Ecological bricks produced with metallurgy and foundry waste: feasibility analysis and comparison with conventional models

• Grant number: 25/10425-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Flavio Pecorari Junior
• Grantee: Flavio Pecorari Junior
• Principal investigators: Douglas Tavares Duda
• Associated researchers: Taís Helena Martins Lacerda

Abstract

Given the growing volume of industrial waste received in its operations, ESSENCIAL Central de Tratamento de Resíduos (Ltda.), Essencial CTR, has shown interest in expanding its initiatives aimed at waste recovery, seeking technological alternatives that enable its reinsertion into production chains. The company stands out for its Waste Treatment Center (CTR), located in the municipality of Rio das Pedras, São Paulo, where it operates a sanitary landfill recognized as the main technology for the final disposal of Urban Solid Waste (MSW), even in countries with access to advanced treatment solutions.The project submitted to Phase 1 aims to analyze the potential for recovery of waste from metallurgy and foundry in the production of ecological bricks, verifying the viability of its application as a sustainable alternative to conventional bricks, through technical and performance evaluation. This type of use is aligned with sustainable practices and principles of the circular economy, and is an alternative to reduce the environmental impact of civil construction and minimize the improper disposal of these materials.The activities to be developed involve the characterization of the waste previously selected by the company, considering the preliminary environmental assessment, considering potential risks of leaching and emission of contaminants; the analysis of the technical feasibility of using this waste as a partial or total input in the composition of ecological soil-cement bricks; the formulation of different experimental compositions with the addition of waste, followed by molding and curing processes; the performance of laboratory tests, including compressive strength, water absorption, and dimensional stability; and the comparison of the results obtained with ABNT normative standards and with conventional bricks available on the market.In this phase, the aim is to prove the feasibility of using this waste in the production of ecological bricks, identifying compositions with satisfactory and environmentally safe performance. The project should provide data to support a new stage that will include the scaling of pilot production and the assessment of economic and commercial viability. The initiative reinforces ESSENCIAL CTR's commitment to sustainable innovation and the expansion of circular solutions for the waste received in its operations. (AU)