Valorization of demolition ceramic wastes and lignite bottom ash for the production of ternary blended cements

•Demolition ceramic wastes and lignite bottom ash additions to Portland cement.•Physical and mechanical properties of binary and ternary mixes evaluation.•Hydration degree and pozzolanic reaction confirmed by XRD and TG-DTA.•All mixtures satisfied the requirements for the strength class 42.5 as per standard EN 197-1. The present investigation aims to the utilization of demolition ceramic wastes (DCW) and coal bottom ash, derived from lignite combustion in power plants (LBA), for the development of ternary blended cements. The wastes under investigation were initially characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After their grinding to a specific surface area of about 4000 cm2/g, various cement mixtures were prepared substituting Portland cement up to 20%. The physico-mechanical properties of the produced blended cements were examined by means of standard consistency, initial and final setting times, soundness and compressive strength, after curing at 2, 7, 28, and 90 days. The hydration evolution study was accomplished using X-ray diffraction and TG/DTG analyses at various ages. The results showed that both DCW and LBA could be valorized for the production of ternary blended cements, thus presenting significant environmental benefits in waste management practice.