A Novel Approach for the Reuse of Waste from the Extractive and Processing Industry of Natural Stone Binders: Development of Stone Composites

Paula Afonso (), Vera Pires, Paula Faria, Antônio Azzalini, Luis Lopes, Paulo Mourão and Ruben Martins
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Paula Afonso: Department of Geosciences, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Vera Pires: Department of Geosciences, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Paula Faria: Department of Geosciences, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Antônio Azzalini: Department of Geosciences, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Luis Lopes: Department of Geosciences, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Paulo Mourão: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, CHANGE & Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Ruben Martins: Department of Geosciences, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: This paper discusses the historical use of natural stone for various purposes and highlights the substantial waste generated by quarries and stone processing plants in modern industrialized production. These waste materials are typically categorized into unused rock and sludges from processing. This accumulation of waste presents a global environmental challenge and a financial burden for the stone industry. In-depth investigation into the development of a binder incorporating carbonated sludge from marble and limestone industries, combined with polyester resin, for building stone composites was performed. This research involved chemical and microstructural characterization of the sludges, preparation of mixtures with polyester resin, stone composites manufacturing, and subsequent testing to determine and validate the optimal binder composition. Given the achieved results, and the demonstrated feasibility of using a binder composed of polyester resin and carbonated sludge for stone composite production, it was concluded that employing carbonated sludge as an economic resource is indeed viable.

Keywords: carbonated sludge; polyester resin; binders for stone composites; industrial waste from natural stone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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