Xiaolu Guo

Utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash for sulfoaluminate cement clinker production

The feasibility of partially substituting raw materials with municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash in sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) clinker production was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), compressive strength and free expansion ratio testing. Three different leaching tests were used to assess the environmental impact of the produced material. Experimental results show that the replacement of MSWI fly ash could be taken up to 30% in the raw mixes. The good quality SAC clinkers are obtained by controlling the compositional parameters at alkalinity modulus (C(m)) around 1.05, alumina-sulfur ratio (P) around 2.5, alumina-silica ratio (N) around 2.0~3.0 and firing the raw mixes at 1250 °C for 2h. The compressive strengths of SAC are high in early age while that develop slowly in later age. Results also show that the expansive properties of SAC are strongly depended on the gypsum content. Leaching studies of toxic elements in the hydrated SAC-based system reveal that all the investigated elements are well bounded in the clinker minerals or immobilized by the hydration products. Although some limited positive results indicate that the SAC prepared from MSWI fly ash would present no immediate thread to the environment, the long-term toxicity leaching behavior needs to be further studied.

Effects of steel slag powder on workability and durability of concrete

The workability and durability of a type of sustainable concrete made with steel slag powder were investigated. The hydrated products of cement paste with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) alone or with a combined admixture of GGBFS-steel slag powder were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the mechanism of chemically activated steel slag powder was also studied. The experimental results showed that when steel slag powder was added to concrete, the slumps through the same time were lower. The initial and final setting times were slightly retarded. The dry shrinkages were lower, and the abrasion resistance was better. The chemically activated steel slag powder could improve compressive strengths, resistance to chloride permeation and water permeation, as well as carbonization resistance. XRD patterns indicated that the activators enhanced the formation of calcium silicate hydrate(C-S-H) gel and ettringite (AFt). This research contributes to sustainable disposal of wastes and has the potential to provide several important environmental benefits.

Utilization of thermally treated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and class-C Fly Ash (CFA) to prepare CFA-based geopolymer

The feasibility of utilization of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and Class-C fly ash (CFA) to prepare CFA-based geopolymer were studied. The results showed that geopolymer made from 90% CFA and 10% FGD gypsum (FGDG) which was thermally treated at 800 °C for 1 h obtained the better compressive strength of 37.0 MPa. The micro characteristics and structures of the geopolymer samples of CFA and CFA-FGDG were tested by XRD, FT-IR, and SEM-EDXA after these samples cured at 75 °C for 8 h followed by 23 °C for 28 d. Both the geopolymer samples of CFA and CFA-FGDG have significant asymmetric stretching of Al-O/Si-O bonds and Si-O-Si / Si-O-Al bending band. In geopolymer sample of CFA-FGDG, a small quantity of lathy products probably being the ettringite wrapped over the spherical fly ash particle, and the concentration of sulfur is much more than that in geopolymer sample of CFA. It is indicated that FGD gypsum may react during alkali-activated and geopolymeric process.

Static and dynamic leaching experiments of heavy metals from fly ash-based geopolymers

The feasibility of high calcium fly ash (CFA)-based geopolymers to fix heavy metals were studied. The CFA-based geopolymers were prepared from CFA, flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), and water treatment residual (WTR). The static leaching showed that heavy metals concentrations from CFAbased geopolymers were lower than their maximum concentration limits according to the U.S. environmental protection law. And the encapsulated and fixed ratios of heavy metals by the CFA-based geopolymers were 96.02%–99.88%. The dynamic real-time leaching experiment showed that concentration of Pb (II) was less than 1.1 μg / L, Cr (VI) less than 3.25 mg / L, while Hg (II) less than 4.0 μg / L. Additionally, dynamic accumulated leaching concentrations were increased at the beginning of leaching process then kept stable. During the dynamic leaching process, heavy metals migrated and accumulated in an area near to the solid-solution interface. When small part of heavy metals in “the accumulated area” breached through the threshold value of physical encapsulation and chemical fixation they migrated into solution. The dynamic leaching ratios and effective diffusion coefficients of heavy metals from CFA-based geopolymer were very low and the long-term security of heavy metals in CFA-based geopolymer was safe.

Influence of thermally treated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum on performance of the slag powder concrete

The feasibility of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) as concrete admixture was studied. A combined concrete admixture of the thermally-treated FGD gypsum and slag powder was explored. The FGD gypsum was roasted at 200 °C for 60 min and then mixed with the slag powder to form FGD gypsum-slag powder combined admixture in which the SO3 content was 3.5wt%. Cement was partially and equivalently replaced by slag powder alone or FGD gypsum-slag powder, at concentration of 25wt%, 40wt%, and 50wt%, respectively. The setting times, hydration products, total porosity and pore size distributions of the paste were determined. The compressive strength and drying shrinkage of cement mortar and concrete were also tested. The experimental results show that, in the presence of FGD gypsum, the setting times are much slower than those of pastes in the absence of FGD gypsum. The combination of FGD gypsum and slag powder provides synergistic benefits above that of slag powder alone. The addition of FGD gypsum provides benefit by promoting ettringite formation and forms a compact microstructure, increasing the compressive strength and reduces the drying shrinkage of cement mortar and concrete.