Characterization methodology for re-using marble slurry in industrial applications

Due to the widespread use of calcium carbonate as a raw material in a number of industrial fields, the recovery of marble waste and its processing in a marketable product is nowadays gaining an economical interest. Marble slurry waste samples were chemically, physically, mineralogically and morphologically analyzed and the obtained data were compared with marketable micronized CaCO3 specifications. The results have shown that marble waste could be re-used as a raw material in different industrial processes with no or light treatments. Besides the economic benefits, transforming a waste into an important economic resource involves environmental advantages and sustainability promotion.