Uptake of Metal Ions by Autoclaved Cement Pastes

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper deals with the hydration products and pore structure of Portland cement (PC) and alkali-phosphorus slag cement (APSC) pastes, and the uptake of metal ions (Sr2+, Co2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+) in pastes which have been hydrated at 150°C for 25 days. Results indicate that the hydration products of PC are crystalline Ca(OH)2 and C2SH(A); for APSC the products are poorly crystallized low-basic CSH(B) and crystalline tobermorite. The PC pastes have a lower total porosity than APSC pastes, but the PC pastes consist mainly of larger pores with r> 1000Å, while the APSC pastes consist mainly of smaller pores with r< 100Å. The two types of paste were immersed for 19 days at room temperature in Sr2+, Co2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ solutions with concentrations of 100, 200, 500 and 1000 ppm. It was found that all Ca(OH)2, in the PC pastes was dissolved. Except for Sr2+, the uptake of metal ions by PC paste is mainly due to the formation of insoluble hydroxides. The uptake of metal ions by APSC pastes is due to physical adsorption and the formation of some insoluble compounds. The APSC pastes show a stable structure after immersion in these metal ion solutions.