ABSTRACT
The feasibility of incorporating MSWI fly ash into sintered clay bricks was studied. Before being used in bricks, the ash was pre-treated by a combination of water washing and electrodialytic remediation to remove soluble salts and extract heavy metals. MSWI fly ash-clay bricks with 5%, 10% and 20% ash levels were handmade and fired at 1000°C for 6 h. The fired ash-clay bricks had higher porosity and lower compressive strength compared to the 100% clay brick, even though the washing-electrodialytic treatment improved the compressive strength and reduced the water absorption of the fired ash-clay bricks. This study indicates that fired ash-clay bricks with 5% treated ash may be feasible as construction materials, and the heavy metal leaching from these bricks in granular form (e.g. at the end of their service life) was low, indicating these demolished bricks could be reused again in construction work.
