Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 University of Zanjan
2 University of Zanjan, University Blvd., Zanjan, I. R. Iran, Tel: +98 (24) 33051, Postal Code: 45371-38791
Abstract
Environmental issues related to mine wastes have highlighted the importance of waste recycling. A study was conducted on sand mines in Kurdistan province, Iran, focusing on the construction of artificial stones from effluent to minimize environmental impact. The research included environmental, physical-mechanical, and economic analyses, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for environmental assessments. Tests on density, water absorption, and strength showed that stones containing effluents were superior to other products. Increasing effluent percentages did not significantly affect density but improved water absorption and strength. Artificial stones containing 40% effluent demonstrated the greatest resistance and the least water absorption. This formulation achieves compressive strengths of 36.07 MPa, flexural strengths of 15.09 MPa, and tensile strengths of 1.89 MPa. Furthermore, it possesses a dry density of 2.33 gr/cm³, and a water absorption rate of 3.82%. Additionally, stones with effluent demonstrated better resistance to corrosion acid. The research methodology employed in the environmental analysis involved the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Findings from environmental studies indicated that the volume of waste emerged as the most significant criterion with 27.3% weight when evaluating the selection of construction products that are environmentally compatible. Furthermore, research in environmental studies indicates that artificial stone is at least 10% more preferred than natural stone, 48% more preferred than tile, and 63% more preferred than brick. The analysis within the economic section demonstrated that the production of artificial stone incorporating waste, which achieved an internal rate of return of 138%, was more cost-effective than comparable products.
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