The pulp and paper industry generates a significant volume of solid waste during its operations. In order to mitigate the environmental impact caused by this industry, one of its residues was applied in eco-friendly composites. Therefore, this research aims to use green liquor dregs as a partial replacement for lime in coating mortars. Hydrated lime was replaced by dregs in percentages of 10%, 15%, 20%, and 30%, and the manufactured mortar specimens were tested in terms of their flowability, air content, and specific gravity in the fresh state. In the hardened state, physical and chemical characterization was carried out to determine the influence of the introduction of the dregs on the properties of the different types of mortar. Mechanical testing of the mortar specimens’ compressive, flexural, and adhesive strengths was carried out, and scanning electron microscopy was performed to evaluate the microstructural features of the cement composites. In general, the types of mortar with dregs showed a high degree of similarity to conventional mortar in all studied aspects, including the 30% replacement group. The obtained SEM images indicated that the presence of dregs in the mortar did not change the formational mechanism of C-S-H crystals, maintaining the mechanical properties of the material even after the accelerated aging procedure was performed, reaching similar levels of flexural, compressive, and tensile bond strengths when compared to the neat mortar. Furthermore, tensile bond levels reached approximately 0.9 MPa for all the studied types of mortar, allowing the material to be used in external applications.

RESUMO O lodo de estação de tratamento de água (ETA), resíduo Classe II A, tem geração crescente, alto custo de tratamento e, quando descartado incorretamente no meio ambiente, acarreta danos ambientais. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar o emprego do lodo da ETA Santa Bárbara, da cidade de Pelotas/RS, beneficiado por calcinação a 600°C, como material suplementar ao cimento Portland. Amostras do lodo in natura e calcinado foram submetidas a ensaios de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectrometria de raios X por dispersão de energia, e foram determinadas a umidade do lodo in natura, a perda de massa e a massa específica do lodo calcinado. Realizaram-se ensaios de índice de atividade com cimento branco, cimento Portland de alta resistência inicial (CPV-ARI) e cal para identificar a atividade pozolânica do material. Posteriormente, foi executada a moldagem de dois traços de concreto, um de referência e outro com 10% em massa de substituição do aglomerante pelo lodo beneficiado, sendo analisadas as propriedades nos estados fresco e endurecido do concreto. Embora a incorporação do lodo tenha apresentado resultados favoráveis e aumento de resistência à compressão axial, o resíduo não pode ser classificado como pozolana por causa dos materiais e condições de ensaio empregadas na pesquisa. Contudo, com os resultados obtidos neste trabalho é possível averiguar que o uso do lodo beneficiado em matrizes de concreto é efetivo e constitui uma alternativa sustentável de destinação ao lodo de ETA.

This study investigated the mechanical performance and durability of concretes produced with varying proportions of recycled coarse aggregate from construction and demolition waste (CDW), ranging from 0% to 100% replacement of natural coarse aggregate, using recycled aggregates derived from crushed concrete and mortar debris, characterized by lower density and high water absorption (~9%) compared to natural aggregates. A key contribution of this research lies in the inclusion of intermediate replacement levels (20%, 25%, 45%, 50%, and 65%), which are less explored in the literature and allow a more refined identification of performance thresholds. Fresh-state parameters (slump), axial compressive strength (7 and 28 days), total immersion water absorption, sorptivity, and chloride ion penetration depth (after 90 days of immersion in a 3.5% NaCl solution) were evaluated. The results indicate that, up to 50% CDW content, the concrete maintains slump (≥94 mm), characteristic strength (≥37.2 MPa at 28 days), and chloride penetration (≤14.1 mm) within the limits for moderate exposure conditions, in accordance with ABNT: NBR 6118. Water absorption doubled from 4.5% (0% CDW) to 9.5% (100% CDW), reflecting the higher porosity and adhered mortar on the recycled aggregate, which necessitates adjustments to the water–cement ratio and SSD pre-conditioning to preserve workability and minimize sorptivity. Concretes with more than 65% CDW exhibited chloride penetration depths exceeding 15 mm, potentially compromising durability without additional mitigation. The judicious incorporation of CDW, combined with optimized mix design practices and the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), demonstrates technical viability for reducing environmental impacts without significantly impairing the structural performance or service life of the concrete.