The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance

Ayse Gul; Azize Yıldız; Yusuf Çağatay Erşan

doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277

The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance

Abstract

The construction industry faces urgent pressure to adopt sustainable, low-carbon materials. Fiber reinforced concrete appears as a more sustainable alternative to conventional concrete due to its improved mechanical properties and durability. Commonly tested synthetic fibers do not provide holistic economic and environmental benefits. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are emerging as resource recovery hubs for biopolymers like cellulose, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fibers. However, the application of sewage-derived cellulose fibers in cementitious composites remains under-explored. This study evaluates the integration of cellulose fibers, extracted from primary sludge of a WWTP as an alternative to synthetic fibers in concrete applications. We incorporated recovered cellulose fibers at a 0.2% w/w into concrete (0.5% v/v) and evaluated the fresh and hardened properties of this fiber reinforced concrete. While fiber addition reduced workability due to high water absorption, it significantly improved mechanical performance. Compressive strength increased by 5% at 7 days and 6% at 28 days. These improvements are attributed to internal curing effects and enhanced fiber-matrix bonding. This research demonstrated a viable pathway for upcycling sewage-derived cellulose into sustainable construction materials within a circular economy framework.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

Tubitak 2209-A (2023 yılı 2. dönem kapsamında 1919B012326677 numaralı başvuru)

Ethical Statement

The study is complied with research and publication ethics

Thanks

TÜBİTAK's 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program supported this acquisition. We thank TUBITAK for its financial support and contributions throughout the research process.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Waste Management, Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, Construction Materials

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ayse Gul
0000-0002-2305-6408
Türkiye

Azize Yıldız
0009-0005-6810-6105
Türkiye

Yusuf Çağatay Erşan ^*
0000-0003-4128-0195
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 24, 2026

Submission Date

September 30, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA68CD92NS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Gul, A., Yıldız, A., & Erşan, Y. Ç. (2026). The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(1), 216-227. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277

AMA

1.Gul A, Yıldız A, Erşan YÇ. The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15(1):216-227. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277

Chicago

Gul, Ayse, Azize Yıldız, and Yusuf Çağatay Erşan. 2026. “The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 (1): 216-27. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277.

EndNote

Gul A, Yıldız A, Erşan YÇ (March 1, 2026) The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 1 216–227.

IEEE

[1]A. Gul, A. Yıldız, and Y. Ç. Erşan, “The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 216–227, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277.

ISNAD

Gul, Ayse - Yıldız, Azize - Erşan, Yusuf Çağatay. “The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15/1 (March 1, 2026): 216-227. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277.

JAMA

1.Gul A, Yıldız A, Erşan YÇ. The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15:216–227.

MLA

Gul, Ayse, et al. “The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 216-27, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277.

Vancouver

1.Ayse Gul, Azize Yıldız, Yusuf Çağatay Erşan. The Effect of Cellulose Fibers Recovered from Primary Sludge on Concrete Performance. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Mar. 1;15(1):216-27. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1794277