Sustainable bioengineering approach to industrial waste management: LD slag as a cementitious material

Abstract This study explores a sustainable bioengineering approach to industrial waste management by investigating the potential of Linz-Donawitz (LD) slag as a cementitious material in construction applications. LD slag, a durable and compact by-product of steel manufacturing, exhibits properties suitable for partial replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in construction. In this study, OPC 53-grade was partially substituted with finely treated LD slag in proportions ranging from 10 to 100%, and the compressive strength of the resulting mortar cubes was evaluated over 3, 7, and 28 days. The findings reveal that a 30% replacement of cement with LD slag yields the highest compressive strength of 48.15 MPa at 28 days, demonstrating its viability as a supplementary cementitious material. However, higher replacement levels result in a progressive decline in strength, highlighting limitations in its usage. This research underscores the potential of treated LD slag as an effective and eco-friendly alternative for sustainable industrial waste valorization, contributing to the circular economy and reduced environmental impact in the construction sector.