Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

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Application of recycled soil and sand in brick production over

conventional clay Brick: A sustainable alternative
Margi Desai ⇑, Neetu Yadav, Nensikumari Desai
Civil Engineering Department, Sitarambhai Naranji Patel Institute of Technology and Research Centre, Umrakh, Bardoli, Gujarat, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Urbanization in India is rapidly growing. To make building materials sustainable now-in days the focus is
Available online 23 December 2022 to increase the application of supplementary materials for manufacturing various building products like
tiles, pipes, bricks, etc. The construction and demolition waste production rate is increasing in India day
Keywords: by day. It is approximately estimated that only in the construction sector of India, 10–12 million tons of
Recycled soil building and demolition wastes are produced each year. In this research construction and demolition
Recycled sand waste is utilized for one of the essential building products for manufacturing of bricks as an alternative
Bagasse ash
to a conventional brick. For the casting of bricks 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, and 80 % of recycled soil and recycled
Bricks
sand are utilized as an alternative to conventional soil along with bagasse ash. After satisfying all the
requirements of the material relates specifications, the properties of brick were investigated. Results of
compressive strength with 20 % replacement of natural soil by recycled sand and soil are showing max-
imum results. Results of Compressive strength with recycled sand have 5.87 N/mm2 and for recycled sand
having 7.04 N/mm2.For the same strength rate waster absorption was maximum up to 13 % only, which
satisfies the requirement of the standard. The efflorescence rate for these bricks is also noticed to be mod-
erate. From this research investigation, we can conclude that with quality control practice if this material
has been utilized for the manufacturing of bricks then we can say the natural soil is up to 20 %. we are
able to conclude that the application of recycled soil and Sand helps to improve sustainability and reduce
the illegal dumping of material.
Copyright Ó 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-
ence on ‘‘Innovations in Mechanical and Civil Engineering’’.

1. Introduction
The Urban population has expected to grow from 109 million in
1971 to 600 million by 2030. Also, the demand of building materi-
als increasing exhaustingly like cement 380 MT, brick 600 BT,
aggregates 400 MT, timber 40 MT and steel 50 MT. So, It’s neces-
sary for larger reconstruction and construction projects to process
the building waste. C&D waste is defined as ‘‘the waste material
consisting of the debris generated during the construction, recon-
struction and demolition of building, roads and bridges [1]. For
the generation of Carbon emissions, the construction and manufac-
turing of various building materials contribute around 37 % of glo-
bal emissions. Thus, it is a demand of the era that the waste which
is generated from construction can be reused more competently.
The review presented by [2] concludes that in 80 countries around
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: margid40@gmail.com (M. Desai).
213 research articles have been published on C&D waste manage-
ment. It merely details with identification of construction waste,
its mapping, quantification, estimation, feasibility analysis, han-
dling, processing, segregation, modelling of waste etc. In India,
construction & demolition (C&D) waste creates 10–12 million tons
of waste per year. The new identification of the potential waste
component diversion from landfills made C&D waste a topic of
interest for recycling. The development rate in the south Gujarat
region is increasing day by day, due to which construction and
demolition of old structures are also in growing. The waste gener-
ated from these activities has been supplied to the SGPPL plant,
where the processing of this waste has been done. The waste has
been processed through the methods like crushing, scrubbing,
removing lightweight particles, and washing the particle by which
organic matter and fine particles get removed. Then after, accord-
ing to the requirement of aggregate/sand sizes, they are sieved. The
water used in the whole process is recycled and the remaining
sludge is treated first before disposal. Then the processed product

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.12.039
2214-7853/Copyright Ó 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on ‘‘Innovations in Mechanical and Civil Engineering’’.
M. Desai, N. Yadav and N. Desai Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

