Abstract The main aim of the European Union’s waste legislation and the corresponding Finnish waste legislation is to reduce the production of waste. Further, the aims of the European Union’s growth strategy are to reduce the production of greenhouse gases, increase the use of renewable energy, and improve energy efficiency. According to the renewed Waste Tax Act, a waste tax has to be paid on all fly ashes that are deposited in landfills in Finland. A large amount of wood- and peat-based fly ashes are formed annually in Finland, and the amount is likely to increase in the future due to the increasing use of renewable energy. Previously, these ashes have mainly been deposited in industrial landfills, but the need to utilize the fly ashes has increased recently due to changes in waste legislation. In this thesis, several issues related to the utilization of wood- and peat-based fly ash were studied, with the general objective of improving the utilization potential of such ashes. As the first stage of this research, the suitability of willow ash for use as a fertilizer was studied. Willow ash would be well suited for use as a fertilizer due to its very high nutrient content. However, cadmium, a heavy metal, was found to be enriched in the ashes of the studied willow species. Due to this, special attention should be paid when choosing willow species for energy production. In the second stage of the research, the possibility of improving the strength development of wood- and peat-based fly ashes, as well as the possibility of stabilizing fly ash containing high amounts of heavy metals via the addition of cement and/or alkali activation, was investigated. Strength development was found to be dependent on the amount of reactive calcium and the ratio between that amount of reactive calcium and the sum of the reactive silicon, aluminum, and sulfur (Ca/(Si + Al + S)). The studied methods performed well in terms of stabilizing barium, copper, lead, and zinc. During the next stage, the effect of different chemical digestion methods, which are regulated by the Finnish waste legislation, on the utilization potential of fly ash was studied. The digestion method had a significant impact on the results of the potassium content analysis, which could affect the possibility of using fly ash as a fertilizer. As the final stage of the research, the co-granulation of ash with sewage sludge and lime was studied. From a technical point of view, the co-granulation was successful, although the compressive strength of the granules was low. Additionally, an insufficient nitrogen content was achieved with a sludge addition of 20-40 weight%. / Tiivistelmä Euroopan unionin jätelainsäädännön ja sitä vastaavan suomalaisen lainsäädännön tavoitteena on ehkäistä jätteiden muodostumista. Euroopan Unionin kasvustrategian tavoitteena on vähentää kasvihuonekaasupäästöjä, lisätä uusiutuvan energian käyttöä ja parantaa energiatehokkuutta. Uudistetun jäteverolain mukaan kaikista kaato-paikoille sijoitetuista lentotuhkista tulee Suomessa maksaa jäteveroa. Suomessa puu- ja turveperäisiä lentotuhkia muodostuu vuosittain suuria määriä ja määrä tulee vielä kasvamaan uusiutuvan energiankäytön lisääntyessä. Aiemmin nämä tuhkat ovat päätyneet pääasiassa läjitykseen teollisuuden kaatopaikoille, mutta muuttuneen jätelainsäädännön seurauksena tarve hyödyntää lentotuhkia on lisääntynyt. Tässä väitöstyössä tutkittiin puu- ja turveperäisten tuhkien hyödyntämiseen liittyviä kysymyksiä. Työn yleistavoitteena oli parantaa tuhkien hyödyntämis-mahdollisuuksia. Tutkimuksen ensimmäisessä vaiheessa tutkittiin pajutuhkan soveltuvuutta lannoitteeksi. Pajutuhka soveltuisi hyvin lannoitteeksi erittäin hyvien ravinne-pitoisuuksien ansiosta. Raskasmetalleista kadmiumin havaittiin kuitenkin rikastuvan tutkittujen pajulajien tuhkiin. Tähän tulisi kiinnittää erityishuomiota, kun pajulajeja valitaan energiantuotantoa varten. Tutkimuksen toisessa vaiheessa selvitettiin mahdollisuutta parantaa turpeen ja puun lentotuhkien lujittumista sekä raskasmetallipitoisen lentotuhkan stabiloimista sementtilisäyksen ja/tai alkaliaktivoinnin avulla. Lujuuden kehitys riippui reaktiivisen kalsiumin määrästä sekä reaktiivisen kalsiumin määrän ja reaktiivisten piin, alumiinin ja rikin määrien summan välisestä suhteesta (Ca/(Si + Al + S)). Tutkitut menetelmät toimivat hyvin bariumin, kuparin, lyijyn ja sinkin stabiloinnissa. Seuraavassa vaiheessa selvitettiin Suomen lainsäädännössä määritettyjen kemiallisten hajotusmenetelmien vaikutusta tuhkan hyödyntämispotentiaaliin. Hajotusmenetelmällä oli suuri merkitys kaliumin pitoisuutta määritettäessä, mikä voi vaikuttaa lentotuhkan hyödynnettävyyteen lannoitteena. Viimeisessä vaiheessa tutkittiin tuhkan yhteisrakeistusta lietteen ja kalkin kanssa. Teknisesti yhteisrakeistus onnistui hyvin, mutta rakeiden puristuslujuus oli alhainen. Lisäksi 20 - 40 paino% lietelisäyksellä ei rakeisiin saatu riittävän korkeaa typpipitoisuutta.

