Geopolymerization Reaction Research Articles

Rheology and microstructure of lithium slag/metakaolin geopolymer pastes: Insights from particle packing and water dynamic evolution

The high viscosity of alkali activator and physicochemical characteristics of metakaolin particles impair the rheological properties of fresh geopolymer pastes, becoming one of the urgent problems. To better understand and control the rheological properties of geopolymer pastes, this study investigates the particle packing of fluid suspensions and water dynamic evolution in pastes. The incorporation of lithium slag (LS) reduces the water required for the geopolymerization reaction, contributing to the increase of water film thickness between particles and the free water in pastes. Consequently, the internal friction between particles is reduced and the workability is improved. The results obtained identify the relevance of water film thickness and water occurrence state to qualitatively estimate the rheological properties, and confirm the applicability of LS for geopolymer manufacture. This work presents a theoretical approach towards assessing rheology and proposes an efficient method to develop more workable metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete.

Synthesis of geopolymer using glass fiber powder from retired wind blades: A new attempt to recycle solid waste in wind power industries

This study explores the potential of recycling and utilizing discarded wind turbine blades. It proposes a new method that upcycles the glass fiber powder (GFP) in these blades into geopolymer gel, offering a new solution for the recycling and treatment of retired wind blades. Analyses of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the GFP raw material and its dissolution in concentrated alkali indicate a large content of vitreous and active silica-aluminum, suggesting its suitability for producing geopolymers through alkali activation. The effects of the alkali activator modulus (Ms), alkali-binder ratio (N/B), and water-binder ratio (w/b), raw material particle size, and initial curing temperature on the compressive strength of the specimens were comprehensively and systematically investigated. The reaction behavior, chemical structure, and microstructure of GFP-synthesized geopolymers were characterized by selective dissolution, microcalorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results showed that gels were formed by the geopolymerization reaction between the GFP and alkali activator. The compressive strength of the specimens increased first and then decreased with increasing alkali activator Ms and N/B. However, increasing w/b led to a decrease in strength. Appropriately small particle sizes of the raw material and moderately increasing the initial curing temperature are beneficial to strengthen the compressive strength. The optimal 28 days compressive strength of 43.43 MPa was achieved with an activator Ms of 1.4, N/B of 10 %, w/b of 0.33, GFP with a D90 of 170 mesh, and an initial 24 h curing temperature of 60 °C. The results of this study can promote the utilization of waste wind blades in the production of sustainable building materials.

Effect of silica fume on the efflorescence, strength, and micro-properties of one-part geopolymer incorporating sewage sludge ash

The application of sewage sludge ash (SSA) in alkali activated cementitious material, i.e., geopolymer, was one of the effective measures to dispose of and recycle the sewage sludge. However, the geopolymer efflorescence could be aggravated due to elevated alkali content, especially for one-part geopolymer, where the dissolution reaction of solid alkali activator was less sufficient. This study focused on the efflorescence of GGBS-SSA based one-part geopolymer, as compared to two-part geopolymer, and the effect of silica fume on the efflorescence, strength and micro-properties of the one-part geopolymer. The results showed that the extent of efflorescence crystallization and the concentration of leached Na+ ions in the one-part geopolymer were more severe than the two-part geopolymer, due to the lower degree of geopolymerization reaction and the heterogeneous dense microstructure of the one-part geopolymer. After adding silica fume to the one-part geopolymer, the extent of efflorescence crystallization and the concentration of leached Na+ ions reduced significantly, and the compressive strength increased from 41.6 MPa to 57 MPa when the silica fume content was 10 %, but then decreased slightly. Adding the silica fume reduced the release rate of reaction heat, which helped to increase the solubility of solid alkali activator and improve the geopolymerization reaction, thus significantly reducing the content of mobile alkali ions and enhancing the compressive strength. Moreover, the silica fume with tiny spherical particle had better ball effect and micro-aggregate filling effect, which refined the pore size and reduced the connectivity of pore network, significantly reducing the diffusion rate and leaching of mobile alkali ions.

