Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers

Commercialization of alkali-activated slag faces, among others, two major hurdles: limited availability of blast-furnace slag and the high cost of alkaline activators. Furthermore, the corrosive nature of the alkaline solution, the energy-intensive production, and the resulting CO2 emissions signifi...

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Main Authors: Hamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad, Tamino Hirsch, Raoul Mancke, Rafia Firdous, Christian Lehmann, Anja Buchwald, Dietmar Stephan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Cleaner Engineering and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824001411
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author Hamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad
Tamino Hirsch
Raoul Mancke
Rafia Firdous
Christian Lehmann
Anja Buchwald
Dietmar Stephan
author_facet Hamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad
Tamino Hirsch
Raoul Mancke
Rafia Firdous
Christian Lehmann
Anja Buchwald
Dietmar Stephan
author_sort Hamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad
collection DOAJ
description Commercialization of alkali-activated slag faces, among others, two major hurdles: limited availability of blast-furnace slag and the high cost of alkaline activators. Furthermore, the corrosive nature of the alkaline solution, the energy-intensive production, and the resulting CO2 emissions significantly impede widespread adoption. This research presents a novel approach to overcome these challenges and pave the way for commercially viable alkali-activated binders. We propose utilizing highly reactive artificial granulated slag (AS) synthesized from the treatment of slag generated during ferrochrome alloy production. This AS serves as the primary reactive precursor within the alkali-activated system. Activation of AS with a low Na2O concentration (3 wt%) yields a hardened material boasting a remarkable 90 d compressive strength of approx. 105 MPa. Capitalizing on the exceptional reactivity of AS, we explored its partial replacement with readily available and cost-effective quartz and limestone powders. Despite the lower reactivity of these fillers compared to AS, the resulting hardened materials containing 50 vol% filler still achieve an impressive 90 d compressive strength of 75 MPa, even with a low Na2O content of 2 wt%. Phase composition determined via thermodynamic modelling closely aligns with microanalyses and the observed compressive strength. Life cycle assessment (LCA) conclusively demonstrates that the synergistic combination of highly reactive AS, fillers, and low Na2O concentration offers a promising route for producing alkali-activated binders with significantly lower energy demand and CO2–eqv emissions (up to 67% reduction).
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spelling doaj-art-fb3e8d3e067a447395a09776c4ba63b42025-08-20T02:52:23ZengElsevierCleaner Engineering and Technology2666-79082025-02-012410086110.1016/j.clet.2024.100861Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillersHamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad0Tamino Hirsch1Raoul Mancke2Rafia Firdous3Christian Lehmann4Anja Buchwald5Dietmar Stephan6Department of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany; Raw Building Materials and Processing Technology Research Institute, Housing and Building National Research Center (HBRC), El-Behooth St. 87, 11511, Cairo, Egypt; Corresponding author. Department of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany.Department of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, GermanyASCEM B.V., Schaarweg 4 6991 GV Rheden, Postbus 11, 6669, ZG, Dodewaard, NetherlandsDepartment of Civil Engineering, Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, GermanyCommercialization of alkali-activated slag faces, among others, two major hurdles: limited availability of blast-furnace slag and the high cost of alkaline activators. Furthermore, the corrosive nature of the alkaline solution, the energy-intensive production, and the resulting CO2 emissions significantly impede widespread adoption. This research presents a novel approach to overcome these challenges and pave the way for commercially viable alkali-activated binders. We propose utilizing highly reactive artificial granulated slag (AS) synthesized from the treatment of slag generated during ferrochrome alloy production. This AS serves as the primary reactive precursor within the alkali-activated system. Activation of AS with a low Na2O concentration (3 wt%) yields a hardened material boasting a remarkable 90 d compressive strength of approx. 105 MPa. Capitalizing on the exceptional reactivity of AS, we explored its partial replacement with readily available and cost-effective quartz and limestone powders. Despite the lower reactivity of these fillers compared to AS, the resulting hardened materials containing 50 vol% filler still achieve an impressive 90 d compressive strength of 75 MPa, even with a low Na2O content of 2 wt%. Phase composition determined via thermodynamic modelling closely aligns with microanalyses and the observed compressive strength. Life cycle assessment (LCA) conclusively demonstrates that the synergistic combination of highly reactive AS, fillers, and low Na2O concentration offers a promising route for producing alkali-activated binders with significantly lower energy demand and CO2–eqv emissions (up to 67% reduction).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824001411CO2 emissionsActivation productsHeat of hydrationCommercial viabilityCompressive strengthMicrostructure
spellingShingle Hamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad
Tamino Hirsch
Raoul Mancke
Rafia Firdous
Christian Lehmann
Anja Buchwald
Dietmar Stephan
Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
Cleaner Engineering and Technology
CO2 emissions
Activation products
Heat of hydration
Commercial viability
Compressive strength
Microstructure
title Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
title_full Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
title_fullStr Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
title_full_unstemmed Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
title_short Performance, thermodynamic modelling, and global warming potential of low sodium-activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
title_sort performance thermodynamic modelling and global warming potential of low sodium activated artificial granulated slag substituted with quartz and limestone fillers
topic CO2 emissions
Activation products
Heat of hydration
Commercial viability
Compressive strength
Microstructure
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824001411
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