Characterization and stabilization of carbonized fecal sludge in brick production

• Pathogenic bacteria free CFS meet for handling to use in brick production. • 16 % CFS-incorporated burned bricks fulfill the ASTM and BDS standards. • SEM depict a smooth and compact microstructures of CFS-incorporated burned brick. • XRD represents a sharp crystalline phase mostly quartz in CFS-incorporated bricks. • NEN 7345 and USEPA 1311 tests results show metal leaching below standards citation. Fecal sludge poses significant risks to human health and the environment. The generation of fecal sludge is increasing due to population growth, contaminating soil and water bodies, and leading to health issues. In this research, the carbonized fecal sludge (CFS) is incorporated into clay at various ratios 0 %, 2 %, 4 %, 6 %, 8 %, 10 %, 12 %, 14 %, 16 %, 18 %, and 20 % to fabricate bricks and ignited at 1000 °C in an auto-brickfield. The evaluated engineering properties of 16 % of CFS-incorporated bricks yielded optimal outcomes of compressive strength (16.54 MPa), water absorption (16.03 %), area shrinkage (3.32 %), weight reduction (11.66 %), bulk density (1.89 g/cm 3 ), and apparent porosity (36.47 %) with no efflorescence. No pathogenic bacteria were detected in CFS, indicating safe handling during brick production. The particle size (particle size distribution) and metal oxides (XRF) illustrated the bond formation in the CFS-clay matrix. The SEM, EDS, and XRD analyses show the microstructure, elemental composition, and phases of CFS-incorporated bricks, respectively. The NEN 7345 and USEPA 1311 tests showed metal leaching behavior far below the standard level. Thus, the utilization of CFS in construction material can open a new pathway toward waste management, minimizing hazardous pollution release to the environment.