Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy
Abstract The construction industry in South Asia, heavily reliant on coal-fired brick kilns, significantly contributes to environmental pollution, impacting public health and agricultural productivity. In Pakistan, brick kilns consume over 50% of the nation’s coal, often using low-quality coal and w...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07948-w |
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| author | Muhammad Salman Ahmad Muhammad Nauman Ahmad Tufail Muhammad Muhammad Jalal Khan Farwa Jabbir Saleh A. Alghamdi Majid Alhomrani Abdulhakeem S. Alamri Shahen Shah |
| author_facet | Muhammad Salman Ahmad Muhammad Nauman Ahmad Tufail Muhammad Muhammad Jalal Khan Farwa Jabbir Saleh A. Alghamdi Majid Alhomrani Abdulhakeem S. Alamri Shahen Shah |
| author_sort | Muhammad Salman Ahmad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The construction industry in South Asia, heavily reliant on coal-fired brick kilns, significantly contributes to environmental pollution, impacting public health and agricultural productivity. In Pakistan, brick kilns consume over 50% of the nation’s coal, often using low-quality coal and waste materials that emit harmful pollutants such as CO, SO2, particulate matter (PM), and hydrogen fluoride (HF). This study explores sustainable brick production by incorporating agricultural by-products, specifically the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus L., as an additive to clay. The integration of 15–20% Parthenium biomass by weight resulted in bricks with enhanced porosity (up to 64% at 50% biomass addition) and reduced density, lowering energy consumption during firing by approximately 15–20% while maintaining compressive strength within acceptable limits (15–20 MPa). Additionally, this approach reduced HF emissions by over 50% during the firing process, mitigating adverse effects on nearby vegetation. Conversations with 50 brick kiln owners in Peshawar revealed enthusiasm for adopting this method, contingent on cost reductions (potentially 10–15% lower production costs) and government-supported pilot projects. This research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainable cities (SDG 11), responsible consumption (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13), promoting a circular green economy. Policy interventions, including subsidies, training workshops, and awareness campaigns, are recommended to facilitate adoption, benefiting local communities and the environment. Future studies should investigate the scalability and adaptability of this approach across diverse regions and manufacturing sectors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b8a23d6e99294e24aa151bc1a6627419 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b8a23d6e99294e24aa151bc1a66274192025-08-20T04:01:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-07948-wUtilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economyMuhammad Salman Ahmad0Muhammad Nauman Ahmad1Tufail Muhammad2Muhammad Jalal Khan3Farwa Jabbir4Saleh A. Alghamdi5Majid Alhomrani6Abdulhakeem S. Alamri7Shahen Shah8School of Economics and Management, Yango UniversityDepartment of Agricultural Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of AgricultureSchool of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University BeijingBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University BeijingBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University BeijingDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Genetics, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityDepartment of Agronomy, University of AgricultureAbstract The construction industry in South Asia, heavily reliant on coal-fired brick kilns, significantly contributes to environmental pollution, impacting public health and agricultural productivity. In Pakistan, brick kilns consume over 50% of the nation’s coal, often using low-quality coal and waste materials that emit harmful pollutants such as CO, SO2, particulate matter (PM), and hydrogen fluoride (HF). This study explores sustainable brick production by incorporating agricultural by-products, specifically the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus L., as an additive to clay. The integration of 15–20% Parthenium biomass by weight resulted in bricks with enhanced porosity (up to 64% at 50% biomass addition) and reduced density, lowering energy consumption during firing by approximately 15–20% while maintaining compressive strength within acceptable limits (15–20 MPa). Additionally, this approach reduced HF emissions by over 50% during the firing process, mitigating adverse effects on nearby vegetation. Conversations with 50 brick kiln owners in Peshawar revealed enthusiasm for adopting this method, contingent on cost reductions (potentially 10–15% lower production costs) and government-supported pilot projects. This research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainable cities (SDG 11), responsible consumption (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13), promoting a circular green economy. Policy interventions, including subsidies, training workshops, and awareness campaigns, are recommended to facilitate adoption, benefiting local communities and the environment. Future studies should investigate the scalability and adaptability of this approach across diverse regions and manufacturing sectors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07948-wParthenium weedCircular and green economyBrick kiln pollutionSDGsPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Salman Ahmad Muhammad Nauman Ahmad Tufail Muhammad Muhammad Jalal Khan Farwa Jabbir Saleh A. Alghamdi Majid Alhomrani Abdulhakeem S. Alamri Shahen Shah Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy Scientific Reports Parthenium weed Circular and green economy Brick kiln pollution SDGs Public health |
| title | Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy |
| title_full | Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy |
| title_fullStr | Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy |
| title_short | Utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy |
| title_sort | utilizing agricultural waste in brick manufacturing for sustainable consumption and circular economy |
| topic | Parthenium weed Circular and green economy Brick kiln pollution SDGs Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07948-w |
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