Characteristics of the marble processing powder waste at Shaq El-Thoaban industrial area, Egypt, and its suitability for cement manufacture

Shaq El-Thoaban industrial cluster, East Cairo [the largest marble and granite industrial agglomeration in Egypt as well as the fourth world ranked marble and granite industrial zone] poses the most imminent hazard to the surrounding environment and the neighboring residential communities due to the huge amounts of waste resulted during the processing of the marble and granite. The objective of the current study was to link Shaq El-Thoaban industrial area-as a marble (carbonate) waste source - to the cement industries in its neighborhood. Three cement factories are located within 2-10 km far from Shaq El-Thoaban area, an advantage economically companies are appealing. Consequently, the current study investigated the characteristics of the marble powder waste generated during the processing at Shaq El-Thoaban area and its feasibility as an addition to the OPC produced at the near cement companies. Determining the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the marble waste on the cement properties proved that 5 wt.% could be, safely, added to the cement without adverse effects on the cement properties. Addition of such modest to the cement (or replacing part of the used gypsum in the cement manufacture) could be a real energy and financial saving concept, besides, saving part of the natural resources and alleviating the environmental impact imposed by the marble processing waste.