Combined Influence of Low-Grade Metakaolins and Natural Zeolite on Compressive Strength and Heavy Metal Adsorption of Geopolymers
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials Used for Geopolymerization
2.2. Fabrication of Geopolymers
2.3. Methods
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Characterization of Base Materials
3.1.1. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis
3.1.2. Chemical Analysis by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)
3.1.3. Morphology Characterization Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS)
3.2. Characterization of Geopolymers
3.2.1. XRD Analysis
3.2.2. SEM/EDS Analysis
3.2.3. Compressive Strength Rc
3.2.4. Heavy Metal Adsorption
- (a)
- Adsorption of Pb2+
- (b)
- Adsorption of Cd2+
- (c)
- Adsorption of Zn2+ and Cu2+
- (d)
- Adsorption of Cr3+
3.2.5. Effect of Geopolymer Components on Heavy Metal Adsorption
4. Conclusions
- The highest compressive strength is obtained for 100% MK geopolymers (A100—15.4 MPa; B100—32.46 MPa after 28 and 14 days of curing, respectively). The Barqueiros MK imparts higher compressive strength to the geopolymer structure than Alvarães MK because of Barqueiros kaolin’s greater calcination extent. Natural zeolite lowers the compressive strength probably because of unreacted crystalline phases introduced in the geopolymer matrix.
- The B100 geopolymer surface appears compact and without unreacted thin-layered structure particles, validating the higher degree of geopolymerization in MK geopolymers due to the extremely fine nature and effective calcination of Barqueiros kaolin.
- Portuguese MK-based geopolymers show the highest adsorption capacity for Pb(II) and the adsorption trend is Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Cr3+. Barqueiros MK geopolymers’ adsorption capacity is higher than that of Alvarães MK geopolymers for all cations except Cd(II).
- The optimal composition for Barqueiros MK geopolymers is 25% zeolite—75% MK (B75), and for Alvarães MK geopolymer is 100% MK (A100) for the highest adsorption capacity of heavy metals.
- The effect of zeolite addition on the geopolymer strength and adsorption capacities depends on the type of MK used. Nonetheless, Portuguese MK-based geopolymers have higher compressive strengths and adsorption capacities as compared to commercial MK-based geopolymers. Therefore, low-grade kaolins can be attractive alternatives to high-grade commercial kaolins as construction materials and adsorbents.
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Features/Properties | Values | |
---|---|---|
Alvarães | Barqueiros | |
Whiteness | 65–75 | 75–85 |
Density (g/mL) | 2.4–2.7 | 2.4–2.7 |
Oil Absorption | 31–45 | 31–45 |
pH | 4–7 | 5–8 |
Residue at 53 μm (%) | <0.5 | <0.3 |
Water absorption (%) | 23 ± 3 (1180 °C) | 24 ± 3 (1220 °C) |
Sample | Composition, wt. (%) | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Na2O | MgO | Al2O3 | SiO2 | P2O5 | K2O | CaO | TiO2 | Fe2O3 | L.O.I. | ||
Alvarães | Kaolin | 0.048 | 0.22 | 38.86 | 45.06 | 0.09 | 1.19 | 0.01 | 0.52 | 1.14 | 12.63 |
MK | 0.079 | 0.24 | 44.13 | 51.20 | 0.10 | 1.36 | 0.01 | 0.61 | 1.34 | 0.66 | |
Barqueiros | Kaolin | 0.057 | 0.25 | 36.92 | 46.92 | 0.10 | 1.16 | 0.05 | 0.37 | 1.17 | 12.83 |
MK | 0.092 | 0.30 | 41.97 | 53.39 | 0.12 | 1.38 | 0.06 | 0.42 | 1.32 | 0.79 | |
Zeolite | 0.314 | 0.85 | 12.07 | 70.61 | 0.04 | 3.66 | 3.39 | 0.20 | 1.78 | 6.89 |
Heavy Metal | Adsorbent | Treatment | Source | Temperature (°C) | Time (h) | Q (mmol/g) | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pb(II) | Natural zeolite | Raw | - | - | 3 | 0.30 | [29] |
NaOH treated | - | - | 3 | 0.48 | |||
Raw | Croatia | 20 | 24 | 0.38 | [30] | ||
NaCl treated | Croatia | 20 | 24 | 0.44 | |||
NaCl treated | Croatia | 70 | 24 | 0.58 | |||
Raw | - | RT | 24 | 0.03 | [31] | ||
Mg-Zeolite | - | 23 | - | 0.28 | [32] | ||
Raw | - | 22 | 4 | 0.39 | [33] | ||
NaCl treated | - | 22 | 4 | 0.59 | |||
Natural kaolinite | H2O2 treated | USA | 30 | 48 | 0.03 | [34] | |
