect method is proposed, based on first capturing the CO2 with NaOH and later using an aqueous carbonation stage. This allows us to capture CO2 at a near-ambient temperature, improving reaction times and avoiding the energy penalty. The parameters studied were Ca2+/CO32− ratio, L/S ratio and temperature. Each of them has been optimized, with 1.25, 100 mL/g and 25 °C being the optimal values, respectively, reaching an efficiency of 72.52%. Furthermore, the utilization of the produced CaCO3 as a building material has been analyzed. The density, superficial hardness and the compressive strength of a material composed of 10 wt% of CaCO3 and 90 wt% of commercial gypsum, with a water/solid ratio of 0.5, is measured. When the waste is added, the density and the mechanical properties decreased, although the compressive strength and superficial hardness are higher than the requirements for gypsum panels. Thus, this work is promising for the carbonation of FGD-gypsum, which involves its chemical transformation into calcium carbonate through reacting it with the CO2 of flue gasses and recycling the generated wastes in construction materials.

Purpose. This study aims to explore the plants’ potential to adjust to humid climates and understand their acclimation processes to inspire building designs and develop moisture-resistant building materials. It’s based on the top-down biomimetic approach and proposes a method for applying biological processes to architectural concepts, referring to the anatomical diagnoses of moisture-resistant plants. Results. The study revealed that mimicking the hierarchical structuring observed in leaf venation patterns significantly improved the mechanical strength and flexibility of the biomimetic materials. The results indicated that plants had evolved several morphological and physiological adaptations and validated the importance of considering both the cuticle and stomata as essential adaptive factors in developing a biomimetic process. Plant adaptation mechanisms led to a focus on porosity, external textures, hydrophobic additives, and multilayer structures of building materials to produce compositions suitable for humid climates inspired by these principles. Scientific novelty. This research contributes to our understanding of how plants adapt to high humidity levels and underlines the importance of adopting the principles developed by biological systems to survive and cope with changing conditions. Practical value. This study opens insights for more resilient bio-inspired architecture that responds adaptively to humid climatic environments and highlights the significance of creating suitable building materials for different climates and those adapted for climate change.