Geopolymer Paving Blocks Made From Fly Ash and Bagasse Ash Under Different Curing Conditions

This research aimed to study the geopolymer paving blocks made from fly ash and bagasse ash under different curing conditions. The fly ash was replaced by bagasse ash at 10, 20 and 30% by weight of the binder. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions were used as activated solutions. Three curing methods were studied: curing with plastic wrap (PT), curing at 35 °C for 1 hour (OV), and curing with sunlight (SU). Compressive strength and water absorption were investigated. The surface characteristics of the geopolymer paving block were studied using microstructure techniques. Sun curing provided the highest compressive strength. The water absorption values increased with an increase in the replacement percentage of bagasse ash. The surface of the geopolymer paving blocks showed remnants of the starting materials from the reaction. The geopolymer paste from the geopolymerization reaction was also found. This indicated the beneficial use of waste materials to produce environmentally friendly building materials.

Monitoring the Geopolymerization Reaction of Geopolymer Foams Using 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR

This study aims to investigate the geopolymerization reaction of geopolymer foams produced with three different foaming agents: aluminum powder, zinc powder, and hydrogen peroxide. The geopolymerization reaction of geopolymer foam was monitored using the 27Al and 29Si magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy technique. 27Al MAS-NMR was used to monitor the reaction at an early stage, while 29Si and 27Al MAS-NMR analyses were employed at specific time intervals of 3, 6, 10, 15, and 28 days to examine the changes that occurred in the formed gel over time. We discussed in detail how the type of foaming agent used and the duration of the reaction both influence the quantity of gel formed and the amount of remnant fly ash. Our findings indicate that the type of foaming agent used affects the formation and structure of the gel, with aluminum powder leading to the highest gel formation. Additionally, the duration of the reaction plays a significant role in determining the quantity of remnant fly ash, with longer reaction times resulting in decreased fly ash content. This study sheds light on the relevance of understanding the role of foaming agents in the geopolymerization reactions of geopolymer foams and the influence of reaction time on the formed gel properties.

Mechanism of geopolymeric solidification in shield-tunnelling slurry from diverse sources: The role of bentonite adsorption in influencing the reaction process

Geopolymeric solidification is an effective process for treating engineering waste slurry, yet its efficacy varies with source of slurry. This study examined four shield tunneling spoil types for geopolymeric solidification. The unconfined compressive strength of the best sample was 17–126% higher than the least effective one. A significant negative correlation between strength and bentonite indices was found. Subsequently, the addition of bentonite to the shield tunneling spoil for experiments, followed by various analyses, comfirmed bentonite's negative impact on strength. Bentonite forms agglomerates during geopolymerization, adsorbing hydration gel, weakening the direct linkage of the hydration gel; they also adsorb elements such as Al, Ca, and Na, hindering the formation of geopolymer products. However, the final adsorption ratio was not within the optimal range for geopolymer reactions, impeding the improvement in curing strength. This study offers the theoretical guidance for improving engineering waste slurry treatment processes.

Combined application of CDWs as precursors and aggregates in geopolymer composites: A comprehensive rheological analysis

The study of rheological characterization of construction and demolition waste (CDW)-based geopolymeric materials has gained interest due to digital innovation in construction and the increased focus on sustainable materials. Understanding the rheological behavior of these materials is essential due to their rapid geopolymeric reaction kinetics and viscosity behavior. This study investigated the impact of various CDW-based fine recycled aggregates, including crushed concrete aggregates (CRC), crushed ceramic-tile aggregates (CTA), and crushed brick aggregates (CBA), on the rheological behavior of geopolymer mortars (GPMs). Natural sand (NSA) was utilized as a reference for comparison purposes. In addition to CDW-aggregates, the GPMs were also made from optimized CDW-based precursors of brick waste powder (BP), ceramic-tile waste powder (TP), or concrete waste powder (CP). As a result, twelve different GPMs were considered, each containing 100 % individual CRC, CTA, and CBA fine aggregates, blended with BP, TP, and CP precursors. The study evaluated the relationship between the design variable of SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio as well as the packing densities (PD) of GPM systems and their rheological characteristics, such as flow, apparent and plastic viscosity, yield and shear stresses, thixotropy and shear strains employing the compressible packing method. The results indicate that all GPMs possess shear-thinning or pseudoplastic characteristics. Enhanced SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio generally resulted in increased rheological parameters. However, using TP as a precursor and CBA as fine aggregates in GPM matrices led to significant enhancement in rheological parameters due to the higher specific surface area of TP and the greater irregularity, convexity, and absorption capacity of CBA particles. Notably, although the enhanced non-colloidal frictional interactions and colloidal flocculation of CRC, CTA, and CBA resulted in reduced flow tendency of GPMs, they have been found to improve the thixotropy during the initial geopolymeric gelation stage.

