Use of co-combustion bottom ash to design an acoustic absorbing material for highway noise barriers

Celia Arenas; Carlos Leiva; Luis F Vilches; Héctor Cifuentes

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2013.07.008

Use of co-combustion bottom ash to design an acoustic absorbing material for highway noise barriers

Waste Manag. 2013 Nov;33(11):2316-21. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.07.008. Epub 2013 Aug 2.

Authors

Celia Arenas¹, Carlos Leiva, Luis F Vilches, Héctor Cifuentes

Affiliation

¹ University of Seville, School of Industrial Engineering, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, E-41092 Seville, Spain.

PMID: 23916843
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.07.008

Abstract

The present study aims to determine and evaluate the applicability of a new product consisting of coal bottom ash mixed with Portland cement in the application of highway noise barriers. In order to effectively recycle the bottom ash, the influence of the grain particle size of bottom ash, the thickness of the panel and the combination of different layers with various particle sizes have been studied, as well as some environmental properties including leachability (EN-12457-4, NEN-7345) and radioactivity tests. Based on the obtained results, the acoustic properties of the final composite material were similar or even better than those found in porous concrete used for the same application. According to this study, the material produced presented no environmental risk.

Keywords: Bottom ash; Leachability; Particle size; Radioactivity; Sound absorption coefficient.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Coal Ash / chemistry*
Construction Materials / analysis*
Noise / prevention & control*
Particle Size
Recycling

Substances

Coal Ash