generated at the plant are recycled soil, recycled sand, coarse the perlite bricks are good insulators compared to standard bricks
aggregate, and fine aggregates. But due to a lack of efficient results [9].Figs. 1-3
and lack of laboratory investigations, the contractors are not get- In the present study Processed Construction and demolition
ting enough confidence to use the byproduct materials. Keeping waste materials like Recycled Soil and Sand have been utilized
this limitation in mind, this research work has been initiated. So, for the manufacturing of Bricks. Further, after the laboratory inves-
this recycled sand, soil, and coarse and fine aggregates can use tigation of these bricks through various tests like compressive
for different civil engineering applications. And the materials are strength, water absorption and efflorescence. A comparison of
not simply landfilled but also utilize to save natural materials Recycled Soil and Recycled Sand brick has been done with conven-
which going to scare in future. Processing and utilization required tional brick to recommend how we can effectively utilize these
to make mandatory as the lack of dumping locations and rising bricks for low load-bearing construction purposes.
transportation and disposal costs, the management of C&D waste
is a serious challenge. The reuse of C&D materials in the develop-
ment of new building materials helps to a sustainable increase in 1.1. C & D waste properties
demand for construction materials. The main cause of solid waste
generation is population growth and fast urbanization. It is com- The fresh materials to be used in construction work lies in the
monly known that population growth is at a timely high & India standard range of values for different tests mentioned in IS codes
now has the largest population. Glass, metals, aluminium, and for particular work. But the waste generated from the sites is
plastic can be recycled and have some value as scrap, however, bounded with each other and to separate them completely is not
the waste of concrete and masonry must be discarded in a landfill
[3]. The utilization of sugarcane bagasse ash waste as a raw mate-
rial for clay brick production appears to be a viable recycling option
for this huge amount of waste. The ash of sugarcane bagasse waste
employed in the work is a low-priced, high-crystalline silica (SiO2)
substance that acts as filler and lowers the fluidity of clayey com-
positions. The recycling of sugarcane bagasse ash waste in clay
bricks has shown to be extremely beneficial in terms of environ-
mental preservation, waste management, and raw material conser-
vation [4]. It is possible to use glass as a waste from glass walls of a
building as a component in the production of clay bricks. To make
good-quality bricks, clay was mixed with waste glasses in various
amounts. The findings showed that addition of waste glass up to 30
per cent by weight has no significant effects on the properties of
clay bricks when fired at 1100 °C, and clay bricks prepared with
15–30 percent by weight. In a wide range of applications, they
were able to meet the basic criteria, including many load-bearing
structures. As the amount of lost glass in clay bricks increased,
the compressive strength and modulus of rupture of the bricks
decreased. [5]. Incorporating wastewater sludge from textile until
it reached a proportion of 20 % results in high-quality bricks. Fur-
thermore, experiments of leaching and solubilization show that
the ceramic bricks made from textile sludge are nontoxic, showing
that the chemical components in the raw samples have not been
solubilized. Wastewater sludge obtained from textile is beneficial
in ceramic bricks because it is changed from a hazardous residue
to secondary raw material [6]. The incorporation of fly ash (F-
type) to the composition of bricks resulted in a significant deple-
tion in water absorption when bricks compared that are made
without the use of fly ash (C-type). Furthermore, by substituting
fly ash in place of ordinary Portland cement. These wastes can also
be used in the making of bricks. Water absorption of less than 10 %
in bricks is observed which eliminates dampness, plaster flaking,
and other issues that are common. The c & d waste consumed for
making every 1000 bricks, roughly 3 tons is used which saves
around 4 m3 of fertile land [7]. The study carried out by the author
in which they uses fibrous waste materials and some stabilizers to
increase the compressive strength of the brick. The mix proportion
prepared includes a combination of clay, pumice, cement, lime,
gypsum, plastic fiber, and water. The geometrical shape used is
grid form. The result obtained shows this proportion and shape
increases the compressive strength & reduced the dead weight as
well as cost [8]. The high heat insulator perlite bricks were manu-
factured in the study with different proportions. The replacement
ratio for the unit weight, compressive strength, shrinkage, and heat
conductivity was 24 %, 30 %, 31 %, and 24 % respectively. The 30 %
replacement ratio is acceptable when all the above-mentioned
conditions are held together. From the result, it was concluded that Fig. 1. Flow chart of methodology.

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M. Desai, N. Yadav and N. Desai Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

Table 1
Physical properties of CDW.

SR NO PROPERTIES RESULT
SOIL CDW
1 Specific Gravity(G) 2.63 2.50
2 Liquid Limit (WL) (%) 64.80 –
3 Plastic Limit (WP) (%) 21.50 –
4 Plasticity Index (P.I) (%) 43.30 –
5 Optimum Moisture Content (O.M.C) (%) 19.80 12.50
6 Maximum Dry Density (M.D.D) (%) 1.45 1.38
7 Coefficient Of Uniformity Cu – 0.87
8 Coefficient Of Curvature, Cc – 1.514
9 Classification CH SP
10 Free Swell Index (F.S.D.)(%) 70.10 –

Table 2
Chemical properties of soil.

