Feasibility of the reuse of total and processed contaminated marine sediments as fine aggregates in cemented mortars

In a context promoting waste sustainable management, dredged sediments are assessed for valorization as substitute for sand in non-structural cemented mortars. Full substitution of sand by total sediment revealed low mechanical performances at UCS testing, linked to a high porosity. However, mechanical strength was improved, and porosity reduced, by using 80 μm-sized sediment. Thus, porosity is correlated to the presence of a fine fraction and its constitution, which brought a higher water demand during formulation. This research confirmed that the reuse of the coarser fraction of a marine sediment offered an interesting valorization potential as cemented mortars for non-structural applications. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.