Solid Waste Management is one of the essential services provided by local bodies to keep the urban areas clean. Often it is poorly rendered as it is unscientific, out-dated and inefficient. With the rapid increase in population, livening standards, the generation rates of solid waste are increasing drastically. The landfill waste includes both organic and inorganic wastes as it is not often effectively segregated before disposal. The problem is acute in developing countries such as India. Bangalore city, with a population of about 10.18 million and more than 2000 industries, generates about 4,500 TPD of municipal solid waste. Of this Presently, various municipal solid waste processing units in Bangalore can handle only about 2100 TPD of waste. Mavallipura landfill developed and operated by M/s. Ramky Environmental Engineers, located 40 km away from Bangalore, is being used for disposing of about 1000 TPD, the installed capacity being only 600 TPD of waste. There are also a few dumps in around Bangalore due to historical reasons and insufficient capacity of various designated landfills. To reclaim the old dump sites/closed landfill sites for infrastructural development, it is necessary to know their geotechnical characteristics. Within the Landfill, the characteristics of the waste may change with depth due to degraded wastes as it has been dumped over a period of time. The physical parameters, chemical properties as well as the geotechnical behaviour of the waste change with depth. MSW is known to be a heterogeneous material of varying constituent types and dimensions, containing elements that degrade with time. To consider MSW as a geo-material to support the foundation of structures such as buildings and pavement, an analysis of the bearing capacity of the foundation and further long-term settlement of MSW is essential. The MSW samples are retrieved from a Mavallipura landfill site, Bangalore and analysed for important geotechnical properties such as compaction characteristics, shear strength, permeability, compressibility behaviour and dynamic properties of MSW using ultrasonic and cyclic triaxial tests. This research thus aims to provide valuable information about landfill sites for reclamation, closure and infrastructural development after the closure of landfills. Scanty data are available on the geotechnical properties of waste from landfill sites with varying degrees of degradation. This landfill site is selected as there is a huge environmental concern regarding the soil and groundwater contamination in the area and also can represent a typical landfill scenario in tropical regions. Quantification, quality assessment, consequent treatment and management of leachate have become a monstrous problem world over. In this context, the present study envisages to study the physicochemical and biological characterization of representative urban municipal landfill leachate and nearby water bodies and attempts to figure out relationships between the various parameters together with understanding the various processes for chemical transformations. The analysis shows intermediate leachate age (5-10 years) with higher nutrient levels i.e. 10,000 - 12,000 mg/l and ~2,000 - 3,000 mg/l of carbon (COD) and nitrogen (TKN) respectively. Elemental analysis and underlying mechanisms reveal chemical precipitation and co-precipitation as the vital processes in leachate pond systems resulting in accumulation of trace metals in these systems. The microbial analysis also correlated with specific factors relevant to redox environments that show a gradient in nature and the abundance of biotic diversity with a change in leachate environment. Finally, the quality and the contamination potential of the sampled leachate were performed with the help of potential leachate index (LPI) analysis and water quality index (WQI) analysis for surrounding water bodies (namely surface pond and open well) of Mavallipura landfill site. A geotechnical testing program has been drawn to evaluate the engineering properties of municipal solid waste samples retrieved from a landfill at Mavallipura at various depths through augur within the landfill dumped area. Laboratory studies included are composition, moisture content, particle size analysis, compaction, permeability, direct shear test, consolidation, triaxial compression test. For the laboratory tests, we had considered maximum particle sizes of less than 4.75 mm only. Standard Proctor Compaction tests yielded a maximum dry density of 7.0kN/m3 at 50% optimum moisture content. The permeability of MSW results shows in the range of 4x10-4 cm/sec. Compression index of MSW is 0.46980 and recompression index of MSW is 0.09454. Results obtained from the rectangular hyperbola method are compared with Casagrande and Taylor methods to prove that this method is reliable equally, and results are reasonably accurate. Based on direct shear tests, the MSW sample exhibited continuous strength gain with an increase in shear strain (16%) to define strength. The cohesion of MSW was 10kPa and friction angle is 34°. Based on the elastic constants results obtained from the direct shear test found to be very soft material. In the triaxial test, the MSW sample exhibited continuous strength gain with an increase in axial strain. The frictional component is increased due to sliding and rolling of fibrous particles over one another resulting in the development of apparent cohesion due to antiparticle bonds within the MSW material. Landfills are an integral part of waste management, and disastrous consequences can happen if seismic vulnerability of these landfills is not considered. Dynamic properties of MSW are required to perform seismic response analysis of MSW landfills, but there is no good understanding of the dynamic shear strength of MSW in literature. A comprehensive laboratory cyclic triaxial testing program has been taken up to determine the properties at different densities, confining pressures and shear strains. MSW degrades with time, and its shear modulus and damping are expected to vary with time and degradation. For the density of 6 kN/m3 the dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 0.68 MPa to 5.38 MPa and damping ratio varied from 20% to 40% for MSW. For the density of 7 kN/m3 the dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 1.8 MPa to 7.5 MPa and Damping ratio varied from 23% to 40% for MSW. For the density of 8kN/m3 dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 2.46 MPa to 8.00MPa and damping ratio varied from 16% to 33% for MSW. Also, the ultrasonic testing method was used for determining the dynamic properties at low strains. The Ultrasonic test results indicated that with an increase in density of the sample and with decreased void ratio, the pulse propagation velocity (Vp) increases. With an increase in the density, the shear wave velocity and elastic constants (elastic modulus and shear modulus) increase. The elastic constant values obtained from the ultrasonic test are higher compared to values obtained from unconsolidated-undrained triaxial tests. Also, the carbon stored in the buried organic matter in Mavallipura landfill