In recent years, the reuse of industrially generated residues in ceramic bodies has been an important issue. Reuse of industrial waste products is not only environmental responsibility, but also cost reduction and efficient use of raw materials. The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of using press filter cake (PFC) instead of calcite in the production of anorthite-based ceramics. The PFC is an industrial solid waste, which is a by-product in the production of sugar from sugar beet. This solid waste quantity is about one million ton per year in Turkey. PFC was evaluated as alternative raw material in the preparation of anorthite based ceramic bodies. In this study, anorthite based ceramics were produced by using two different types of calcium oxide source. While PFC and calcite were used as CaO source, clay was used as the source of aluminum silicate. Compositions were prepared from 30% calcium oxide sources and 70% clay by weight. The ceramic bodies were sintered at different temperatures from 1000 ^oC to 1200 ^oC. The micro-porous structure of ceramics were obtained by burning of organic substances and by decomposing of carbonate compounds of the PFC wastes during firing process. The differences between the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of anorthite based ceramics produced from two different CaO sources were investigated. Also, their phase analysis results were compared. While the specimens with 30 wt% PFC addition fired at 1200 ^oC contained anorthite (CaO·Al₂O₃·2SiO₂) and cristobalite (SiO₂) as major phase, the specimens with 30wt% calcite addition fired at same temperature included anorthite as major phase and minor secondary phases such as cristobalite and quartz.

Keywords: Sugar processing wastes, Firing, CAS ceramics, Phase analysis, Microstructure