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Minerals
Volume 15
Issue 7
10.3390/min15070718
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Article

Exploring the Potential of Granite Sawing Sludge from Cuasso Al Monte (Italy) for the Development of Aluminosilicate Gel for a Sustainable Industry

by
Sabrina Elettra Zafarana
1,
Alessandro Achilli
2,
Germana Barone
1,*,
Danilo Bersani
2,
Claudio Finocchiaro
1,
Laura Fornasini
2,
Silvia Portale
1,3 and
Paolo Mazzoleni
1
1
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95129 Catania, Italy
2
Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
3
Department of Humanities, University of Catania, 95129 Catania, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 718; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070718
Submission received: 13 June 2025 / Revised: 3 July 2025 / Accepted: 7 July 2025 / Published: 9 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling of Industrial Waste for the Development of Sustainable Materials)
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Abstract

This study explores the feasibility of utilizing granite sawing sludge (FC) as a precursor to produce alkali-activated materials (AAMs). To enhance the reactivity of the system, metakaolin (MK) was added and binary mixtures were synthetized. A multidisciplinary approach, including mineralogical, chemical and mechanical analysis, was employed to assess the suitability of these precursors to produce AAMs. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the occurred activation reaction with the consequent increase in the amorphous content. Raman spectroscopy was used to further explore the mineralogical composition of the consolidated specimens, helping in the detection of salts, whose formation is ascribed to secondary carbonatation processes. Morphological analysis (SEM-EDS) displayed relatively uniform microstructures for all specimens. Compressive strength tests revealed that MK rich samples achieved best values compared to FC rich formulations, which exhibited reduced strength resistance. This study highlights, for the first time, the benefits of incorporating Cuasso al Monte granite sawing sludges into alkali-activated binders. Results suggested that the incorporation of FC is recommended for both environmental and economic advantages.
Keywords: alkali-activated materials; mining waste; composite materials; upcycling alkali-activated materials; mining waste; composite materials; upcycling

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zafarana, S.E.; Achilli, A.; Barone, G.; Bersani, D.; Finocchiaro, C.; Fornasini, L.; Portale, S.; Mazzoleni, P. Exploring the Potential of Granite Sawing Sludge from Cuasso Al Monte (Italy) for the Development of Aluminosilicate Gel for a Sustainable Industry. Minerals 2025, 15, 718. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070718

AMA Style

Zafarana SE, Achilli A, Barone G, Bersani D, Finocchiaro C, Fornasini L, Portale S, Mazzoleni P. Exploring the Potential of Granite Sawing Sludge from Cuasso Al Monte (Italy) for the Development of Aluminosilicate Gel for a Sustainable Industry. Minerals. 2025; 15(7):718. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070718

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zafarana, Sabrina Elettra, Alessandro Achilli, Germana Barone, Danilo Bersani, Claudio Finocchiaro, Laura Fornasini, Silvia Portale, and Paolo Mazzoleni. 2025. "Exploring the Potential of Granite Sawing Sludge from Cuasso Al Monte (Italy) for the Development of Aluminosilicate Gel for a Sustainable Industry" Minerals 15, no. 7: 718. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070718

APA Style

Zafarana, S. E., Achilli, A., Barone, G., Bersani, D., Finocchiaro, C., Fornasini, L., Portale, S., & Mazzoleni, P. (2025). Exploring the Potential of Granite Sawing Sludge from Cuasso Al Monte (Italy) for the Development of Aluminosilicate Gel for a Sustainable Industry. Minerals, 15(7), 718. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070718

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