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Life Cycle Assessment for Geopolymer Concrete Bricks Using Brown Coal Fly Ash

Author

Listed:
  • Jingxuan Zhang

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Sarah Fernando

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
    Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka)

  • David W. Law

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Chamila Gunasekara

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Sujeeva Setunge

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Malindu Sandanayake

    (College of Sports, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia)

  • Guomin Zhang

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

Abstract

Traditionally, the construction industry has predominantly used Portland cement (PC) to manufacture bricks, as it is one of the most-commonly available building materials. However, the employment of waste industrial material for brick production can lead to a significant improvement in terms of sustainability within the construction sector. Geopolymer bricks made from brown coal fly ash, a promising industrial waste by-product, serve as a potential alternative. Conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA), this study thoroughly evaluated the entire manufacturing process’s environmental impact, from source material acquisition and transportation to brick manufacturing, distribution, usage, and end-of-life, for brown coal bricks as compared to PC bricks. The LCA of the brown coal bricks revealed that their primary environmental impacts stemmed from the raw material manufacturing and usage, while exhibiting substantial reductions in ozone depletion, water depletion, and metal depletion. These findings highlighted the environmental advantages of the brown coal bricks and their potential to revolutionize sustainable construction practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingxuan Zhang & Sarah Fernando & David W. Law & Chamila Gunasekara & Sujeeva Setunge & Malindu Sandanayake & Guomin Zhang, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment for Geopolymer Concrete Bricks Using Brown Coal Fly Ash," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:9:p:7718-:d:1142067
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. José Adolfo Lozano-Miralles & Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez & Alfonso Gago-Calderón & Paulo Brito, 2019. "LCA Case Study to LED Outdoor Luminaries as a Circular Economy Solution to Local Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Fabio De Felice & Antonella Petrillo & Orrin Cooper, 2013. "An integrated conceptual model to promote green policies," International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(4), pages 333-355.
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    Cited by:

    1. Samar Amari & Mariam Darestani & Graeme J. Millar & Bijan Samali & Ekaterina Strounina, 2024. "Engineering and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Sustainable Zeolite-Based Geopolymer Incorporating Blast Furnace Slag," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Srikanth Venkatesan & Jingxuan Zhang & David Law & Rebecca Gravina & Satheeskumar Navaratnam, 2024. "Application of Recycled Cardboard to Construction Based on Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Tseng-Hsian Lin & Hung-Jung Siao & Sue-Huai Gau & Jen-Hwa Kuo & Ming-Guo Li & Chang-Jung Sun, 2023. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash Recycling as a Feedstock for Brick Manufacturing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.

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