Technical innovation of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete preparation from Desulfurization Wastewater and Sludge and its Life Cycle Assessment

ABSTRACT

The article presents an innovative technique for the production of autoclaved-aerated concrete using desulfurization wastewater. The experiments were conducted to explore the optimal formula that meets the requirements of high compressive strength(≥5MPa) and low oven-dry density (≤600 kg m⁻³). Combined with specific production cases, the environmental assessment within the scope of the total life cycle assessment and circular economy assessment were carried out. Using compressive strength and maximum dry density as indicators, the optimal formulation was found to be 73%:16%:11%:30%:45% for fly ash: cement: lime: desulfurization wastewater: recycled water (process water). And the optimum ratio was 72%: 14%: 12%: 45%: 30% for fly ash: cement: lime: nanofiltration water: recycled water. The life cycle assessment contains a total life-cycle inventory and willing to pay was 61.1CNY. In addition, the GWP = 144.83 kg per cubic meter of autoclaved aerated concrete, the carbon emission reduction efficiency is 72.4%, the water saving is 0.195CNY for one ton of water, and the water saving rate is 40%. The technology is also a low-cost solution for clean production and circular economy model, promoting green and low-carbon development and meeting the requirements of “waste-free cities” popular worldwide.

KEYWORDS:

• Desulfurization wastewater
• autoclaved aerated concrete
• life cycle assessment
• circular economy
• waste-free power plants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Availability of dataTemplate for data availability statementPolicyData available within the article or its supplementary materials. The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article or its supplementary materials. Basic, Share upon RequestData available on request due to privacy/ethical restrictionsThe data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [S. Ma]. The data are not publicly available due to [restrictions e.g. their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants]. Basic, Share upon RequestData subject to third party restrictionsThe data that support the findings of this study are available [from] [third party]. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study. Data are available [from the authors] with the permission of [third party]. Basic, Share upon Request.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2276900

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shuangchen Ma

Shuangchen Ma is a professor of environmental engineering at North China Electric Power University. Mr. Ma majors in coal-fired pollution control, such as desulfurization and denitrification, carbon reduction, desulfurization wastewater treatment, and high-temperature and high-pressure water chemistry. He has published 3 Chinese monographs and more than 150 SCI and EI papers. He has been responsible for 2 National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2 sub-projects of the National Key Research and Development Program, 1 key special project in Hebei Province, and several crosswise projects. And he has received 5 provincial and ministerial awards and over 20 authorized patents.

Yaohui Kong

Yaohui Kong is a graduate student in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at North China Electric Power Universit. Her advisor is Professor Shuangchen Ma, and her primary research areas include solidification and utilization of iron tailings slag, research on the preparation of aerated concrete, and resource utilization of desulfurization wastewater.

Lei Li

Lei Li is one of the employees of Beijing Jingneng Power Co, Ltd. Shijingshan Thermal Power Ptant. He graduated from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of North China Electric Power University. Now He works in the equipment management department as the chief engineer of gray sulphur, and his main focus is on environmental protection in power plants.

Rui Lu

Rui Lu is a graduate student in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at North China Electric Power University. His advisor is Professor Shuangchen Ma, and his research interests are the utilization of nanofiltration brine in zero-discharge systems and the resource utilization of desulfurized sludge.

Zhensheng Liu

Zhensheng Liu is one of the employees of Beijing Jingneng Power Co, Ltd. Shijingshan Thermal Power Ptant. He works in the equipment management department as the chief environmental engineer, and his main focus is on environmental protection in power plants.

Zhonglin Xia

Zhonglin Xia is a graduate student in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at North China Electric Power University. His advisor is Professor Shuangchen Ma, and his primary research areas include atmospheric pollution and control, sulfur hexafluoride degradation, and solid waste recycling.

Jingxiang Ma

Shuangchen Ma is a professor of environmental engineering at North China Electric Power University. Mr. Ma majors in coal-fired pollution control, such as desulfurization and denitrification, carbon reduction, desulfurization wastewater treatment, and high-temperature and high-pressure water chemistry. He has published 3 Chinese monographs and more than 150 SCI and EI papers. He has been responsible for 2 National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2 sub-projects of the National Key Research and Development Program, 1 key special project in Hebei Province, and several crosswise projects. And he has received 5 provincial and ministerial awards and over 20 authorized patents.