Producing sodium silicate powder from iron ore tailings for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders

Ricardo A.M. Figueiredo; Paulo R.G. Brandão; Marios Soutsos; Andréia B. Henriques; Andy Fourie; Douglas B. Mazzinghy

doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2021.129333

Producing sodium silicate powder from iron ore tailings for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders

Ricardo A.M. Figueiredo^*, Paulo R.G. Brandão, Marios Soutsos, Andréia B. Henriques, Andy Fourie, Douglas B. Mazzinghy

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Natural and Built Environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mine tailings disposal is an increasingly important issue for mining companies. Two recent tailing dam failures in Brazil have caused unmeasurable environmental, social and economic damages. This study evaluated the use of iron ore tailings (IOT) as a source of silica (SiO₂) to produce an alternative form of sodium silicate (SS) for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders. The novel SS was produced in a mechano-thermo-chemical process for mixing IOT with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The materials were characterised by mineral composition, mineral phase, chemical groups and morphology. One-part geopolymer binders were synthesised with commercial SS and SS produced from tailings to compare their reactivity. Compressive strength tests showed that geopolymers produced with tailings SS and commercial SS achieved maximum mechanical resistance values of approximately 32 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, which are comparable to regular Portland cement.

Original language	English
Article number	129333
Journal	Materials Letters
Volume	288
Early online date	23 Jan 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2021.129333
Publication status	Published - 01 Apr 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Alkaline activator
Alternative binder
Geopolymer
Mining waste
Sustainability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanics of Materials
Mechanical Engineering

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title = "Producing sodium silicate powder from iron ore tailings for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders",

abstract = "Mine tailings disposal is an increasingly important issue for mining companies. Two recent tailing dam failures in Brazil have caused unmeasurable environmental, social and economic damages. This study evaluated the use of iron ore tailings (IOT) as a source of silica (SiO2) to produce an alternative form of sodium silicate (SS) for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders. The novel SS was produced in a mechano-thermo-chemical process for mixing IOT with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The materials were characterised by mineral composition, mineral phase, chemical groups and morphology. One-part geopolymer binders were synthesised with commercial SS and SS produced from tailings to compare their reactivity. Compressive strength tests showed that geopolymers produced with tailings SS and commercial SS achieved maximum mechanical resistance values of approximately 32 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, which are comparable to regular Portland cement.",

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AU - Figueiredo, Ricardo A.M.

AU - Brandão, Paulo R.G.

AU - Soutsos, Marios

AU - Henriques, Andréia B.

AU - Fourie, Andy

AU - Mazzinghy, Douglas B.

PY - 2021/4/1

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N2 - Mine tailings disposal is an increasingly important issue for mining companies. Two recent tailing dam failures in Brazil have caused unmeasurable environmental, social and economic damages. This study evaluated the use of iron ore tailings (IOT) as a source of silica (SiO2) to produce an alternative form of sodium silicate (SS) for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders. The novel SS was produced in a mechano-thermo-chemical process for mixing IOT with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The materials were characterised by mineral composition, mineral phase, chemical groups and morphology. One-part geopolymer binders were synthesised with commercial SS and SS produced from tailings to compare their reactivity. Compressive strength tests showed that geopolymers produced with tailings SS and commercial SS achieved maximum mechanical resistance values of approximately 32 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, which are comparable to regular Portland cement.

AB - Mine tailings disposal is an increasingly important issue for mining companies. Two recent tailing dam failures in Brazil have caused unmeasurable environmental, social and economic damages. This study evaluated the use of iron ore tailings (IOT) as a source of silica (SiO2) to produce an alternative form of sodium silicate (SS) for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders. The novel SS was produced in a mechano-thermo-chemical process for mixing IOT with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The materials were characterised by mineral composition, mineral phase, chemical groups and morphology. One-part geopolymer binders were synthesised with commercial SS and SS produced from tailings to compare their reactivity. Compressive strength tests showed that geopolymers produced with tailings SS and commercial SS achieved maximum mechanical resistance values of approximately 32 MPa and 40 MPa, respectively, which are comparable to regular Portland cement.

KW - Alkaline activator

KW - Alternative binder

KW - Geopolymer

KW - Mining waste

KW - Sustainability

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DO - 10.1016/j.matlet.2021.129333

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SN - 0167-577X

VL - 288

JO - Materials Letters

JF - Materials Letters

M1 - 129333

ER -

Producing sodium silicate powder from iron ore tailings for use as an activator in one-part geopolymer binders

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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