Assessment of the Feasibility of Using Shell Sand in Civil Construction

This study investigated the use of shell sand, a residue derived from Anomalocardia flexuosa , as a partial substitute for natural sand in mortar mixtures. Three formulations were evaluated: a reference mix (REF), F25 (25% replacement), and F50 (50% replacement). The shell sand underwent washing with detergent and bleach, followed by air drying and crushing. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards and modeled using SimaPro software, was employed to quantify the environmental impacts of each formulation. The results indicated that, although Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP) remained stable, there were increases in acidification, eutrophication, and fossil resource consumption—mainly attributed to the use of detergent during shell sand processing. The environmental performance index (NDA), calculated using the MARS-SC methodology, revealed superior performance for REF (0.62), followed by F25 (0.50) and F50 (0.38). It is concluded that shell sand presents potential as an alternative aggregate; however, improvements in its processing are required to minimize associated environmental impacts.