Clay-fired brick production has become a primary environmental concern in Bangladesh. Brick kilns are a vital contributor to the degrading air quality of the country as they emit toxic fumes into the air. Even though there are concerns regarding the well-being of the environment, clay-fired bricks remain the number one building material. Due to the brick's widespread production, efflorescence has become a significant issue. Efflorescence is mainly the buildup of white salt-like particles on brick and other construction materials, and its buildup is a crucial indicator of water intrusion in the bricks. The understanding of efflorescence still needs to be improved amongst owners and engineers of the country. This research intends to identify the leading cause of efflorescence and find a sustainable solution to the problem. To achieve the objectives of this research, five brick samples were collected from 3 physiographic regions in Bangladesh. The names of the brick companies are MMB, PKB, DONE, MOON, and KBM. Each of the bricks was tested for efflorescence and ranked based on the severity of the efflorescence: 1) MMB 90%, 2) MOON and DONE 50%, and 3) PKB 50%. Bricks from MMB were selected for further experiments and testing as they showed the highest level of efflorescence. The soil and brick samples underwent multiple lab experiments, such as leeching and ion extraction, and were tested for cations and mineralogical assemblages using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results indicate that calcium was the dominant component and most likely played a significant role in the deposition of salt particles on the brick surface. The findings of this research can be used to reduce brick production with calcium-rich soil to reduce the efflorescence problem in Bangladesh.
Previous Article in event
Previous Article in session
Next Article in event
Next Article in session
ACTION RESEARCH ON MITIGATION OF SALT DEPOSIT ON CLAY FIRED BRICKS OF BANGLADESH FOR ELUCIDATING A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
Published:
16 May 2024
by MDPI
in OHOW 2023 – The 2nd International Symposium on One Health, One World
session Infrastructure Management and sustainable built environment
Abstract:
Keywords: Efflorescence; Physiography; Brick.
Comments on this paper
![Top](/images/top.png?version=d2a1072bcb778c072486fad356669189)