Rubber and plastic wastes as alternative refused fuel in cement industry

Abstract This paper aims to study the possibility of using Rubber waste (RW) and plastic waste (PW) as sources of refused derived fuel in cement plant. The study is divided into two parts. First part is to study the efficiency of RW and PW as fuel sources as well as the characteristics of their ashes. Whereas in second part the effects of RW and PW ashes residue on the properties and hydration characteristics of Portland cement clinker were studied. According to the laboratory analysis, the major constituents of the both wastes are hydrocarbons. The rubber waste (RW) offers higher CHN, sulfur and chloride contents rather than plastic waste (PW) which predicts the highest carbon and sulfur oxide emission by using this waste as source for refused derived fuel (RDF). Plastic waste shows ash content lower than 2 mass% with high caloric values (9230 cal./g). While rubber waste shows ash contents, 21.2 mass% with caloric values (8600 cal/g). Contamination of OPC clinker by 5 and 10 mass % of theses solid ash residues leads to a reduction in setting times, an improvement in the compressive strength and acceleration in the hydration reactions. This is attributed to the pozzolanic properties of RDF ash.