Mechanical and Environmental Performance of Iron ore Tailing-based Geopolymers

Abstract

Recent studies show iron ore tailings IOT possibilities as a sustainable substitute in geopolymer production. With an estimated 1.2 billion tons stored in tailings dams worldwide each year, iron ore tailings disposal poses significant environmental challenges. These tailings occupy land, polluting soil and water, and pose a risk of dam failure. Geopolymers, commonly known as sustainable replacements for conventional concrete and reductions in cement usage, are one of the most important sources of CO₂ emissions. Despite the emphasis on the sustainability of IOT-based geopolymers, most articles only focused on mechanical aspects and haven’t analyzed environmental aspects. This article addresses this research gap by examining the mechanical properties, durability, and environmental performance of IOT-based geopolymers via life cycle assessment. Results reveal that including IOT in geopolymers increases their compressive strength, up to 50 MPa, and improves. LCA results show the better performance of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide compared to potassium silicate and potassium hydroxide.