Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hang Yin, Jiepeng Liu, Xuhong Zhou, Hongtuo Qi, Shuxian Liu, Shuai Pang
Summary: Polypropylene fiber was added to alkali slag-red mud geopolymer (AS-RG) to improve its flexural performance. Three-point bending tests were conducted on fiber-reinforced AS-RG under different conditions, and structural performance improvement and control tests of composite materials were carried out. Microscopic analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the ductility strengthening mechanism of composites. Numerical simulations using particle flow numerical simulation software (PFC3D5.0) explained the crack evolution law during the three-point bending failure of the specimen. The study found that adding a proper amount of polypropylene fiber effectively improved the flexural strength of AS-RG, and the ability to resist instability and failure increased with the increase of fiber length but decreased with the increase of water-binder ratio. The combination of 9 mm fiber length, 4 parts per thousand fiber content, and 0.26 water-binder ratio had the best effect on improving the fracture performance of the material.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alessio Occhicone, Mira Vukcevic, Ivana Boskovic, Claudio Ferone
Summary: The aluminum Bayer production process is widely used. By mixing red mud and blast furnace slag, alkali-activated materials with high compressive strength can be obtained. These mixtures have minimal environmental impact and can be used as alternative materials in the construction industry.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aref A. Abadel, Hussam Alghamdi, Yousef R. Alharbi, Mohammed Alamri, Mohammad Khawaji, Mohammed A. M. Abdulaziz, Moncef L. Nehdi
Summary: This study investigated the production process of eco-efficient alkali-activated slag-based samples using recycled construction cementitious materials (RCCM) and red mud (RM). The findings showed that when a high quantity of dehydrated cement powder (DCP) and red mud were used, the strength and durability of the specimens improved significantly. It was concluded that DCP and RM could be potential sustainable binder substitutes, allowing waste valorization and reducing negative environmental impact.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Joao Carvalheiras, Ines E. Oliveira, Ricardo M. Silva, Rui F. Silva, Rui M. Novais, Joao A. Labrincha
Summary: This study reports for the first time the synthesis and growth of carbon nanotubes on red mud, utilizing the iron present in the waste material and avoiding the use of commercial catalysts. The modified materials showed remarkable lead removal capacity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
C. Righi, I Lancellotti, L. Barbieri, G. M. Kirkelund
Summary: Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) contains hazardous heavy metals and soluble salts. This research investigated the use of electrodialytic treatment as a pre-treatment for MSWI FA, and its impact on metakaolin-based geopolymer as an encapsulation matrix. The results showed that geopolymer effectively encapsulated heavy metals, and electrodialytic pre-treatment improved the environmental and mechanical characteristics of the geopolymer.
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andrei Shoppert, Irina Loginova, Julia Napol'skikh, Aleksey Kyrchikov, Leonid Chaikin, Denis Rogozhnikov, Dmitry Valeev
Summary: This study investigates the possibility of selectively extracting cerium from alkali fusion red mud (RMF) using diluted nitric acid as a leaching agent. The results show that under certain conditions, with a leaching solution at pH 2 and 80 degrees Celsius for 90 minutes, the extraction efficiency of cerium reaches 71.2%.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alessio Occhicone, Mira Vukcevic, Ivana Boskovic, Serena Mingione, Claudio Ferone
Summary: The study investigates the use of red mud as a precursor for alkali-activated materials. By combining blast-furnace slag and inert construction sands, mortar samples with low environmental impact are produced. These samples show promising compressive strength values and can serve as alternatives to cement and ceramic materials in the construction industry.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zengqing Sun, Qingyu Tang, Buhle Sinaye Xakalashe, Xiaohui Fan, Min Gan, Xuling Chen, Zhiyun Ji, Xiaoxian Huang, Bernd Friedrich
Summary: Efforts have been made to produce feasible red mud geopolymers as construction material, but their environmental compatibility has not been clearly investigated. This study explores the release characteristics of various chemical components from red mud geopolymers and reveals that some of these components exceed the environmental regulatory limits in certain cases.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jun Shao, Laishi Li, Yusheng Wu, Yalei Wang, Feng Liu
Summary: This study focuses on the simultaneous recovery of alkali and alumina from red mud using NaFeO2 as an additive in a hydrothermal process. The results show that this method can obtain harmless secondary red mud with low Na2O content and recover 80% of the alumina. The study provides a theoretical basis for achieving secondary resource recovery and handling environmental pollution issues.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhongtao Luo, Tianyi Zhi, Lei Liu, Jie Mi, Meng Zhang, Chongfei Tian, Zhengkai Si, Xiaohai Liu, Yuandong Mu