Heat-treated | China | 30 | 1 | 0.01 | [35] | ||
Raw | Jordan | 22 | 24 | 0.06 | [36] | ||
Acid treated | Jordan | 22 | 24 | 0.25 | |||
Surface modified | Jordan | 22 | 24 | 0.26 | |||
Raw | USA | 30 | 3 | 0.05 | [37] | ||
H2SO4 treated | USA | 30 | 3 | 0.06 | |||
Geopolymer | MK | - | 25 | 24 | 0.71 | [26] | |
Commercial MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 1.26 | [22] | ||
Alvarães MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 1.43 | This study | ||
Barqueiros MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 1.50 | |||
Cu(II) | Natural zeolite | Raw | Anatolia | 25 | 5.5 | 0.14 | [38] |
Raw | Bulgaria | constant | 4 | 0.11 | [39] | ||
Raw | Greece | 22 | 6 | 0.09 | [40] | ||
Raw | - | RT | 24 | 0.06 | [31] | ||
Raw | Serbia | 20 | 24 | 0.13 | [41] | ||
Mg modified zeolite | - | 23 | - | 0.24 | [32] | ||
Natural kaolinite | Raw | Turkey | 25 | 2 | 0.17 | [42] | |
Heat-treated | China | 30 | 1 | 0.02 | [35] | ||
Raw | USA | 30 | 6 | 0.14 | [37] | ||
H2SO4 treated | USA | 30 | 6 | 0.16 | |||
Geopolymer | MK | - | 25 | 24 | 0.77 | [26] | |
Zeolite tuff | - | 25 | 24 | 0.52 | [43] | ||
Commercial MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.70 | [22] | ||
Alvarães MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.90 | This study | ||
Barqueiros MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.93 | |||
Zn(II) | Natural zeolite | Raw | Anatolia | 25 | 5.5 | 0.13 | [38] |
Raw | Greece | 22 | 6 | 0.05 | [40] | ||
Raw | Turkey | 25 | 5.5 | 0.34 | [10] | ||
Raw | - | RT | 24 | 0.04 | [31] | ||
Natural kaolinite | Heat-treated | China | 25 | 1 | 0.097 | [44] | |
Geopolymer | MK | - | 25 | 24 | 1.14 | [28] | |
Zeolite tuff | - | 25 | 24 | 0.41 | [43] | ||
Commercial MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.55 | [22] | ||
Alvarães MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.66 | This study | ||
Barqueiros MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.70 | |||
Cd(II) | Natural zeolite | Raw | - | - | 3 | 0.53 | [29] |
NaOH treated | - | - | 3 | 0.62 | |||
Raw | Croatia | 20 | 24 | 0.12 | [30] | ||
NaCl treated | Croatia | 20 | 24 | 0.21 | |||
Raw | - | RT | 24 | 0.03 | [31] | ||
Mg modified zeolite | - | 23 | - | 0.33 | [32] | ||
Raw | Greece | 22 | 6 | 0.04 | [40] | ||
Natural kaolinite | Raw | USA | 30 | 4 | 0.09 | [37] | |
H2SO4 treated | USA | 30 | 4 | 0.10 | |||
Raw | USA | 30 | 4 | 0.06 | [45] | ||
Poly(hydroxo zirconium) modified | USA | 30 | 4 | 0.05 | |||
Tetrabutylammonium modified | USA | 30 | 4 | 0.06 | |||
H2O2 treated | USA | 30 | 48 | 0.08 | [34] | ||
Heat-treated | China | 30 | 1 | 0.008 | [35] | ||
Geopolymer | MK | - | 25 | 24 | 0.60 | [26] | |
Zeolite tuff | - | 25 | 24 | 0.39 | [43] | ||
Commercial MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.87 | [22] | ||
Alvarães MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 1.00 | This study | ||
Barqueiros MK-zeolite | - | RT | 7 | 0.86 |
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Sudagar, A.J.; Andrejkovičová, S.; Rocha, F.; Patinha, C.; Soares, M.R.; Velosa, A.L.; Silva, E.F.d. Combined Influence of Low-Grade Metakaolins and Natural Zeolite on Compressive Strength and Heavy Metal Adsorption of Geopolymers. Minerals 2021, 11, 486. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11050486
Sudagar AJ, Andrejkovičová S, Rocha F, Patinha C, Soares MR, Velosa AL, Silva EFd. Combined Influence of Low-Grade Metakaolins and Natural Zeolite on Compressive Strength and Heavy Metal Adsorption of Geopolymers. Minerals. 2021; 11(5):486. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11050486
Chicago/Turabian StyleSudagar, Alcina Johnson, Slávka Andrejkovičová, Fernando Rocha, Carla Patinha, Maria R. Soares, Ana Luísa Velosa, and Eduardo Ferreira da Silva. 2021. "Combined Influence of Low-Grade Metakaolins and Natural Zeolite on Compressive Strength and Heavy Metal Adsorption of Geopolymers" Minerals 11, no. 5: 486. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11050486