DEVELOPMENT OF ALKALINE ACTIVATED CONCRETE FROM SILIC-ALUMINUM WASTE, AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Published on August 30, 2022

Mine tailings cause several environmental impacts, due to high and progressive mineral exploitation, as well as waste management considerations. This study focuses on the use of waste from the mining industry in Antioquia, Colombia, to manufacture construction materials. The study found that use mining waste as the main cementitious material with partial substitutions of cement, can increases compressive strength by 10% and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 29%, compared to reference concretes. An important relationship can be generated between the construction sector and the mining sector, through the use of mining waste in construction materials. In this case, as the main or supplementary cementing material. The aim of the project is to use mining waste as the main cementing material, to reduce the carbon footprint associated with concretes, and therefore, the carbon footprint associated with buildings. This case study focuses on using mining waste, through alkaline activation, as cementitious materials, and in this way reducing the consumption of cement in concrete. The study identified a condition in which the compressive strength of concrete with mining residues was higher than that of reference concrete, reducing the emissions associated with manufacturing. After analyzing the feasibility of implementation, the results of the analysis showed that concretes with alkaline-activated mining residues are suitable for substituting conventional concretes, with a reduction in the building of 8.02% in greenhouse gas emissions. Outcomes include:

1. Identify adequate compressive strength conditions for the possible implementation of concrete with mining waste.

2. Validate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in concrete with mining waste.

3. Identify the economic increases per cubic meter of concrete with mining waste.

4. Determine the reduction in the carbon footprint of a building when implementing concrete with mining waste.

The project is replicable with a complete study of characterization of raw materials. It is also scalable. However, it depends on the type of mining waste. Once the type of waste has been identified, a complete physical and chemical characterization must be carried out. Subsequently, after validating the residue, it is taken to particle sizes similar to cement, and then the dosages of the concretes are calculated. Three main successes:

1. Circularity can be progressed in Colombia.

2. Identification of the reduction of greenhouse gases when implementing circular economy between the mining.

sector and the construction sector.

3. Identification of methodologies for the development of new materials from waste.

This project is directly related to the work of the OPN SBC programme.