Summary: This study utilized geopolymer as a matrix to solidify/stabilize the heavy metal Cr in chromium slag, and evaluated the durability of the composite geopolymer in corrosive environments. The study discussed the mechanisms of hydration and solidification/stabilization based on various analysis techniques. The findings suggest the safe dosage of chromium slag in geopolymer matrix with 60-70 wt% red mud is less than 10 wt%, while it can reach up to 30 wt% in geopolymer matrix with 50 wt% red mud. The addition of chromium slag had a promoting effect on the mechanical property of red mud-based geopolymer, but a higher percentage had the opposite effect. The study provides valuable insights for the utilization and disposal of chromium slag and red mud.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chuan Wang, Zhaofeng Li, Zhihao Zhou, Yifan Gao, Jian Zhang
Summary: By reinforcing red mud-based grouts with polypropylene, glass and basalt fibers, the mechanical properties of the grouts were significantly improved with increased elastic modulus and reduced porosity. Micro-structural analysis revealed effective interfacial bonding between the fibers and the geopolymeric binder, overcoming the shortcomings of red mud-based geopolymer grouts.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Nan Zhang, Ahmadreza Hedayat, Linda Figueroa, Kenneth X. Steirer, Haoyuan Li, Hector Gelber Bolaos Sosa, Roberto Pedro Huamani Bernal, Nestor Tupa, Isaac Yanqui Morales, Reynaldo Sabino Canahua Loza
Summary: This paper presents an investigation on the durability and leaching behavior of gold MTs-based geopolymer, revealing that the strength degradation after immersion was approximately 50% and the geopolymer was ineffective in immobilizing certain elements.
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qingwei Wang, Song Han, Junhao Yang, Xiaoyang Lin, Mingzhe An
Summary: This study focuses on the reactivity and reaction mechanisms of Bayer red mud (BRM) in cement-based and geopolymer materials. It was found that BRM exhibits relatively low reactivity in cement-based material but has a certain level of reactivity in geopolymer materials. Furthermore, high-temperature activation was found to affect the reactivity of BRM. The study provides a reliable, affordable, and efficient method for the bulk utilization of BRM.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Siwei Li, Jian Pan, Deqing Zhu, Zhengqi Guo, Yue Shi, Tao Dong, Shenghu Lu, Hongyu Tian
Summary: This paper proposes a new method to fully recover Fe, Al2O3 and TiO2 from red mud, consisting of pre-reducing-smelting, alkaline leaching and acid leaching procedures. The innovative route aims to achieve comprehensive and clean utilization of red mud by effectively recovering iron, aluminum and titanium.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Guangyan Hu, Honghu Tang, Dongdong He, Wei Sun, Li Wang
Summary: In this study, a dry digestion method was introduced for the selective recovery of sodium from red mud, with suppressed formation of silica gel. Under optimized conditions, approximately 85% of sodium was leached out, with silicon dissolution suppressed to 0.7%.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sandra Cunha, Daniel Costa, Jose B. Aguiar, Fernando Castro
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the influence of waste treatment methods on the physical and mechanical properties of mortar. The results showed that washing residues were effective in eliminating expansibility and water absorption of the mortar, resulting in increased flexural and compression strength.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mariaenrica Frigione, Antonella Sarcinella, Jose Luis Barroso de Aguiar
Summary: The research focuses on the usage of phase-change materials (PCMs) to reduce the energy consumption in heating/cooling of buildings. The originality lies in the selection of suitable polymers as PCMs for different climatic conditions, and the use of low-toxic, low-flammability polymers in waste stone fragments to produce sustainable PCMs. These PCMs were added to mortars and proved to improve indoor temperature in plasters.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Sandra Cunha, Antonella Sarcinella, Jose Aguiar, Mariaenrica Frigione
Summary: The construction industry plays a major role in high energy consumption, particularly in heating and cooling needs of buildings. This has gained significant attention from the scientific community, governments, and authorities worldwide, especially in the European Union, due to recent international conflicts that prompted countries to reconsider their energy policies. Historic energy consumption has heavily relied on non-renewable sources like natural gas, oil, and coal. Urgent measures are needed to minimize these high-energy consumptions and transition towards clean and renewable energy sources. In recent years, phase change materials (PCM) have garnered significant interest and development for their ability to reduce energy consumption in buildings by utilizing solar energy through thermal storage. This study provides a perspective on the evolution and application of thermal storage technology with the incorporation of PCM in the construction sector, focusing on the latest 10 years of research and showcasing recent developments in application across construction materials such as mortars, concrete, porous aggregates, naturally-based materials, carbon-based materials, boards, blocks, and solar thermal systems.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Manfredi Saeli, Marinelia N. Capela, Clara Piccirillo, David M. Tobaldi, M. Paula Seabra, Francesca Scalera, Raffaella Striani, Carola Esposito Corcione, Tiziana Campisi
