Characterisation tests for mechanical stabilisation of dredged sediments using shell powder

In port management and construction of port infra-structures, the deepening the seabed makes it necessary to dispose large quantities of dredged sediments. This problem is considerable not only in Italy: about 150 million m3 of sediments are dredged every year in Europe. Both the national and international legislative framework, therefore, encourage the reuse, recycling, and recovery of dredged materials, even when contaminated, after adequate check and decontamination treatments. This scenario favours the scientific and technological research in the transformation of sediments from waste to environmental resource and several recent contributions aim to define scientifically based approaches for a systematization of sustainable reuse processes. This study is part of this context and entails experimental research that aims to contribute to open novel perspectives in this field, with applications for industrial interest. The results show the effects of the use of traditional binders for the treatment of fine-grained dredged sediments in comparison with greener solutions where part of the binder’s content has been replaced by mussel shell powder. The note shows the results of the effects of these treatments on both the index and microstructural properties of the sediments.