Sustainable Lightweight Concrete Designed with Modified Solidified Wastewater Sludge as Partial Replacement of Cement

The requirement for high-quality drinking water and the treatment of wastewater prior to discharge into the environment results in the generation of sludge. As with any high-volume materials, beneficial reuse applications are being sought to promote sustainable environmental solutions. This research examined the possibilities of producing sustainable lightweight concrete using modified solidified wastewater sludge as a partial replacement of cement. Wastewater sludge was modified by the addition of aluminum oxide and magnesium silicate hydrate. The properties of the modified wastewater sludge were examined, as well as the influence of the partial cement replacement with the sludge in lightweight concrete. Besides testing the physical and mechanical properties of four mortar mixtures, an additional analysis of the willingness of final users to accept novel material containing wastewater sludge was addressed. The results obtained for the mortar samples indicate that 20% cement replacement is the upper limit for the modified sludge’s application. The lightweight concrete prepared with the modified sludge (in the amount of 20%) was tested in a hardened state. The water permeability was reduced by 33.3% with the addition of the modified sludge. Both tested concrete mixtures showed good frost resistance. The maximal measured reduction in the compressive strengths was 7.6%. Citizens’ perceptions and responses regarding the beneficial reuse of materials emphasize the importance of comprehensive education for their future acceptance.