Recycling of ceramic tile waste into construction materials

The rapid growth of the global construction industry has resulted in the generation of large amounts of ceramic solid waste, such as ceramic tile waste (CTW). The efficient waste recycling into high-value products is considered to contribute to the realization of sustainable development goals. The preparation of construction materials, such as foam ceramics, concrete, and ceramic tiles, using CTW has recently piqued significant interest. In this regard, this study presents an overview of the technologies for recycling CTW into construction materials. CTW is primarily composed of SiO2 and Al2O3, including two minerals, namely, quartz and mullite. Furthermore, CTW has not only been identified as potential substitutes for conventional concrete aggregates but also as substitutes for ceramic raw materials in the industrial production of ceramic tiles. Foam ceramics can be synthesized from polishing tile waste using silicon carbide contained in the polishing tile waste as a foaming agent. In this review, current achievements in CTW recycling are highlighted. The pending challenges and the points to be considered for further research are also discussed. It is hoped that this review serves as a preliminary step to promote the widespread adoption of CTW as feedstocks for construction materials by construction industries.