Research of ecological safety of autoclaved ash-foam concrete produced with ash from sewage sludge incineration

The article presents the research of ecological safety of autoclaved ash-foam concrete using ash from sewage sludge incineration in the constructed and operated production building. It is shown that after more than eighteen years of operation, the building made of autoclaved ash-foam concrete obtained using ash from sewage sludge incineration plant turned out to be environmentally safe for humans. Purpose: ash from sewage sludge incineration has high average specific radioactivity (radium and thorium), which strongly limits its further use. Earlier it was found that the use of ash from sewage sludge incineration as a raw material in autoclaved ash-foam concrete in different proportions affects the content of natural radionuclides in the finished product. The paper considers the environmental safety of autoclaved ash-foam concrete after prolonged operation. Methods: the research was carried out at the operating facility using a verified dosimeter-radiometer ATOMEX MKC-AT6130. Results: it was found that in all samples of autoclaved ash-foam concrete produced with ash from sewage sludge incineration the generated radiation background was below the norm, on the border of threshold values. Practical significance: the results of the work are important for construction, as they expand the ideas about the peculiarities of autoclaved ash-foam concrete and the possibility of safe use of ash from sewage sludge incineration in construction.