Utilization of water treatment plant sludge in structural ceramics bricks

•Test the clays used in the manufacture of a ceramic that could incorporate alumina sludge.•Preparation blocks sludge bricks by incorporating different proportions water treatment sludges.•Specimens of these mixtures fired at 800, 900, and 1000°C In order to determine the technological properties.

The main aim of this study is to assess the effect of incorporating water treatment sludges (WTS) of plant Bouregreg on the properties and microstructure of clay used for raw material.This work proposes to test the clays used in the manufacture of a ceramic that could incorporate alumina sludge. The raw materials, alumina sludge and clay, were mixed together in different proportions, were prepared by incorporating from 5 to 30%. Specimens of these mixtures were then fired at 800, 900, and 1000 °C. In order to determine the technological properties, such as bulk density, linear shrinkage, water absorption, compressive strength, X-Diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results obtained showed that the samples tested are dense and have high mechanical resistance, without deformation or defects.These clay materials may be used for the production of terracotta products and also for the formulation of low porosity raw material.