Title: Hydration and mortar properties of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash as a cement substitute

Authors: Yongzhen Cheng; Weiye Mu

Addresses: Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, No. 89 Beijing North Road, Huai'an, 223001, China ' Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, No. 89 Beijing North Road, Huai'an, 223001, China

Abstract: Landfilling municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI BA) poses environmental pollution risks, while resource utilisation presents an effective solution. In this research, the particle composition, chemical ingredients, mineral constituents, and morphology of micronised powder recycled from bottom ash (MPBA) were analysed using micro-measurement techniques. Furthermore, the hydration minerals of cement paste with MPBA addition and properties of resulting mortar were investigated. The findings show that the MSWI BA can be classified into the chemical system of SiO₂-CaO-Al₂O₃-Fe₂O₃. However, MPBA contains fewer effective active ingredients, which participated in cement hydration to produce less ettringite (AFt), hydrated calcium aluminosilicate (C₂ASH₈) and C-S-H gel, resulting in the lower mortar strength. The mortar containing 30% MPBA exhibited a 50.1% reduction in 28-day compressive strength and a 27.1% decrease in flexural strength compared to the reference mortar. However, the continuous participation of MPBA in the reaction leads to the 90-day compressive strength of these mortars being close to 62.9% that of the reference mortars.

Keywords: incineration bottom ash; physicochemical properties; mineral composition; hydration products; mortar strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2026.154491

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2026 Vol.14 No.2, pp.183 - 198

Received: 02 Apr 2025
Accepted: 29 Oct 2025
Published online: 30 Jun 2026 *

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