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

Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering

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

37 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
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2021.129333
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2021

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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.

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

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