is estimated. Total organic carbon increases steeply with an increase in depth and is significantly high at a depth of 6 m. Subsurface properties cannot be specified but must be analysed through in-situ tests. The in-situ testing that are carried out in a landfill are boring, sampling, standard penetration test (SPT), dynamic cone penetration test (DCPT) and plate load tests (under static and cyclic condition). A correlation between corrected SPT ‘N’ values and measured using shear wave velocities has been developed for Mavallipura landfill site. Results show that the corrected SPT- N values increase with depth. Corrected N-values are used in the landfill design, so they are consistent with the design method, and correlations are useful. The results obtained from the dynamic cone penetration tests shows lower value when to compare with standard penetration test. The unit weight profile with depth ranged from a low unit weight of 2.48 kN/m3 near the surface to a highest value of approximately 9.02 kN/m3 at a depth of 6 m. The highest temperatures for landfills were reported at mid-waste elevations with temperatures decreasing near the top. The bearing pressure-settlement curves for plate size 75cm and 60cm presented similar behaviour while the plate size of 60cm curve presents a lesser settlement of 70mm, compared to with plate size of the 75cm curve with the settlement of 80mm and failure mode could be classified as punching shear. The cyclic plate load test with plate size of 60cm and 75cm were carried out on the soil cover. The elastic constants were found to be 73.87 and 96.84 kPa/mm and for 60 and 75cm plates respectively. Geophysical testing may not be as precise but has the benefit of covering large areas at small costs and sometimes can locate features that might be missing by conventional borings. Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is an indirect geophysical method used in the landfill for the characterization of the municipal solid waste site. The Mavallipura landfill was surveyed up to the length of about 35m at the top level. A series of one-dimensional and two-dimensional MASW surveys used active seismic sources such as sledgehammer (5kg) and propelled energy generator (PEG-40) was used. This hammer was instrumented with geophones to trigger record time. All the testing has been carried out with geophone spacing of 1m and recorded surface wave arrivals using the source to first receiver distance as 5m with recording length of 1000 millisecond and the recording sampling interval of 0.5 milliseconds (ms) were applied. Results shows that the PEG-40 hammer can generate the longest wavelength with a maximum depth of penetration. The shear wave velocity varies from 75 to 155 m/s with an increase in depth of about 27.5m. Based on the site characterization at the landfill site, it was found that the Mavallipura landfill site can be categorized as very loose, and it is still in a continued stage of degradation. Shear wave and P-wave velocity profile for eight major locations in the study area were determined and variation of waste material stiffness corresponding to the in-situ state with depth, was also evaluated. Also, MASW survey has been carried out to develop dispersion curve on another landfill site at Bhandewadi, Nagpur. MASW system consisting of 24 channels geode seismograph with 24 geophones of 4.5Hz capacity is used in this investigation. The seismic waves were created by sledgehammer with 30cmx 30cmx2cm size hammer plate with ten shots. These waves were captured by the geophones/receivers and further analyzed by inversion. The results indicated that near surface soils(less than 3m depth) approximately the to 5mm, and with 85% of dry weight basis of waste particles with sizes less than 10mm, the shear wave velocity varies from 75 to 140 m/s (frequency ranges from 30 to 23Hz). With the increase in 6.5m depth, the shear wave velocity ranged from 140 to 225m/s (frequency ranges 23 to 13Hz). Overall, the results of the study showed that seismic surveys have the potential to capture the changes in dynamic properties like shear wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio of the depth of MSW landfill to infer the extent of degradation and provide dynamic properties needed for seismic stability evaluations. Based on the in situ and laboratory results of this study and a review of the literature, the unit weight, shear wave velocity, strain-dependent normalized shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio relationships for Mavallipura landfill are developed and also validated using semi-empirical methods. Finally, seismic response analysis of Mavallipura landfill has been carried out using the computer programs like SHAKE 2000 and DEEPSOIL. Results show that the unit weight is increased with depth in response to the increase in overburden stress. The proposed material damping ratio and normalized shear modulus reduction curve lie close to the profile given in the literature for landfills composed of waste materials with 100% particles sized less than 20mm. Peak spectral acceleration at 5% damping value is 0.7g for 0.07 sec in SHAKE 2000 and peak spectral acceleration at 5% damping value is 0.63g for 0.04 sec in DEEPSOIL. Amplification ratio is 6.11 at 1.1l Hz in SHAKE2000 and 4.65 at 2.67Hz in DEEPSOIL. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the landfill site, it is observed PGA has decreased from 0.3g to 0.15g in DEEPSOIL and PGA has decreased from 0.33g to 0.15g in SHAKE2000. The studies presented in the thesis brought out the importance of characterization of municipal solid waste leachate regarding metabolism and treatment/degradation of Mavallipura landfill leachate. For municipal solid waste of with sizes ranging from 0.08 coefficient of permeability being about 10-4 cm/sec, the compression index was about 0.47. A more reliable method of calculating the coefficient of consolidation has been recommended. Correlations between shear wave velocity and SPT-N values has been developed for the Mavallipura landfill site. The results showed that the dynamic cone penetration tests values are lower than indicated by standard penetration tests. The cyclic plate load tests carried out with plate sizes of 75cm and 60cm showed that elastic constants of 96.84 kPa/mm and 73.87kPa/mm respectively. MSW properties evaluated in this thesis are compared with those of soft clays. The MSW properties showed higher values (strength and SBC) and lower values of compressibility, compared with those of soft clays. Thus foundation improvement on MSW is less challenging than foundations on soft soils. Also stabilization of MSW with other solid wastes such as fly ash can be considered as an economical option. Based on detailed studies the importance of unit weight, shear wave velocity, strain-dependent normalized shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio relationships for landfill waste have been developed. Based on the site characterization, the waste landfill has been categorized as very loose material, which is still in a degradation process. SHAKE2000 software shows higher PGA value comparing with DEEPSOIL.