Effect of Geopolymerization Reaction on the Flexural Strength of Kaolin-Based Systems.

Geopolymers exhibit broad application prospects, including construction and radiation shielding, which require excellent mechanical performances. However, investigations on the nature of geopolymerization reactions and their consequential impact on mechanical performance are still vague. In this study, the effect of the major factors of Si/Al ratio and curing time on the geopolymerization reaction and flexural strength were studied based on the microstructure evolution and chemical bonding formation analyzed using the SEM, FTIR, peak deconvolution, and XRD methods. The microstructure of geopolymers was transferred from initially layered smooth particles of kaolinite to a 3D network porous structure, corresponding to sodalite. A spectrum exclusive to the geopolymer structure occurred at 973 cm-1, corresponding to the sodium aluminum silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) links, the integral area of which represents the degree of geopolymerization reaction. Furthermore, a controllable reaction degree was achieved by adjusting the Si/Al ratio and curing time, where the maximum reaction degree of 55% was achieved at a Si/Al ratio of 1.94 when cured for 7 d. The correlation between the flexural strength and reaction degree was found to follow a proportional relationship, achieving a flexural strength of 21.11 MPa with a degree of 45%. This study provides insight into the development of mechanical strength through controlling the reaction process.

Enhancing geopolymer binder reactivity and performance via mechanochemical activation: A comprehensive study of rheological, mechanical, and microstructural properties

In this study, mechanochemical activation was utilized to formulate an eco- and user-friendly geopolymeric binder. This method offers an alternative approach to address challenges inherent in conventional two-part geopolymers. The process involves milling solid-state raw materials with diverse compositions, followed by the addition of water solely to initiate the geopolymerization reaction. Comparative analyses were conducted using conventionally activated geopolymer (CAG) paste and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) paste. The study also investigates the effects of ground granulated blast furnace slag/fly ash (GGBFS/FA) ratios (50:50, 75:25, and 100:0) and sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide (SS/SH) ratios (0.5, 1.5, and 2.5) on the rheological, fresh, mechanical, and microstructure characteristics of mechanochemically activated geopolymer (MAG) paste. The experimental findings indicate that mechanochemical activation reduced rheological characteristics and setting time, accompanied by an 11% increase in strength compared to the conventional activation method. Additionally, increased GGBFS content positively influenced rheological characteristics and mechanical properties, whereas higher SS/SH ratios adversely impacted these aspects. Setting time was significantly reduced with higher GGBFS content but increased with higher SS/SH ratios. Microstructural analysis revealed the presence of additional unreactive particles in both conventionally activated geopolymer and MAG paste containing 50% GGBFS.

Evaluation of the thermal stability of metakaolin-based geopolymers according to Si/Al ratio and sodium activator

The thermal stability of geopolymer pastes with different Si/Al ratios (1.5–3.0) and sodium activators (Na2SiO3 and/or NaOH) were evaluated in this study. The inclusion of Na2SiO3 induced an active geopolymer reaction, enhancing pre-heating compressive strength, but gradually reduced from 300 °C due to vapor pressure and microstructural deterioration caused by entrapped physically bound water. Conversely, the strength of geopolymers containing only NaOH remained stable or increased up to 600 °C, owing to additional geopolymerization from unreacted raw materials and compact matrix induced by thermal shrinkage. The aluminosilicate networks of all geopolymers remained relatively stable until crystalline nepheline formed above 800 °C; larger crystalline particles were formed in geopolymers with Na2SiO3 owing to its denser geopolymer matrix, whereas smaller crystalline particles were formed in geopolymers with smaller Si/Al and only with NaOH, resulting in fewer voids and stable mechanical strength. Swelling of silica was notable in Na2SiO3-activated geopolymer, resulting in greater strength loss upon heating, indicating that Na2SiO3 hinders the thermal stability of geopolymers at extreme temperatures.

