Utilization of Treated Wastewater in the Production of Green Concrete

The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources and potable water, making it a key sector for implementing sustainable development strategies. In regions facing water scarcity such as Iran, the use of alternative water sources is not only environmentally responsible but also economically necessary. This study evaluates the performance of concrete produced using treated municipal wastewater as a partial or full replacement for potable water in the mixing process. Ten mix designs were prepared, incorporating treated wastewater at varying replacement levels (۱۰۰%, ۷۴%, ۴۰%, and ۲۴%) in comparison to a control mix using ۱۰۰% potable water. A constant water to cement ratio of ۰.۵۴ was maintained across all designs, and two mixes were further modified with ۱۰% microsilica as a cement replacement to investigate potential improvements in mechanical properties. Fresh concrete properties were assessed through slump flow tests, while compressive strength was measured at ۷ and ۲۸ days. Microstructural evaluation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided additional insight into the internal morphology and particle distribution of hardened concrete. The results showed that compressive strength declined slightly with increased wastewater content but remained within acceptable structural limits. Notably, mixes containing microsilica demonstrated improved strength and workability, with compressive strength increases of over ۱۱% compared to the control. This research confirms the viability of using treated wastewater in concrete production, especially when combined with supplementary cementitious materials like microsilica. The findings support sustainable construction practices and highlight an effective method to reduce potable water consumption without compromising the structural performance of concrete.

کلیدواژه ها:

Green Concrete ، Treated Wastewater ، Sustainable Construction ، Compressive Strength ، Microsilica