Low-Carbon and Recycled Mineral Composite Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure: A Comprehensive Review

Rong Zhang, Yihe Zhang (), Guoxing Sun and Hongqiang Wei
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Rong Zhang: Zhuhai Da Hengqin Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd., Zhuhai 519031, China
Yihe Zhang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Guoxing Sun: Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China
Hongqiang Wei: Zhuhai Da Hengqin Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd., Zhuhai 519031, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-28

Abstract: Infrastructure construction is a major contributor to carbon emissions, primarily due to the extensive use of mineral materials such as cement and aggregates, which release significant amounts of carbon dioxide during production and use. While existing research has predominantly centered on the applications of concrete, the present study extends the investigation to encompass inorganic–organic composites, alloy materials, and wastewater treatment systems, with particular attention to bridging the gap between theoretical potential and practical implementation. This study identifies China, the USA, and India as leaders in this field, attributing their progress to abundant material resources and sustained policy support. Key findings reveal that while geopolymers can fully replace cement, substitution rates of less than 50% are optimal for high-performance concrete to maintain structural integrity and decarbonization benefits. Aggregate replacements using materials such as air-cooled blast furnace slag show 50–100% feasibility. This review further highlights the multifunctional potential of red mud, rice husk ash, fly ash, and blast furnace slag as cement replacements, aggregates, reinforcers, catalysts, adsorbents, and composite fillers. However, challenges such as unstable raw material supply, lack of standardization, and insufficient international collaboration persist; these issues have often been overlooked in prior research and viable solutions have not been proposed. To address these barriers, a triple-objective framework is introduced in this study, integrating sustainable infrastructure, resource recycling, and environmental remediation, supported by optimized production processes and policy models from leading nations. Future research directions emphasize comprehensive life cycle assessments and enhanced global cooperation to bridge the divide between resource-rich and resource-scarce regions. By synthesizing cross-disciplinary applications and actionable solutions, this work advances the transition toward sustainable infrastructure systems.

Keywords: sustainable infrastructure; sustainable concrete; low-carbon materials; recycling; mineral composites (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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