A State-of-the-Art Review on the Application of Geopolymerization/Geopolymer in Environmental Fields

Zhang, Yonglei; Li, Pingping; Yu, Ting; Zhou, Yang; Huang, Yingxue; Pei, Yuxuan

doi:10.3390/buildings15224054

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Open AccessReview

A State-of-the-Art Review on the Application of Geopolymerization/Geopolymer in Environmental Fields

by

Yonglei Zhang

¹,

Pingping Li

²,

Ting Yu

^3,*

,

Yang Zhou

^2,*,

Yingxue Huang

¹ and

Yuxuan Pei

¹

School of Tourism and Geography, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China

²

School of National Safety and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China

³

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4054; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224054

Submission received: 22 August 2025 / Revised: 19 October 2025 / Accepted: 22 October 2025 / Published: 10 November 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development in Building: High-Performance Materials with Solid Waste)

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Abstract

Geopolymers, achieved through geopolymerization of aluminosilicate-containing precursors, are environmentally friendly inorganic binders with excellent mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and low carbon footprint. Beyond construction applications, geopolymers show great potential in environmental protection due to their ability to immobilize hazardous pollutants, adsorb ions and gases, and utilize industrial solid wastes. This review provides a state-of-the-art summary of recent advances in geopolymer applications in environmental fields, including (1) immobilization of hazardous wastes, (2) adsorption of hazardous ions and CO₂, and (3) resource utilization of solid wastes through geopolymerization. The mechanisms underlying immobilization and adsorption are discussed, and research gaps and future directions will be highlighted to guide further development of geopolymer-based environmental materials or application of geopolymerization in solid waste utilization.

Keywords: clay minerals; geopolymerization; solid waste treatment; environmental impact; kaolinite

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, Y.; Li, P.; Yu, T.; Zhou, Y.; Huang, Y.; Pei, Y. A State-of-the-Art Review on the Application of Geopolymerization/Geopolymer in Environmental Fields. Buildings 2025, 15, 4054. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224054

AMA Style

Zhang Y, Li P, Yu T, Zhou Y, Huang Y, Pei Y. A State-of-the-Art Review on the Application of Geopolymerization/Geopolymer in Environmental Fields. Buildings. 2025; 15(22):4054. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224054

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Yonglei, Pingping Li, Ting Yu, Yang Zhou, Yingxue Huang, and Yuxuan Pei. 2025. "A State-of-the-Art Review on the Application of Geopolymerization/Geopolymer in Environmental Fields" Buildings 15, no. 22: 4054. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224054

APA Style

Zhang, Y., Li, P., Yu, T., Zhou, Y., Huang, Y., & Pei, Y. (2025). A State-of-the-Art Review on the Application of Geopolymerization/Geopolymer in Environmental Fields. Buildings, 15(22), 4054. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224054

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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