Utilization of various solid leather wastes for the production of blended bricks

Production of low-cost blended bricks from various solid leather wastes for use in the construction industry is effective waste management and an important approach to prevent pollution. Using leather sludges as a raw material in building materials have the potential to reduce environmental pollution. In this study, various solid leather industrial wastes were used, such as chrome shavings powder (CSP), buffing dust powder (BDP), and finished leather powder (FLP), respectively, and Clay: CSP, Clay: BDP, and Clay: FLP bricks were prepared by mixing clay. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the bricks were investigated. The structure and compactness of the bricks were revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The blended bricks have unique mechanical characteristics and are promising models for new construction applications. Compared to clay, an improvement was observed in the mechanical properties with an increase in the ratio of leather waste (50%) in the sample composition. The blended bricks are environmentally safe and cost effective for the novel brick manufacturing approaches. Graphical abstract