The purpose of this study is to manufacture lightweight aggregates for recycling water treatment sludge, to identify the physical properties of the aggregates, and present a method of utilizing the manufactured lightweight aggregates. The chemical composition and thermal properties were examined via a raw materials analysis. The aggregate examined here was fired by the rapid sintering method and the single-particle density and water absorption rate were measured. Water treatment sludge has high ignition loss and high fire resistance. When 30wt% of purified sludge was added, the single-particle density of the aggregates was in the range of 0.8~1.2g/㎤ at a temperature of ,150~1,200℃. At temperatures of 1200℃ or higher, ultra-light aggregates having a single-particle density of 0.8 or less could be produced. When applied to concrete by replacing the general aggregate in the concrete, a specimen having strength values of 200 to 450 kgf/㎠ on 28 days was obtained, and when applied as a filter material, the performance was equal to or higher than that of ordinary sand.

Water treatment sludge , Lightweight aggregate , Waste recycling , Construction materials , Nonpoint pollution