Influence of concentration of causid sodium solution on the structure formation of cement matrix from flow dust from mineral wool production

One of the ways to utilize mineral wool production waste is to use it in an alkaline hydraulic binder. However, this requires an assessment of the structure of the raw material and the effect of the alkaline activator on it. The article presents the results of a study of the influence of caustic soda solution concentrations of 5,6,7,8,9,10 mol/l on the properties of a cement-sand solution from dust-flying gas purification system of a cupola furnace of mineral wool production. The features of the formation of a cement matrix with changes in concentration have been studied. The maximum compressive strength of 28 MPa and flexural strength of 7.1 MPa were obtained at a concentration of 6 mol/l. It has been established that when dust is mixed with water, the mineral calcium silicate hydrate – gismondine – is formed. During the geopolymerization reaction, gismondin is significantly reduced due to the formation of N-A-S-H gel and ziolites.

The Use of Lightweight Aggregates in Geopolymeric Mortars: The Effect of Liquid Absorption on the Physical/Mechanical Properties of the Mortar.

Geopolymers have been proposed as a green alternative to Portland cement with lowered carbon footprints. In this work, a geopolymeric mortar obtained using waste materials is studied. Fly ash, a waste generated by coal combustion, is used as one of the precursors, and waste glass as lightweight aggregates (LWAs) to improve the thermal performance of the mortar. The experimental study investigates the effect of varying the alkali activating solution (AAS) amount on the workability, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of the mortar. Indeed, AAS represents the most expensive component in geopolymer production and is the highest contributor to the environmental footprint of these materials. This research starts by observing that LWA absorbs part of the activating solution during mixing, suggesting that only a portion of the solution effectively causes the geopolymerization reactions, the remaining part wetting the aggregates. Three mixes were investigated to clarify these aspects: a reference mix with a solution content calibrated to have a plastic consistency and two others with the activating solution reduced by the amount absorbed by aggregates. In these cases, the reduced workability was solved by adding the aggregates in a saturated surface dry state in one mix and free water in the other. The experimental results evidenced that free water addiction in place of a certain amount of the solution may be an efficient way to improve thermal performance without compromising the resistance of the mortar. The maximum compressive strength reached by the mortars was about 10 MPa at 48 days, a value in line with those of repair mortars. Another finding of the experimental research is that UPV was used to follow the curing stages of materials. Indeed, the instrument was sensitive to microstructural changes in the mortars with time. The field of reference of the research is the rehabilitation of existing buildings, as the geopolymeric mortars were designed for thermal and structural retrofitting.

Preparation of geopolymers from thermally activated lithium slag: Activity enhancement and microstructure

As an industrial by-product of the lithium extraction process from spodumene, lithium slag (LS) is less reactive, rendering it a chemically infeasible binder. In this study, a thermal activation approach was employed to enhance the reactivity of LS. The underlying mechanisms of LS's thermal activation at various temperatures were thoroughly explored through XRD and ICP. The results indicated that alterations in the aluminosilicate composition of LS occurred during calcination between 500 °C and 900 °C, leading to the transformation of spodumene into amorphous forms. Particularly noteworthy was the initial increase in the LS amorphous phase content with increasing temperature, followed by a subsequent decline. Building upon these findings, a lithium slag geopolymer (LSG) was prepared via alkali activation, using the activated LS as the exclusive precursor. It was observed that elevating the content of active components in LS enhanced the geopolymerization reactions, resulting in an improved mechanical strength of LSG. Remarkably, after 28 days of aging, geopolymer specimens prepared from LS calcined at 700 °C exhibited a compressive strength of 36.0 MPa. Combining these results with FTIR and SEM-EDS analyses, it becomes evident that suitable calcination temperatures empower LS to release a higher quantity of silicon and aluminum ions. These ions play a significant role in the geopolymerization process, leading to the formation of an amorphous sodium (calcium) aluminosilicate hydrate (N(C)-A-S-H) gel. This gel acts as a binder, tightly binding the residual solid particles, and thus forming a denser microstructure.

