Preliminary Study of the Use of a Secondary Lead Smelting Slag as an Addition to Portland Cement

Abstract

In this work, the preliminary study about the use of secondary lead smelting slag (SLSS) as an addition to Portland cement is presented. SLSS is a waste from a Colombian secondary lead smelter. The chemical, physical and mineralogical characteristics of the raw materials were evaluated by X-ray fluorescence, particle size and X-ray diffraction. To assess the SLSS pozzolanic activity, the ASTM C618 standards were used. Additionally, cement pastes added with SLSS as Portland cement replacement in proportions of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30% were prepared, to study the hydration process at 7, 14 and 28 of curing times. To determine the hydration products the technique of X-ray diffraction was used. Furthermore, the environmental test TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) was performed in pastes with 28 days of curing time. Results showed that SLSS reported an index of pozzolanic activity of 87%, this value meets the standard (greater than 75%). The hydration process showed that since early curing time the waste presented a good reactivity. TCLP results satisfied the environmental standards. The outcomes showed that this waste could be used as a partial replacement of Portland cement.