Use of Bauxite Washout Reagent for the Manufacture of Geopolymer Binders

ABSTRACT

The negative reality of environmental impacts has made society look for less aggressive alternatives to the environment. The productive chains of large companies, unfortunately, generate waste or tailings that contribute to this reality that has become the focus of discussion. This environmental issue becomes extremely important for the society of the state of Pará, since it has great mining potential focused on aluminum production, for example, and naturally by its process, produces waste and tailings that are deposited in form of large ponds. Aiming to make a positive contribution to society and the environment, we chose to use bauxite washing tailings as a source of aluminosilicates for the production of geopolymers that are three-dimensional cementitious materials formed by alkaline activation. Therefore, this research aims to verify the possibility of transforming bauxite tailings into a geopolymeric binder of mechanical strength equivalent to Portland cement. With Davidovits ratio (SiO₂/Al₂O₃) of 0.81 and 0.82 for the respective calcination temperatures at 600°C and 700°C, pressure tests were evaluated for 3 and 10 days of cure. The geopolymerization reaction was conducted at room temperature of 28°C using as activators 15 molar sodium hydroxide and 10 molar alkaline sodium silicate. XRD, XRF, SEM, particle size analysis, TG and DTA techniques were used to characterize the raw materials and geopolymers. The best geopolymer was calcined raw material at 700°C, Davidovits highest ratio 0.82, presenting fresh workability and greater mechanical compressive strength above 10.0MPa for 3 days when compared to the standards for CP II E 32 type cement.

Keywords
geopolymer; bauxite tailings; alkaline activator; resistance to compression