Santoro, Enza (2025) Products and technological solutions for construction from cellulose-based waste: performance evaluation and environmental assessment. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

The construction sector is a significant contributor to natural resource depletion, raising concerns about the long-term availability of essential materials for building components. In response to this challenge, this thesis applies circular economy principles to develop strategies that aim to reduce the use of virgin resources by incorporating waste during the selection of building materials. The study explores the use of paper and paper mill sludge as partial substitutes for natural aggregates and binders in cementitious mixtures intended for blocks and mortars for interior partition walls. Experimental results show that paper-based conglomerates have lower density and thermal conductivity while still maintaining adequate mechanical performance and favourable fire behaviour. Life cycle assessment highlights significant environmental benefits linked to the post-consumer nature of paper and its local availability. When subjected to suitable thermal pre-treatment, paper mill sludge improves mechanical strength and can serve as a cement substitute. However, its overall environmental impact remains heavily affected by the energy demand of the initial processing, emphasising the need for treatment optimisation to achieve industrial-scale sustainability. A comparative evaluation of partition walls shows that blocks produced with the proposed mixtures outperform solid clay bricks and exhibit performance trends comparable to hollow clay bricks and cement-based blocks. Lastly, the thesis proposes a reverse methodological approach that prioritises environmental optimisation, allowing the identification of promising formulations before mechanical validation. Overall, the findings suggest that incorporating paper waste into cementitious materials offers a practical strategy to reduce natural resource consumption and promote circularity within the construction sector.

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