Synthesis, solubility and thermodynamic properties of N-A-S-H gels with various target Si/Al ratios

The synthesis of N-A-S-H gel with high Si/Al ratios (>2) has been rarely reported in the literature, leaving the establishment of a reliable synthesis route as an open challenge. This paper aims to synthesize N-A-S-H gels with Si/Al ratios ranging from 1 to 3 and establish their thermodynamic database. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, initial Si/Al, concentration of reactants and pH of the matrix on the Si/Al ratios of the synthesized N-A-S-H gel were investigated. Results showed that N-A-S-H gels with target Si/Al ratios can be synthesized by controlling the concentration of reactants, pH and initial Si/Al ratios. The solubility products of the obtained N-A-S-H gels were determined via dissolution tests at different temperatures, to determine thermodynamic data. The development of this experimentally derived thermodynamic database of N-A-S-H gels constitutes a crucial step in the advancement of thermodynamic modeling of geopolymer, providing valuable insight into geopolymer reactions and phase assemblages.

Research on the long-term strength development of Datça Pozzolan-based geopolymer

This study examined the influence of long-term curing duration on the properties of geopoly- mers produced through the geopolymerization reaction between Datça Pozzolan and sodium silicate and potassium hydroxide solutions. The specimens were heat cured at 90 °C, 95±5% RH for 24 h initially and then kept under ambient conditions until the tests were conducted at 7, 90, and 365 days. The results showed that applied initial heat curing was appropriate to achieve high early and long-term strength. Geopolymer mortars with 12.5 M and 2.5 activator ratios had the lowest porosity (20.90%) and the highest ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) (3.10 km/s), compressive strength (10.57 MPa), and flexural strength (5.20 MPa) after seven days. While the porosity of the identical specimens decreased by up to 15.77%, the UPV, compres- sive strength and flexural strength increased by 3.37 km/s, 15.32 MPa, and 6.06 MPa, respectively, after 365 days. The physical and mechanical improvement in the first 90 days exceeded 90–365 days. A higher rate of improvement was obtained when the activator ratio was low, i.e., the improvement decreased inversely as the sodium silicate content of the mortar increased. An increasing trend was observed in the plot of compressive strength as a function of UPV, and the slope values presented a strongly related linear function relation.

Encapsulation of iodine-loaded adsorbents in blended Portland cement and geopolymer wasteforms

Capture of radioiodine by solid adsorbents and subsequent cementation is a promising solution to achieve “Near Zero” emissions from nuclear fuel cycles. We investigate cementation of iodine-loaded silica adsorbents in blast furnace slag blended Portland cement (BFS:PC) and metakaolin-based geopolymers, and subsequent leaching in deionised water. Adsorbent encapsulation retarded BFS:PC hydration, but not geopolymer reaction. Phase assemblage was unaffected by adsorbent encapsulation for both BFS:PC and geopolymers, which comprised calcium aluminosilicate hydrate and potassium aluminosilicate hydrate gels, respectively. Adsorbents were encapsulated intact within BFS:PC, whereas adsorbents dissolved in the high pH of fresh geopolymers. BFS:PC exhibited low leaching stability and an alteration layer, however minimal iodine leaching occurred due to intact absorbents. Geopolymers showed high leaching stability, however adsorbent degradation resulted in significant iodine leaching. This evidences potential for cementation of radioiodine-loaded adsorbents under mild conditions, and highlights the importance of synergy when designing adsorbents and wasteforms for radioiodine abatement.

Fast microwave synthesis of high-silica natural soil based porous geopolymer

This study describes a simple microwave process for fabricating porous geopolymer-polymer based Shirasu soil. The porous geopolymer samples were synthesized using sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as alkaline solution in range of 0.5 M to 9 M. After mixing process, the geopolymer slurry was heated and stimulated geopolymerization reaction by different microwave powers at 200 W, 500 W and 700 W for 30 s, 60 s, 90 s and 120 s. The influence of NaOH concentration, microwave powers and heating times on the apparent bulk density, the water adsorption was focused. Results showed that the microwave powers and heating time affected the apparent bulk density, the water adsorption, and the densification of geopolymer matrix. Higher microwave power can promote higher water adsorption related to lower apparent bulk density. Moreover, the results revealed that the porosity and the nitrogen adsorption of geopolymers at 120 s of heating time increased with an increment of the NaOH from 1 M to 4 M. On the other hand, geopolymers activated by 200 W at 30 s could not be hardened. This work provides the feasibility of porous geopolymer synthesis based natural soil.

Synthesis of Electrolytic Manganese Slag-Solid Waste-Based Geopolymers: Compressive Strength and Mn Immobilization.

