Harnessing Industrial Discharges for Sustainable Recycled Aggregate Geopolymer Concrete: Material, Microstructural, and Thermal Insights
摘要
The high carbon footprint of cement, the generation of construction and demolition waste, and the disposal of industrial discharges present critical challenges to achieving environmental sustainability. This study investigates the efficiency of recycled aggregate geopolymer concrete (RAGC) prepared using four types of industrial discharges as a complete replacement for freshwater in the mix. The effects of these discharges on compressive strength (COS), split tensile strength (ST), resistance to sulfuric acid, and chloride ion migration (CIM) were evaluated at varying curing durations. Mineralogical and microstructural properties of the RAGC compositions were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, and TGA-DTG curves. The results revealed that concrete produced with textile discharge exhibited a 25% and 17% improvement in COS and ST, respectively, being the highest compared to freshwater-based concrete at 90 days. Although fertilizer discharge RAGC exhibited the highest CIM and mass loss under acid exposure, it demonstrated superior acid resistance due to the protective properties of geopolymer particles. Overall, while COS varied significantly among the different RAGC compositions, no substantial differences were observed in ST, CIM, or acid resistance, highlighting the potential of RAGC for sustainable concrete production. The TF composition exhibited the densest microstructure, characterized by C-S-H gels that enhanced mechanical properties and durability. TGA-DTG analysis showed that the TF mix had the lowest mass loss (19.86% at 400 °C and 24.16% at 600 °C), whereas the SF mix had the uppermost mass loss (23.54% and 27.29%, respectively). Combined XRD and TGA-DTG analyses indicated that the incorporation of silica fume and GGBS improved the mechanical efficiency and thermal stability of the TF mix, further enhancing the overall efficiency of the composites.