Lead-Zinc Mine Tailings Valorization Through Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer for Building Material: Synthesis, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties
Abstract Using geopolymerization to value mining wastes in order to meet construction demand is a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy. Fly ash geopolymer materials have been developed to address environmental issues such as climate change caused by the emissions of CO2 from coal fly ash plants, mining, and cement industry into the atmosphere. The main objective of this study is to study the feasibility of using mine tailings to produce environmentally friendly building materials (so-called geopolymer products) with excellent mechanical strength through fly-based geopolymer technology. Fly ash (F.A.) and mine tailings (M.T.) were utilized as raw materials and gypsum (G.Y.) as additives. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at (5-10M) and sodium silicate (water glass) constituted the alkaline solution and were added separately to the mixture. The mechanical property and microstructure of the geopolymers were assessed by performing the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractions (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR). A 24 MPa was achieved at 10M NaOH with 100% F.A. Besides, low UCS values were obtained with only M.T. as a binder. The SEM imaging analysis confirmed similar results showing that the geopolymer specimens cured with 100% of F.A. at 10M NaOH with a moderate amount of gypsum are denser than those prepared without gypsum at 5M. The findings revealed that F.A., MT, and gypsum, together with the alkali reagents, influenced the geopolymerisation process. These factors responded effectively to the microstructural performance(increasing density), resulting in increased unconfined compressive strength.