Summary: This paper presents the development of green bio-composite mortars by reusing spent coffee ground (SCG) in the Circular Economy approach. The addition of SCG in the mortar resulted in a more compact structure and various concrete applications. Despite a decrease in bulk density, the mechanical performance remained suitable for masonry applications. The reused bio-waste also led to a reduction in manufacturing cost and showed promising potential for energy-saving uses in buildings.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
S. Cunha, J. Aguiar, F. Martins
Summary: In order to contribute to a more sustainable planet, reducing the energy bill has become crucial nowadays. The use of materials that enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, such as mortars incorporating phase change materials (PCM), plays a significant role in achieving this objective. This study developed various mortars with different PCM contents, using different binders, and employed data mining techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), and multiple linear regressions (MLR) to predict the compressive and flexural strengths of these mortars under different exposure temperatures. The results indicated that ANN models had the highest predictive capacity for both compressive and flexural strengths, while SVM models showed a flexural strength forecasting capacity very close to ANN models.
MATERIALES DE CONSTRUCCION
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Cleidson Alves, Fernando Pelisser, Joao Labrincha, Rui Novais
Summary: Lightweight geopolymers have been studied and used in specific applications due to their unique properties and lower environmental impacts. In this study, lightweight geopolymers using metakaolin, sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were evaluated. The effects of H2O2 concentration on various properties were determined, and a thermal conductivity simulation was performed for cladding panels. The results showed that mortars with a H2O2 concentration of 0.2% had a compressive strength of 18 MPa and a thermal conductivity of 0.55 W/mK, which was 60% lower than the reference composition.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elena Surra, Joao Sousa, Manuela Correia, Joao Carvalheiras, Joao A. Labrincha, Jose C. Marques, Nuno Lapa, Cristina Delerue-Matos
Summary: This study provides important information on the feasibility of using granite sludge as a substitute for feldspar in ceramics and as a substitute for inert filler in structural concrete. The results show that while granite sludge can be used as a substitute for feldspar, its tinting effect may limit its applications in certain ceramic products. Similarly, using granite sludge as a substitute for inert filler in concrete reduces strength and increases water:cement ratio. However, the environmental impacts of using granite sludge as an inert filler are lower than as a substitute for feldspar in most impact categories.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhiyou Jia, Jose Aguiar, Carlos de Jesus, Fernando Castro, Sandra Cunha
Summary: The waste from ceramic mold casting in the lost-wax foundry industry is causing pollution and the loss of secondary resources due to landfill disposal. In order to address this issue and meet the growing demand for lightweight concrete, the waste is being recycled into lightweight concrete. In this study, different sizes of expanded clay were used as reference aggregates. The results showed that the density of the waste was higher and water absorption was lower compared to the expanded clay. By replacing the clay with different percentages of waste, the mechanical performance of the lightweight concrete improved, achieving a density of 1998 kg/m3 and compressive strength of 36 MPa with 80% waste content.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ines S. Vilarinho, Goncalo Guimaraes, Joao A. Labrincha, Maria P. Seabra
Summary: This paper studies the use of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (BA) as a replacement for clinker/cement in the cement industry. It found that using BA as aggregate leads to deterioration of the mortar surface, making it unfeasible. However, using BA as a partial binder substitute or as filler can be suitable for walls with a minimum required mechanical resistance of 5 MPa. These mortars also demonstrated resilience against freeze-thaw cycles and even exhibited increased compressive strength after 25 cycles.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhiyou Jia, Jose Aguiar, Sandra Cunha, Carlos de Jesus
Summary: This study prepared a green thermal aggregate by combining PCM with RA, and found that the amount of PCM absorbed depends on the porosity of the matrix material, leading to a decrease in the compressive strength of concrete as the green aggregate increases.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sandra Cunha, Raphael Silva, Jose Aguiar, Fernando Castro
Summary: The lost wax foundry industry generates a large amount of waste, which is currently being deposited in landfills due to the lack of practical applications and challenges in recycling. This study demonstrates the potential of incorporating the industry's waste, such as ceramic mold shells and paraffin wax, as substitutes for natural aggregates in cementitious mortars for the construction sector. The results show that the mortars with waste incorporation exhibit adequate performance under normal operating conditions and freeze-thaw actions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stephanie Rocha, Guilherme Ascensao, Lino Maia
