A review on methods for liberating lithium from pegmatities

Sustainable geopolymer using lithium concentrate residues

Measurement of particle agglomeration and aggregate breakdown of reclaimed asphalt pavement

In this study, the use of residues from the processing of bauxite and glass powder as precursors for the preparation of geopolymers was evaluated. The route used was an alkaline solution of NaOH with three different molarities. Nine compositions of the percussion (waste) and the activator used were verified. XRF, XRD, laser granulometry, SEM, FTIR, BET, DTG, and compressive strength tests were used to verify the physical and chemical characteristics of the residues used and the geopolymers obtained. Some geopolymers developed efflorescence on their surfaces, indicating a higher alkali content. The compressive strength increased with the addition of small amounts of Portland cement (5%). The composition with the best performance exhibited a compressive strength of 11.35 ± 1.23 MPa after 28 days. The results of the chemical analysis showed the formation of the characteristic gel of the geopolymers. However, the primary finding was that the amount of activator (sodium hydroxide) proved to be inefficient because of the intrinsic alkaline properties of the red mud, which were already effective in the alkaline activation process. 

Ecological geopolymer produced with a ternary system of red mud, glass waste, and Portland cement

Rethinking the carbon dioxide emissions of road sector: Integrating advanced vehicle technologies and construction supply chains mitigation options under decarbonization plans

Cementitious binders and reclaimed asphalt aggregates for sustainable pavement base layers: Potential, challenges and research needs

Spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) is a natural occurring mineral which is processed to produce lithium carbonate (LiCO3) and lithium hydroxide (LiOH), both used for several industrial and medical applications. The processing of spodumede generates a lithium aluminosilicate residue with no commercial value in Brazil, which is therefore landfilled. This paper studied the effect of the partial replacement of Portland cement (PC) in the production of sustainable concrete masonry units (CMU) for construction. The residue was thoroughly characterized and its interaction with PC was also assessed. Several mixes of CMU were manufactured and compared with a reference mix (without residue). Results indicated that the lithium aluminosilicate is highly reactive and may replace PC in the concrete formulations.

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Lithium Aluminosilicate Residue as Raw Material in the Production of Sustainable Concrete Masonry Units: A Brazilian Case

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is a recyclable aggregate produced during the demolition of old flexible pavements and consists of natural aggregates (NA) coated with aged bitumen. The detrimental effect caused by the bitumen coating on strength and porosity has limited the use of RAP on traditional cementitious systems. This study investigates the potential use of fine RAP to substitute NA in the production of alkali-activated slag mortars (AAM). The effect of different activator dosages was assessed, i.e., either 4% or 6% Na2O (wt. slag) combined with a modulus of silica equal to 0, 0.5 and 1.0. The characterisation of 100% RAP-AAM consisted of hydration kinetics (Isothermal Calorimetry), pore size distribution (Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry), mechanical performance (Compressive and Flexural strength), and microstructure analysis (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy). The results show that RAP aggregates do not compromise the reaction of the matrices; however, it causes a significant strength loss (compressive strength of RAP-mortars 54% lower than reference NA-mortar at 28 days). The higher porosity at the interface transition zone of RAP-AAM is the main responsible for the lower strength performance. Increasing silicate dosages improves alkaline activation, but it has little impact on the adhesion between aggregate and bitumen. Despite the poorer mechanical performance, 100% RAP-AAM still yields enough strength to promote this recycled material in engineering applications.

The Effect of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Aggregates on the Reaction, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Alkali-Activated Slag

High-performance cementitious composites have been developed to overcome the brittleness of mortars and concretes, thus improving the deformation and toughness of these materials under flexion and tension. Poli Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) fibres are employed in the production of such “Engineered Cementitious Composites” - ECC; the PVA fibres have a loadcarrying capacity after the first crack (matrix failure), which changes the mechanical behaviour of the composites from brittle to ductile and significantly increases the ultimate strength. This deflection or strain-hardening behaviour is accompanied by a multiple cracking of the composites, which results from the design of a proper formulation, with correct amount of PVA fibres (usually 2% vol. fraction) and employment of a very fine sand (passing 0.6 mm). Recent developments in the area of ECC comprise the replacement of Portland cement (PC) matrices with alkali-activated materials (AAM). The idea is to produce composites with similar performance but with improved chemical durability and lower environmental impact. A more sustainable solution would consider the replacement of the fine sand with mine tailings in the production of ECC-AAM. Some tailings from the iron-ore mining activities in Brazil are significantly finer than those aggregates used for PC mortars and concretes; therefore, they cannot be employed in traditional PC-based materials. Nevertheless, those fine materials could replace the fine natural aggregate used in the production of ECC. This paper investigates the replacement of a natural quartz sand with an iron-rich mine tailing in PVA-reinforced AAM. Four composites were studied from a combination of two different matrices and 2 different aggregates. The matrices were obtained from the alkaline activation of metakaolin (MK) with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH); silica fume (SF) was used to adjust their composition: SiO2 / Al2O3 molar ratio equal to 3.0 or 3.8. The aggregates used were either natural quartz (passing 0.6 mm) or tailings produced during the mining activities of iron ore in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mine tailing studied is much finer than the natural sand (passing 0.3 mm) but it was used as received in the production of ECC-AAM. The aggregate to binder ratio was kept constant (equal to 1.0 in mass) irrespective of the type of aggregate. All mortars were reinforced with 2% vol. of PVA fibres; extra water was added to the mixes to maintain the same consistency for the composites. The mechanical properties investigated are compressive strength, flexural strength and toughness. The apparent dry density of the mortars was also assessed. The preliminary results presented in this paper indicate that iron-rich tailings may be effectively used in the production of ECC-AAM; however, durability tests are still necessary.

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Flávio Antônio dos Santos

Papers

Cementitious binders and reclaimed asphalt aggregates for sustainable pavement base layers: Potential, challenges and research needs

Lithium Aluminosilicate Residue as Raw Material in the Production of Sustainable Concrete Masonry Units: A Brazilian Case

The Effect of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Aggregates on the Reaction, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Alkali-Activated Slag

High-performance alkali-activated composites containing an iron-ore mine tailing as aggregate