Transformations of Na, Al, Si and Fe species in red mud during synthesis of one-part geopolymers

Abstract Reaction mechanism of one-part geopolymer formation using red mud (RM) was explored in this study. Leaching test, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Mossbauer spectroscopy and nitrogen isothermal adsorption (NIA) were conducted to study transformations of Na, Al, Si, Fe species, binding energies of Al O and Si O, and pore structure, respectively. The alkali-thermal-activated RM could dissolve in water to release large amounts of soluble Na, Al and Si species for geopolymerization. But more dissolved Si is needed from added silica fume (SF) to form stable geopolymer gels. The binding energies of Al O and Si O bonds in the geopolymer increased with the polymerization of reactive SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 . The coordinated Fe 3 + in RM played a role like Al 3 + by replacing it in the aluminosilicates structure, and exerted no obvious impact on geopolymerization. The dissolved SF took part in the geopolymerization to form dense geopolymer matrices in long-term curing.

[1]  T. Advocat,et al.  Kinetic aspects of basaltic glass dissolution at 90°C: role of aqueous silicon and aluminium , 1997 .

[2]  J. Deventer,et al.  Reaction mechanisms in the geopolymeric conversion of inorganic waste to useful products. , 2007, Journal of hazardous materials.

[3]  I. Giannopoulou,et al.  UTILIZATION OF ALUMINA RED MUD FOR SYNTHESIS OF INORGANIC POLYMERIC MATERIALS , 2009 .

[4]  J. Deventer,et al.  Characterising the Reaction of Metakaolin in an Alkaline Environment by XPS, and Time- and Spatially-Resolved FTIR Spectroscopy , 2015 .

[5]  J. Deventer,et al.  Geopolymer technology: the current state of the art , 2007 .

[6]  M. Dondi,et al.  Composition and technological properties of geopolymers based on metakaolin and red mud , 2013 .

[7]  Yu-zhen Yu,et al.  The strength and microstructure of two geopolymers derived from metakaolin and red mud-fly ash admixture: A comparative study , 2012 .

[8]  J. Jumas,et al.  57Fe Mössbauer study of iron distribution in a kaolin raw material: influence of the temperature and the heating rate , 2002 .

[9]  G. Power,et al.  Bauxite residue issues: III. Alkalinity and associated chemistry , 2011 .

[10]  N. Roussel,et al.  A multinuclear static NMR study of geopolymerisation , 2015 .

[11]  Xinyuan Ke,et al.  Synthesis and Characterization of Geopolymer from Bayer Red Mud with Thermal Pretreatment , 2014 .

[12]  A. Eštoková,et al.  Monitoring and characterization of creation of geopolymers prepared from fly ash and metakaolin by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy method , 2015 .

[13]  Bhupinder Singh,et al.  Geopolymer concrete: A review of some recent developments , 2015 .

[14]  Bo Xiao,et al.  Review on treatment and utilization of bauxite residues in China , 2009 .

[15]  Sanjay Kumar,et al.  Development of paving blocks from synergistic use of red mud and fly ash using geopolymerization , 2013 .

[16]  Hubert A. Gasteiger,et al.  Solubility of aluminosilicates in alkaline solutions and a thermodynamic equilibrium model , 1992 .

[17]  Craig Klauber,et al.  Bauxite residue issues: I. Current management, disposal and storage practices , 2011 .

[18]  Normando Perazzo Barbosa,et al.  Iron Distribution in Geopolymer with Ferromagnetic Rich Precursor , 2010 .

[19]  Bo Xiao,et al.  Synthesis and strength optimization of one-part geopolymer based on red mud , 2016 .

[20]  Ángel Palomo,et al.  Alkali-activated fly ashes: A cement for the future , 1999 .

[21]  G. Power,et al.  Bauxite residue issues: II. options for residue utilization , 2011 .

[22]  Mo Zhang,et al.  Synthesis factors affecting mechanical properties, microstructure, and chemical composition of red mud–fly ash based geopolymers , 2014 .

[23]  Longtu Li,et al.  Investigation on the activation of coal gangue by a new compound method. , 2010, Journal of hazardous materials.

[24]  John L. Provis,et al.  One‐Part Geopolymers Based on Thermally Treated Red Mud/NaOH Blends , 2015 .

[25]  Jian He,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of red mud and rice husk ash-based geopolymer composites , 2013 .

[26]  T. Cheng,et al.  Fire-resistant geopolymer produced by granulated blast furnace slag , 2003 .