The massive stockpiling of electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) has caused serious environmental pollution. In this study, EMR, coal gangue (CG), and fly ash (FA) were used as raw materials to obtain the optimal mix ratio based on Design-Expert mixture design. The effects of activator modulus, liquid-solid (L/S) ratio, and curing temperature on the mechanical properties of geopolymers were investigated. The results showed that the compressive strength of the prepared geopolymer was 12.0 MPa, and the 28d leaching of Mn was 0.123 mg/L under the conditions of EMR:CG:FA = 0.43:0.34:0.23, L/S = 0.9, a curing temperature of 60 °C, and a curing time of 24 h. This indicates that the geopolymer is an environmentally friendly material with high compressive strength. The mineral composition of the geopolymer is mainly hydrated calcium silicate and geopolymer gel. In addition, a more stable new mineral phase, MnSiO3, was generated. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrogram showed that the peak at 1100 m-1 was shifted to 1112 cm-1, which indicated that a geopolymerization reaction had occurred. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) analysis, it was identified that the geopolymerization produced a large amount of amorphous gelatinous substances with a relatively dense structure, the major elements being oxygen, silicon, aluminum, calcium, and sodium.

Preparation of one-part geopolymers using coal gasification slag: Effect of alkali fusion product additive and liquid/solid ratio

In this work, one-part geopolymers were synthesized through the alkali fusion and component additive method (AFCAM), utilizing coal gasification slag as the primary raw material. The investigation delved into the influence of varying fusion product contents and liquid/solid (L/S) ratios on the geopolymer properties. The experimental results demonstrated a non-linear correlation between the increase in fusion product content and the compressive strength of geopolymers, revealing an initial ascent followed by a subsequent decline. Additionally, a lower L/S ratio of 0.3 was observed to enhance compressive strength compared to the L/S ratio of 0.4. Notably, the optimal combination of an L/S ratio of 0.3 and a fusion product percentage of 30 % resulted in a remarkable compressive strength of 25.2 MPa. The comprehensive strength analysis suggested that an adequate amount of fusion product enhances the geopolymerization reaction, evidenced by the transformation of aluminum coordination states. Specifically, the conversion of five-coordinated and six-coordinated aluminum in slag to four-coordinated aluminum in geopolymers was observed. Concurrently, increased silicon and aluminum reactivity led to the formation of a robust Q4(4Al) network in the geopolymer gel. The impact of L/S ratios was attributed to the accelerated dissolution and hydrolysis of aluminosilicates at an elevated L/S ratio of 0.4, hindering polycondensation. These outcomes underscore the pivotal role of fusion product content and L/S ratio in governing the strength development of one-part geopolymers.

Preparation and Properties of Porous Concrete Based on Geopolymer of Red Mud and Yellow River Sediment.

Red mud (RM) and Yellow River sediment (YRS) are challenging to handle as waste materials. In this study, RM with geopolymer and heavy metal adsorption characteristics was combined with YRS and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) to develop a porous geopolymer with high strength and high adsorption performance. A geopolymer cementitious material with high strength was prepared using high temperature water bath curing of 90 °C and different dosages of YRS, and a porous geopolymer concrete was further prepared. The compressive strength, fluidity and setting time of geopolymer cementitious materials were tested, and the compressive strength, porosity and permeability of porous geopolymer concrete were also tested. The environmental impact assessment of geopolymer cementitious materials was further conducted. The hydration products and microstructure of geopolymer gel materials were analyzed by XRD, SEM and FT-IR tests. The results show that the addition of YRS can effectively prolong the setting time of the geopolymer cementitious material, and the enhancement rate is as high as 150% compared with the geopolymer cementitious materials without the addition of YRS. An appropriate amount of YRS can improve the compressive strength of the geopolymer cementitious materials, and its early compressive strength can be further improved under the high temperature water bath curing of 90 °C, and the compressive strength at an age of 3 d can be up to 86.7 MPa. Meanwhile, the compressive strength of porous geopolymer concrete at an age of 28 d is up to 28.1 MPa. YRS can participate in geopolymer reactions, and high temperature water bath curing can promote the reaction degree. Curing method and YRS dosages have little effect on the porosity and permeability of the porous geopolymer concrete. The porous geopolymer has a good heavy metal adsorption effect, and the alkaline pH values can be gradually diluted to neutral.