Alkali-Activated Materials and Geopolymer: a Review of Common Precursors and Activators Addressing Circular Economy

Mehrab Nodehi () and Vahid Mohamad Taghvaee
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Mehrab Nodehi: Texas State University

Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2022, vol. 2, issue 1, 165-196

Abstract: Abstract Introduction The vast increase in CO2 and waste generation in recent decades has been a major obstacle to sustainable development and sustainability. In construction industry, the production of ordinary Portland cement is a major greenhouse gas emitter with almost 8% of total CO2 production in the world. To address this, Alkali-activated materials and geopolymer have more recently been introduced as a green and sustainable alternative of ordinary Portland cement with significantly lowered environmental footprints. Their use to replace Portland cement products generally leads to vast energy and virgin materials savings resulting in a sustainable concrete production. In doing so, it reuses the solid waste generated in industrial and manufacturing sectors, which is aligned with circular economy. In turn, it reduces the need for ordinary Portland cement consumption and its subsequent CO2 generation. Objective To provide further insight and address the challenges facing the substitution of ordinary Portland cement, this article reviews different types, mechanisms, and result of mechanical and durability properties of alkali-activated materials and geopolymer reported in literature. Finally, it discusses future projections of waste materials that have cementitious properties and can replace ordinary Portland cement and be used in alkali-activated materials and geopolymer. Graphical abstract

Keywords: Circular economy; Sustainable materials; Waste-based concrete; Cement free concrete; Alkali-activated materials; Geopolymer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/s43615-021-00029-w

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