Summary: Self-compacting cementitious mixtures have gained significance in the construction market due to their improved compaction, workability, fluidity, and mechanical properties. This study aimed to optimize the fresh properties and strength development of self-compacting mortars using statistical response surface methodology.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Antonella Sarcinella, Jose Luis Barroso de Aguiar, Carlos Jesus, Mariaenrica Frigione
Summary: The purpose of a phase change material (PCM) is to store/release energy during its transition from solid to liquid state, having suitable melting/crystallization temperatures comparable to environmental temperatures. The inclusion of a PCM in construction elements helps to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling of buildings, provided that the phase transition range corresponds to the environmental temperature variation. Therefore, identifying suitable PCMs for different climate zones is crucial.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sandra Cunha, Jhonny Castro, Jose B. Aguiar
Summary: The construction industry should use raw materials with less environmental impact and functional qualities. The use of phase change materials (PCM) in interior mortars can improve the energy efficiency of buildings by harnessing solar energy. Additionally, choosing binders with lower carbon dioxide emissions, such as gypsum, can help reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption during production. The development and testing of gypsum-based mortars functionalized with PCM demonstrated improved thermal performance and cost savings. Evaluating the mortars in different seasons revealed significant temperature decreases and reduced cooling and heating needs. The cost analysis showed savings in electricity costs for building climate control. Overall, this research highlights the importance and potential benefits of adopting sustainable and efficient materials in the construction industry. Rating: 8/10.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhiyou Jia, Sandra Cunha, Jose Aguiar, Pengfei Guo
Summary: With the increasing world population, the issue of energy consumption has become more prominent. In the building operation phase, a large amount of energy is required for heating and cooling. The energy necessary for buildings is mainly sourced from the combustion of fossil fuels, leading to energy scarcity, environmental pollution, and ecological damage. To address these challenges, one promising approach is to incorporate phase-change materials in recycled aggregate from construction and demolition waste to replace the raw materials of concrete. This study selected the appropriate phase-change material and combined it with recycled aggregate to replace natural aggregate in concrete. The results showed that the workability of concrete increased with the addition of phase-change materials, but the mechanical performance decreased.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lars odegaard Bentsen, Narada Dilp Warakagoda, Roy Stenbro, Paal Engelstad
Summary: This study investigates uncertainty modeling in wind power forecasting using different parametric and non-parametric methods. Johnson's SU distribution is found to outperform Gaussian distributions in predicting wind power. This research contributes to the literature by introducing Johnson's SU distribution as a candidate for probabilistic wind forecasting.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xing Liu, Qiuchen Wang, Yunhao Wen, Long Li, Xinfang Zhang, Yi Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the characteristics of process parameters in three lean gas ethane recovery processes and establishes a prediction and multiobjective optimization model for ethane recovery and system energy consumption. A new method for comparing ethane recovery processes for lean gas is proposed, and the addition of extra coolers improves the ethane recovery. The support vector regression model based on grey wolf optimization demonstrates the highest prediction accuracy, and the multiobjective multiverse optimization algorithm shows the best optimization performance and diversity in the solutions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cairong Song, Haidong Yang, Xian-Bing Meng, Pan Yang, Jianyang Cai, Hao Bao, Kangkang Xu
Summary: The paper proposes a novel deep learning-based prediction framework, aTCN-LSTM, for accurate cooling load predictions. The framework utilizes a gate-controlled multi-head temporal convolutional network and a sparse probabilistic self-attention mechanism with a bidirectional long short-term memory network to capture both temporal and long-term dependencies in the cooling load sequences. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, which can serve as an effective guide for HVAC chiller scheduling and demand management initiatives.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhe Chen, Xiaojing Li, Xianli Xia, Jizhou Zhang
Summary: This study uses survey data from the Loess Plateau in China to evaluate the impact of social interaction on the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technology by farmers. The study finds that social interaction increases the likelihood of farmers adopting SWC, and internet use moderates this effect. The positive impact of social interaction on SWC adoption is more pronounced for farmers in larger villages and those who join cooperative societies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chenghua Zhang, Yunfei Yan, Kaiming Shen, Zongguo Xue, Jingxiang You, Yonghong Wu, Ziqiang He
Summary: This paper reports a novel method that significantly improves combustion performance, including heat transfer enhancement under steady-state conditions and adaptive stable flame regulation under velocity sudden increase.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
