Kieselguhr sludge from the deep bed filtration of beverages as a source for silicon in the production of calcium silicate bricks

Kieselguhr sludge is generated during the filtration of beverages. Currently, the most frequent disposal method is to spread the used kieselguhr over agricultural land. This is not a satisfactory solution to the problem of disposal. Kieselguhr consists primarily of SiO₂, part of which occurs in the amorphous form. The goal of this research was to determine whether kieselguhr sludge can be effectively utilized in the fabrication of calcium silicate bricks, and to what extent the kieselguhr sludge plays a role in the reaction mechanisms of the hardening process. Furthermore, the influence of carbonation on calcium silicate bricks produced using kieselguhr sludge was investigated, as well as what effect the preservatives in kieselguhr sludge might have on the entire calcium silicate complex. The laboratory results were subsequently confirmed on an industrial level with a large-scale experiment.