Characterisation of Sand Casting and Oyster Shells as Potential Sources of Raw Material for the Production of Soda-Lime Glasses

Abstract

In this work, foundry sands (silica source) from metal casting and oyster shells (source of calcium carbonate) wastes were collected and characterized for use as raw materials for the production of soda-lime glasses. The wastes were characterized and classified according to their physical, chemical and mineralogical natures. The sands and crushed oyster shell samples had a particle size distribution suitable for the production of glasses (up to 200 µm). Chemical analysis confirmed the high silica content of sand samples (~ 96 %) and calcium oxide in oyster shells (~ 54 %). The results showed that the foundry sands and oyster shells are potential candidates to be used for the production of soda-lime glasses allowing thus the recovery of these wastes.