Channel Sediment Characterization and Evaluation of the Potential Impact of Iron-Rich Phases on the Use of Sediments in Brick Production

Using data collected at both room temperature and higher temperatures, this study examined the mineralogy of, and iron coordination shell in, polluted sediments from drainage and irrigation channels. As a part of the study, mineralogical characteristics of iron phases of canal sediments were examined to determine if these sediments could be used in place of common clays for the production of bricks. While such use would reduce the impact of these wastes on the environment, an excess of iron in these sediments could affect some important features of bricks. Therefore, this study examined the oxidation state of iron as well as its structural location in the mineral matrix. X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used to examine sediments and bricks manufactured from irrigation and drainage channels of the Po River region in northeast Italy. Results indicated that canal sediments can be used as row materials in clay brick production. In fact, the process temperature (950°C) that characterized brick production was similar to the temperature used for thermal treatment of polluted sediments in this study.