Abstract
The construction sector is one of the most demanding sectors of raw materials in existence today. As a consequence, the extraction of these materials has a significant impact on the environment. At the same time, mining activities produce a series of wastes, in some cases with polluting elements, which must be treated to avoid pollution. Therefore, the use of mining waste for the conformation of new construction materials is an important environmental advantage, even more so when such waste is prevented from producing polluting leachates. Therefore, in this research, geopolymers are developed with mine tailings from the Linares lead mines, chemically activated with potassium hydroxide. For this purpose, different percentages of the alkaline activator were tested and the physical and mechanical properties of the conformed materials were evaluated. The analysis of the different conformed geopolymers determined the optimum percentage of potassium hydroxide for conforming the geopolymer with the best mechanical and physical properties. In addition, the concentration in the leachate of potentially contaminating chemical elements in the mining waste was estimated to be lower than those regulated by the regulations. Consequently, this research shows the development of a sustainable material for construction with mining waste and reduction of the environmental impact of traditional products.
Highlights
The development of the population’s well-being entails the consumption of large amounts of resources [1]
A new circular economy has emerged based on the reuse of waste as raw material for new materials, avoiding the landfilling of waste, reducing the extraction of raw materials, and creating a closed material flow [3]
To physically characterise the mine tailings, the density of the particles was calculated, obtaining a waste density of 2.62 ± 0.06 g/cm3. This density is very similar to that developed for conventional construction materials, which is around 2.65 g/cm3
Summary
The development of the population’s well-being entails the consumption of large amounts of resources [1]. This development leads to the generation of enormous amounts of waste. The currently used system of a linear economy, in which raw materials are extracted and the product is manufactured, used, and landfilled, is not a viable option for society today [2]. This type of circular economy can be applied to different sectors and activities. It is interesting to apply this new methodology in activities that consume large quantities of raw materials [4] and, at the same time, produce huge amounts of waste [5], as is the case for the construction and mining sectors
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