Evaluation of the application of macrophyte biomass Salvinia auriculata Aublet in red ceramics

Abstract

In this work, the study of the biomass application of a microphyte plant Slavinia auriculata Aublet in red ceramic was carried out. The waste comes from the phytoremediation process, used in sewage treatment plants. Characterization tests were carried out by chemical, mineralogical, dilatometry, thermal and mass spectrometry techniques, where it was possible to prove that biomass is compatible in its composition for application in ceramic materials and also has great potential to act as a source of energy. The production of specimens was carried out using an industrial clay mass and incorporating 0-10% of biomass in samples produced by pressing and burned at temperatures between 750 and 1050 °C. Properties of plasticity, firing shrinkage, apparent drying and firing density, water absorption, compressive strength and tensile strength in flexion were evaluated, where the feasibility of using up to 2.5% biomass in ceramics firing in 1050 °C s was proven. Although the results of water absorption at the firing temperature of 1050 °C have increased from 18.3% to 19.4% with the use of 2.5% of the residue, the results of tensile strength in flexion have reduced from 4.80 to 3.75 MPa and the results of compressive strength have reduced from 27.6 to 22 MPa, the values obtained meet international recommendations and are in accordance with the recommendations of the bibliography. Finally, an economic analysis of the application of biomass in ceramic materials was carried out, where it was observed that it was possible to save up to 5.04% with the use of the biomass under study, providing an annual savings of $ 2668.8 for the ceramic industry.

Keywords: Biomass; Bricks; Calorific value; Ceramics; Energy saving.