Nowadays the attention to the utilization of secondary raw materials as a component of building materials is being paid to in the Czech Republic and in the world. This thesis deals with possibilities of using secondary raw materials as partial cement substitutes in industrial floors. The aim of this thesis is to verify the influence of cement substitution amount with secondary raw materials and their fineness of grinding on the properties of the floor surface in time and on its structure. On the basis of the acquired knowledge, the influence of the pre-treatment of the secondary raw material on the properties of the floor ceiling with an emphasis on the economic aspect was assessed. After evaluating the results, some substitution of cement in the floor screed with secondary raw materials is beneficial. The significant influence of more intensive milling of the floor screeds base on the parameters of the final floor screed was not confirmed. It seems, that it is possible to achieve very good results even when using secondary raw materials with a lower percentage of fine particles. This brings together the economic benefits of lowering the cost of a lower dose of expensive cement by using cheaper secondary raw materials, because pre-treatment of such materials does not require the use of a large amount of energy.

The diploma thesis deals with possibility of utilization raw materials from alternative sources for production of cement-bonded particleboards. In theoretical part the possibilities of modifying composition of cement-bonded slabs with emphasis on their matrix are discussed in detail. On basis of the findings and their evaluation, waste from the formatting of cement-bonded particleboards, micronized limestone, heat sink and high temperature fly ash were selected to the composition modification. The mentioned raw materials were analyzed and subsequently tested as substitutes for the matrix of cement-bonded particleboards in the experimental part. The properties of the proposed materials were tested even in the longer term, including the microstructure.

