Compress mud into bricks

Weng Huanxin, a professor at Zhejiang University, China has successfully developed a new method of turning mud into non-toxic materials to make bricks and cement cheap.

Mud is becoming a threat to more than 700 Chinese cities. Beijing alone produces more than 1,000 tons per day, Shanghai 700 tons and Shenzhen 300 tons. Estimates of Chinese sludge will increase by an average of 10 to 15% per year.

(Photo: helloari, VNE) Most of the mud is piled up in waste dumps, occupying large areas and can cause pollution. According to Weng's new technology, the sludge will be dried at low temperature, in which case the toxic components are permanently fixed and do not evaporate. The sludge is then compressed into solid seeds of pea size.

These particles, when mixed with clay, can be fired into light bricks. Since each grain of mud contains about 1,500 kcal of heat, they themselves will contribute to maintaining the fire and helping to save brick burning fuel.

Meanwhile, small holes inside each grain of mud after burning will help reduce the weight of the brick and increase compressive resistance.

Weng said a new technology production line to process 100 tons of mud per day would save about US $ 125,000 in burial costs.

T. An