SR NO PAREMETERS UNIT RESULT

Fig. 2. Compression testing machine. 1 pH – 8.94
2 Aluminium oxide Al2O3 % 5.67
3 Calcium carbonate CaCo3 % 11.30
possible directly. If one has to separate those materials some pro- 4 Silicon oxide SiO2 % 58.93
5 Organic content % 1.85
cess should be done on that. While undergoing through this pro-
cess materials may cracked, crushed, turns into smaller size
particles, may react with different substance while processing,
Table 3
etc. meanwhile many properties changes as the texture of the
Chemical properties of sand.
material changes. Some physical and chemical properties of C &
D waste are compared with original properties of recycled soil SR NO PAREMETER UNIT RESULT
and recycled sand, are listed in below Table 1.with the varied val- 1 Aluminium oxide Al2O3 % 13.77
ues.Tables 2-5 2 Calcium Oxide Cao % 10.65
3 Silicon Oxide SiO2 % 54.51
4 Magnesium oxide MgO % 1.95
2. Methodology 5 Iron Oxide Fe2O3 % 7.86
6 Free Lime % 0.63
7 insoluble residue % 72.55
Bricks were made with two distinct compositions. The mix
8 Loss of Igniton % 7.28
notation M1 to M5 indicates mixes for a different proportion of
ingredients for 230 mm  210 mm  75 mm bricks. The process
adopted for the manufacturing of Construction & Demolition waste
2.1.1. Compressive strength test
brick is given below.
Compressive strength was measured on a set of five sample for
each eco brick mix. The test was carried out in accordance with IS
2.1. Physical and mechanical test of bricks
3495 (1). For 24 Hours, at a room temperature the samples were
submerged in water. After removing the specimen, excess moisture
Efflorescence, water absorption, and compressive strength tests
was drained off for 24 h. Cement-sand mortar of 1:3 ratio was used
were performed to determine the applicability of the recycled ma-
to fill the frog and voids on the bed faces. The samples were then
terial as indicated in Indian standard codes and to compare the
stored for 24 h in wet jute bags before being immersed in clean
attributes of conventional bricks to C&D waste brick.

Fig. 3. Efflorescence test.

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M. Desai, N. Yadav and N. Desai Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

Table 4
Composition of raw material for C&D waste brick (Recycled soil).

Sr. no. Mix notation Soil (%) Recycled soil (%) Bagasse Ash (%)
1 RS 90 % 0% 10 %
2 RS 70 % 20 % 10 %
3 RS 50 % 40 % 10 %
4 RS 30 % 60 % 10 %
5 RS 10 % 80 % 10 %

Table 5
Composition of raw material for C&D waste brick (Recycled sand).

Sr. no Mix notation Soil (%) Recycled Sand (%) Bagasse Ash (%)
1 RSD 90 % 0% 10 %
2 RSD 70 % 20 % 10 %
3 RSD 50 % 40 % 10 %
4 RSD 30 % 60 % 10 %
5 RSD 10 % 80 % 10 %

water for three days. The sample was extracted and excess mois-
ture was wiped and cleaned before testing. The specimen were
then loaded in a compression testing equipment at a uniform rate
of 14 N/mm2/min. It was determined what the maximum load was
at the time of failure.
2.1.2. Water absorption test
IS 3495(2) code was used to conduct the water absorption test.
Water absorption was tested on five specimens. To achieve consis-
tent mass, at 105 °C of temperature the samples were dried in ven-
tilated oven. The materials were then weighed after cooling to
room temperature (w1). Dry specimens were submerged in clean
water for 24 h at a temperature of 27 °C. Specimens were taken
out and weighed after any traces of water were wiped clean with
a moist cloth (w2). The percentage drop in weight W2 over weight
W1 was used to calculate water absorption.
2.1.3. Efflorescence test
IS 3495(3) was followed while conducting the test. To conduct
this test firstly any adherent dirt was removed that could be mis-
taken for efflorescence by bruising it. Place the bricks’ ends in
the dish with a 25 mm depth of water immersion. Place the entire
setup in a warm, well-ventilated area until all of the water in the
dish has been absorbed and evaporated. To prevent excessive evap-
oration, cover the brick-filled dish with a long-lasting glass cylin-
der. When the water has now been absorbed and the brick looks
to be completely dry, fill the dish with an equal amount of water
and let it evaporate and absorbed as before. After the second appli-
cation, the bricks were inspected for efflorescence and report the
finding.
The conventional bricks now a day available in market are made
up of soil and bagasse ash. But in the present study conventionally
added soil is partially replaced with the recycled soil generated
from the C& D waste. The samples made are of 5 mix proportion
as first proportion have 0 % RS, second have 20 % RS, third have
40 % RS, fourth have 60 % RS and fifth have 80 % RS. The below table
depicts the mix proportion for brick manufacturing using recycled
soil.
Likewise, the recycled soil, recycled sand is also used for brick
manufacturing. The mix proportion used for partial replacement
of naturally available soil is 0 %, 20 %, 40 %, 60 % and 80 % respec-
tively. Here in this brick the quantity of bagasse ash is 10 % in each
composition.
All the materials, soil, recycled soil, and Bagasse ash were
weighed in appropriate proportions and mixed manually. The pre-
pared mixture was placed into the mould and manually pressed.
The bricks were de-moulded and dried for three days on wooden
pallets after 20–30 min of setting the time.
3. Result and discussion
The finished bricks were verified after they have been cast. The
final edge and bed are checked to see if they are fractured or have a
smooth surface. The traditional bricks have 90 % soil, 0 % recycled

