Exploring the Potential for Utilization of Medium and Highly Sulfidic Mine Tailings in Construction Materials: A Review

Natalia Pires Martins, Sumit Srivastava, Francisco Veiga Simão, He Niu, Priyadharshini Perumal, Ruben Snellings, Mirja Illikainen, Hilde Chambart and Guillaume Habert
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Natalia Pires Martins: Chair of Sustainable Construction, ETH Zürich, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
Sumit Srivastava: Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
Francisco Veiga Simão: Central Laboratory for Clay Roof Tiles, Wienerberger NV, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
He Niu: Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
Priyadharshini Perumal: Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
Ruben Snellings: Sustainable Materials Management, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Mirja Illikainen: Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
Hilde Chambart: Central Laboratory for Clay Roof Tiles, Wienerberger NV, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
Guillaume Habert: Chair of Sustainable Construction, ETH Zürich, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: Medium and highly sulfidic tailings are high-volume wastes that can lead to severe environmental damage if not properly managed. Due to the high content of sulfide minerals, these tailings can undergo weathering if put in contact with oxygen and water, generating acid mine drainage (AMD). The moderate-to-high sulfide content is also an important technical limitation for their implementation in the production of construction materials. This paper reviews the use of sulfidic tailings as raw material in construction products, with a focus on cement, concrete, and ceramics. When used as aggregates in concrete, this can lead to concrete degradation by internal sulfate attack. In building ceramics, their implementation without prior treatment is undesirable due to the formation of black reduction core, efflorescence, SO x emissions, and their associated costs. Moreover, their intrinsic low reactivity represents a barrier for their use as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and as precursors for alkali-activated materials (AAMs). Nevertheless, the production of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement can be a suitable path for the valorization of medium and highly sulfidic tailings. Otherwise difficult to upcycle, sulfidic tailings could be used in the clinker raw meal as an alternative raw material. Not only the SO 3 and SiO 2 -rich bulk material is incorporated into reactive clinker phases, but also some minor constituents in the tailings may contribute to the production of such low-CO 2 cements at lower temperatures. Nevertheless, this valorization route remains poorly explored and demands further research.

Keywords: valorization; calcium sulfoaluminate cement; ceramics; alkali-activated materials; aggregates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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