Production wastes for which a direct use in another production is found become secondary raw materials. There are several institutions in Czech Republic and in the world, which are currently dealing with the issue. This thesis deals with the issue of cementitious spray concrete mixtures and deals with the possibilities of using secondary raw materials and waste from production as partial replacement of binder and filler in these mixtures. The aim of this theses is to optimize the composition of additives in the recipe of the commercially produced pray mixture and to verify the influence of the degree of substitution of binder or filler by secondary raw materials on its physical-mechanical properties. The aim is to maintain or increase these properties while substituting the binder and filler as much as possible. After the evaluation of results, it is possible to say, by suitable optimization of the additives it is possible to achieve a significant improvement of the physical-mechanical properties of the mass and furthermore, from the results of this thesis follows, that by substitution of 100% fine filler in combination with substitution of 30% binder it is possible to maintain or increase the physical-mechanical properties after 28 days of curing and to significantly increase these properties after 90 days of curing. The results of this thesis are also related to the reduction of economic impact on production of the spray mixture, mainly due to the use of secondary raw materials.

The diploma thesis is focused on the development of composites from alkali activated materials (AAM) and their resistance to extreme temperatures. The theoretical part describes alkaline activation and precursors for the production of AAM. Furthermore, the problem of the effect of extreme temperatures on these materials is described. In the experimental part, the optimal silicate modulus with respect to the properties of AAM was gradually determined, and the effect of extreme temperatures on the AAM matrix was verified. In the next stage, the effect of the filler with respect to the behavior at extreme temperatures was tested and then the final formulation was optimized.

This work is devoted to study of physical-mechanical properties and structure of high performance concretes (HPC) based on portland cement. The attention is focused on possibility of substitution of economic high-cost components of concrete with utilization of secondary raw materials or cheaper components. Properties of raw materials and their influence on whole quality of concrete were tracked by various methods. Mechanical properties of prepared HPC samples were tested especially (compression and flexural strength) with further microscopic study of structure. Isoperibolic calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction method were also used for concrete characterisation. These methods allowed to determine the influence of raw materials on prepared HPC and to carry out a certain optimization among price and quality of this material.

Preparation of geopolymer composites from industrial wastes of energy power stations and metalurgy.

During the production of concrete is important the careful selection of raw materials. Nowadays, we are trying in the production to minimize the economic burden and to maximize the use of secondary raw materials. This work is focused on the use of secondary raw materials from the energy industry in construction for the preparation of hydraulic binders. As the main raw materials were used different power plant fly ash from fluidized combustion. The composition of these secondary materials is quite different from conventional high-temperature ash, due to mixing with water they solidify and harden. Experiments were performed with three lodge fly ash from electrostatic precipitators of the fluidized combustion and one high-temperature fly ash. This work is focused on the possibility of monitoring the use of these secondary materials in construction, especially when tests were evaluated characteristics of strength and speed of setting and hardening.

Diploma thesis gives an overview of artificial lightweight aggregates based on fly ash. Fly ash such as the residues of coal burning is currently one of the most used secondary raw materials for new building materials for research papers. The results shows that the secondary energy products are not just fully substitute the primary component, but in many cases improves the final properties of building products. Wide complex of fly ashes not only from domestic sources was tested and it`s main properties important for it`s further application was determined. Laboratory production of artificial aggregates based on fly ash made by sintering and also by cold bonding and following manufacture of artificial fly ash aggregates in technological conditions are also solved. The thesis is simultaneously concentrate on review of the suitability of fly ash aggregates in lightweight concrete.It was found that the highest quality fly ash for the production of sintered fly ash aggregate is fly ash and FBC ash is the best for the production of cold bonded aggregates. It was also verified that both types of aggregates are applicable to lightweight concrete class LC 20/22. The vast majority of manufactured aggregates is suitable for the production of lightweight concrete class LC 30/33. It was demonstrated that the sintered fly ash aggregates can be also used for high strength lightweight concrete class LC 50/55. Tests have also verified that all tested fly ashes and products produced from them meet the requirements of legislation on environment.