Table 6
Test Results of compressive strength and water absorption for recycled soil.

Proportion Compressive strength Limits by IS standard Water absorption Limits by IS standard Efflorescence
RS-0 3.74 N/mm2 10.79 % Moderate
RS-20 5.87 N/mm2 13.16 %
RS-40 4.96 N/mm2 Minimum 3.5 N/mm2 14.41 % Maximum 20 %
RS-60 4.41 N/mm2 15.31 %
RS-80 3.22 N/mm2 17.97 %

Table 7
Test result of compressive strength and water absorption for recycled sand.

Proportion Compressive strength Limits by IS standard Water absorption Limits by IS standard Efflorescence
RSD-0 3.74 N/mm2 10.79 % Moderate
RSD-20 7.04 N/mm2 10.52 %
RSD-40 5.95 N/mm2 Minimum 3.5 N/mm2 11.52 % Maximum 20 %
RSD-60 5.29 N/mm2 12.24 %
RSD-80 3.87 N/mm2 14.37 %

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M. Desai, N. Yadav and N. Desai Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

Fig. 4. Average compressive strength of recycled soil.

Fig. 5. Average water absorption of recycled soil.

Fig. 6. Compressive strength using recycled sand.

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M. Desai, N. Yadav and N. Desai Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

Fig. 7. Water absorption using recycled sand.

Fig. 8. Comparative result of compressive strength.

soil & 10 % bagasse ash was manufactured & tested. The result of
the compressive strength of these bricks is 3.74 N/mm2. Waste
materials such as recycled soil, recycled sand, and bagasse ash
were used to replace the ingredients used in traditional bricks.
These materials were used in various proportions. Soil, recycled
soil, and bagasse ash account for 70 %, 20 %, and 10 % of the soil,
recycled soil, and bagasse ash used to make bricks, respectively.
The compressive strength of this composition resulted was
5.878 N/mm2, water absorption was 13.16 %, and efflorescence
was moderate. Similarly, the results obtained for different 5 mix
proportions were listed in Table 6 below.
The recycled sand was partially replaced with the convention-
ally used sand for brick manufacturing. The mix proportions used
are of 5 types and have different compressive strength and water
absorption values obtained after conducting the relevant tests
are listed in below Table 7. Fig. 9. Comparative result of water absorption.
From the Table 7, it is clear that up to 20 % replacement of Recy-
cled sand maximum compressive strength can be achieved. Which Similarly, observation has been made while testing the bricks
gradually decrease with increased percentage of Recycled sand up- made with recycled sand at various levels of percentage replace-
to 80 %. ments. In Fig. 6, with an increase in RSD percentage from 0 % to
From Fig. 4, a clear observation can be made that the compres- 80 %. Maximum compressive strength observed at RSD-20 and
sive strength of recycled soil gives maximum strength up to 20 % minimum strength value which shows 3.87 N/mm2, but up to
replacement only. Then after, with an increased percentage of RS 80 % replacement also minimum compressive strength can be
from 0 to 80, the strength of bricks gets reduced.Fig. 5 achieved.Figs. 7-9

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M. Desai, N. Yadav and N. Desai Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886

Table 8
Cost analysis of recycled soil brick.

Rate per m3 Rate per 0.001984 m3 of soil (1 soil brick) Rate per Brick Rate per m3 Rate per 0.001984 m3 of Rsoil (1 Rsoil brick) Rate per
of soil excluding brick making cost soil brick making of Rsoil excluding brick making cost Rsoil brick
cost
200 0.397 6 5.603 30.89 0.061 5.664
200 0.397 6 5.603 30.89 0.061 5.664
200 0.397 6 5.603 30.89 0.061 5.664
200 0.397 6 5.603 30.89 0.061 5.664
200 0.397 6 5.603 30.89 0.061 5.664
200 0.397 6 5.603 30.89 0.061 5.664

Table 9
Cost analysis of recycled sand bricks.

