Incorporation of sugarcane bagasse ash waste as an alternative raw material for red ceramic (Incorporação de resíduo de cinzas de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar como uma matéria-prima alternativa para cerâmica vermelha)

The sugarcane industry generates huge amounts of sugarcane bagasse ashes (SCBA). This work investigates the incorporation of a SCBA waste as an alternative raw material into a clay body, replacing natural clay material by up to 20 wt.%. Clay ceramic pieces were produced by uniaxial pressing and fired at temperatures varying from 700 to 1100 oC. The technological properties of the clay ceramic pieces (linear shrinkage, apparent density, water absorption, and tensile strength) as function of the firing temperature and waste addition are investigated. The phase evolution during firing was followed by X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the SCBA waste could be incorporated into red ceramics (bricks and roofing tiles) in partial replacement for natural clay material. These results confirm the feasibility of valorisation of SCBA waste to produce red ceramic. This use of SCBA can also contribute greatly to reducing the environmental problems of the sugarcane industry, and also save the sources of natural raw materials used in the ceramic industry.