A comparative study on the feasible use of recycled beverage and CRT funnel glass as fine aggregate in cement mortar

The rapid development of the electronic industry has led to a growing hazardous waste management and disposal problem related to the management of cathode ray tube (CRT) waste. This study aimed to compare the feasibility of using CRT recycled glass: non-treated funnel glass (n-TFG, crushed without treatment) and treated funnel glass (TFG, crushed and treated with acid nitric to remove lead on the glass surface) as fine aggregates in cement mortar. Fresh and hardened properties of the cement mortars, including their x-ray radiation shielding and potential lead leaching were investigated. The mortar prepared with crushed beverage glass (CBG, lead-free) was also evaluated for comparison purposes. The experimental results show that the use of glass cullets, irrespective of glass type, improved the fluidity and drying shrinkage but reduced the strength. About 60% enhancement in x-ray radiation shielding property was achieved with the use of 100% CRT glass in the cement mortar owing to the increase of mortar density due to the presence of lead in the CRT glass. Furthermore, lead leaching (based on TCLP test) from the mortar samples prepared with the TFG complied with the regulatory limits. The results have demonstrated that the CRT glass (an original hazardous material) can be treated, processed, and re-utilized for making cement mortars. The mechanical performance of the cement mortar is comparable to that made with beverage glass.