Utilization of Electric Arc Furnace Dust in Brick Making

Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is a hazardous industrial waste, generated during steel manufacturing process. EAFD generated by Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) contain high percentages of metals such as zinc, lead, iron, chromium, cadmium, copper, nickel etc. and thus making it is unsuitable for land filling and harmful effects on surroundings. The present work is done to determine the feasibility of using EAFD for making bricks. EAFD was procured from the local EAF and mixed with clay in different percentages (by weight) i.e. 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% to prepare the bricks. The evaluation of prepared bricks was performed using standard brick tests like compressive strength, water absorption test, density etc. An increment in the compressive strength of bricks was observed up to 10% EAFD addition. Beyond this percentage significant decrement in strength was observed. The water absorption of bricks increased with the increasing EAFD concentration whereas plasticity index decreased with increasing dust concentration. Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test was conducted to check the heavy metals leaching from brick specimens and indicated a low level of metal leaching in bricks. The overall observations indicated that the production of clay bricks up to 25% EAFD addition is feasible without significant variation in their properties.