Fabrication of brick from tannery leather buffing fly ash: Waste-to-wealth approach

Micro-fined leather buffing dust is an airborne pollutant. In this study, clay was mixed with leather buffing dust fly ash (LBDFA) in various proportions (0 %, 4 %, 8 %, 12 %, 16 %, and 20 %), fabricated brick, dried, and burned in the brickfield at 1000 °C. Results suggested that 12 % LBDFA incorporated brick exhibited weight loss on ignition (5.65 %), area shrinkage (3.96 %), water absorption (15.63 %), compressive strength (16.74 N/mm 2 ), and efflorescence (nil). SEM micrographs depicted composite's micro-fibrous structure creating lightweight brick. The NEN 7345 leaching showed leached metals within standard range. LBDFA in brick production is an alternative option for managing solid waste in tannery.