Improved Reactivity of Volcanic Ash using Municipal Solid Incinerator Fly Ash for Alkali-Activated Cement Synthesis

Abstract

In this work, municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash (MSWI-FA) was used as precursor to alter the reactivity of low reactive volcanic ash (VA) for alkali-activated cement synthesised. The effects of various proportions of MSWI-FA (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) on the final properties of the inorganic polymer are reported. The increase in MSWI-FA content increases the heat of reaction in MSWI-FA as the result of the reaction between the amorphous alumina-silica and the Ca-rich precursor. Isothermal conduction calorimetry, FTIR, XRD SEM/EDS, and physico-mechanical analyses were used to follow up the different formulations. New crystalline phases, namely Margarite (CaAl2 (Al2Si2)O10(OH)2, PDF#04-013-3004), Mordernite-(Ca) ((Ca, Na2, K2)(Al2 Si10 O24)·7H2O, PDF#00-011-0155) and Thernadite (Na2SO4, PDF#01-074-2036) confirm the good reactivity. The SEM/EDS exhibited the coexistence of C–S(-N-A)–H and N-A-S-H gels in binary system alkali-activated. The compressive strength and bulk density ranged from 9.38 to 21.07 MPa and from 1.56 to 1.77 g/cm3, respectively. These results indicated the possibility to use VA and MSWI-FA to synthesize room temperature alkali-activated matrices applicable in the manufacture of structural and functional materials. MSWI-FA appears energy-efficient and sustainable solution for the improvement of the volcanic ash based alkaline activated materials.