Rate per m3 Rate per 0.001984 m3 of sand (1 soil brick) Rate per Brick Rate per m3 Rate per 0.001984 m3 of Rsoil (1 Rsoil brick) Rate per
of SAND excluding brick making cost sand brick making of Rsand excluding brick making cost Rsand brick
cost
706 1.4007 6 4.5993 574 1.13882 5.73811
706 1.4007 6 4.5993 574 1.13882 5.73811
706 1.4007 6 4.5993 574 1.13882 5.73811
706 1.4007 6 4.5993 574 1.13882 5.73811
706 1.4007 6 4.5993 574 1.13882 5.73811
706 1.4007 6 4.5993 574 1.13882 5.73811

Water absorption less then 20 % up to RSD-20, then similar
trend observed. With increase recycled sand percentage water
absorption increase. But not up to 20 % as per mentioned limit.
Not only this but bricks manufactured with the use of recycled
sand also showing moderate efflorescence value. Which also one
of the performance parameter, helps to make bricks more dense.
The obtained result for common burnt clay bricks, recycled soil
and recycled sand of compressive strength and water absorption
are plotted in the below graphs.
Here, From the comparison of the compressive strength of con-
ventional brick, recycled sand-based bricks and recycled soil-based
bricks have been made. From the comparison analysis, it has been
clear that maximum compressive strength shows at 20 % recycled
sand.
Water absorption is also less at RSD 20 %, compared to RS 20 %.
Recycled sand replacement at 20 % shows similar water absorption
as a natural brick.
for good mechanical properties of bricks. If proper quality control
and standard code of provisions are followed then this material
has effective potential applications. Bricks are common building
material used for all construction applications. So, it requires a lar-
ger quantity of soil for the manufacturing process of bricks but RS
and RSD potentially reduce the use of natural soil by up to 20 %.
6. Limitation of the study
As C&D waste constitutes changes from source to source. So, its
chemical and physical properties also changes. Keeping this limita-
tion in mind more comprehensive laboratorial study and quantifi-
cation of results is required to done.
Data availability
Data will be made available on request.

4. Cost analysis
Declaration of Competing Interest

The materials used for manufacturing of bricks are recycled soil

and sand that are waste generated on-site. As the waste does not
have any special use it is the best opportunity to recycle that and
to reuse for making bricks as an alternative of naturally available
soil. The cost of conventional bricks is more as the soil available
is costly but the waste does not have specific cost so, use of it in
making any product will be beneficial. Hence, the cost analysis is
carried out for C & D waste bricks. The Table 8 and 9 shows the cost
comparison between conventional bricks and recycled soil bricks.
5. Conclusion
The present study of the utilization of C & D waste for the fab-
rication of bricks shows the following conclusions. All the initial
parameters of the mix show favourable results through the physi-
cal properties and chemical property check. Once recycled soil and
sand has used for the manufacturing of bricks, only up to 20 %
replacement of this material shows the results at the higher side.
Then after a decrease in the results have been seen. So, 20 %
replacement of natural soil by recycled soil and sand is possible
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
References
[1] Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council, Utilisation of Recycled
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[3] V.A. Dakwale, R.V. Ralegaonkar, Development of sustainable construction
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[5] V. Loryuenyong, T. Panyachai, K. Kaewsimork, C. Siritai, Effects of recycled glass
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[8] H. Binici, O. Aksogan, T. Shah, Investigation of fibre reinforced mud brick as a
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Further reading
[10] IS 3495 Part 1: 2019 Burnt Clay Building Bricks - Methods of Tests Part 1
Determination of Compressive Strength (Fourth Revision).
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Materials Today: Proceedings 77 (2023) 879–886
[11] IS 3495 Part 2: 2019 Burnt Clay Building Bricks - Methods of Tests Part 2
Determination of Water Absorption (Fourth Revision).
[12] IS 3495 Part 2: 2019 Burnt Clay Building Bricks - Methods of Tests Part 3
Determination of Efflorescence (Fourth Revision).
[13] IS 1077 Common Burnt Clay Building Bricks – Specification (Fifth Revision).
[14] IS 1077A1 Common Burnt Clay Building Bricks – Specification (Fifth Revision).