• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2018

Industrial use of waste oyster shells is limited because of requiring excessive energy for converting natural oyster shells in the form of calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) into calcium oxide (CaO) for this purpose. This study aimed to develop energy-saving process for producing solidifying agent using waste oyster shells for backfill materials. It was suggested that oyster shells were converted to calcium sulfates which were mixed with sodium hydroxide solution and red clay, forming solid specimen. The optimal concentrations of sulfuric acid for sulfation of oyster shell and sodium hydroxide to generate calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$), were determined. Unconfined compressive strength of solid specimen increased with increasing the content of solidifying agent while it increased also with increasing ratio of natural oyster shells to coal ash. The result clearly demonstrates that solidifying agent consisting of sulfuric acid-treated oyster shell, coal ash, and sodium hydroxide solution, can be effectively utilized for preparing backfill materials using natural oyster shell and coal ash. Sulfuric acid-treated oyster shell-based solidifying agent has not been previously developed and will contribute to broaden industrial application of waste oyster shells.