Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of thermal activation and particle size on cementitious activity of bauxite tailings

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To explore the influence of thermal activation and particle size on cementitious activity of bauxite tailings, in this study, the raw bauxite tailings were classified into coarse bauxite tailings (CBT) and fine bauxite tailings (FBT) by a powder separator, and then the effect of activation temperature on cementitious activity of CBT and FBT was investigated. XRD, TG, and FTIR were used to study the phase and structure changes of CBT and FBT during the process of thermal activation. The results show that the main mineral phases of CBT and FBT, diaspore and kaolinite, begin to remove a large amount of hydroxyl groups at 500 ℃ and convert into corundum and metakaolin, respectively. The diaspore and kaolinite have completely removed the hydroxyl groups at 600 °C and 700 °C, respectively. With the increase of activation temperature, the particle size of CBT and FBT are first gradually decreased, when the activation temperature exceeds 700 ℃, as the activation temperature continues to arise, the particle size of CBT and FBT are gradually increased due to the occurrence of sintering. The activity index of bauxite tailings is increased with the increase of fineness, and the optimum activation temperature of CBT and FBT is 700 °C. When the activation temperature is the same, FBT has higher pozzolanic activity than CBT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

References

  • ASTM (2003) C618 Standard specification for fly ash and raw or calcined natural pozzolan for use as a mineral admixture in Portland cement concrete, West Conshohocken (USA)

  • Barbhuiya S, Mukherjee S, Nikraz H (2014) Effects of nano-Al2O3 on early-age microstructural properties of cement paste. Constr Build Mater 52:189–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang YF, Chang J (2015) Microstructure changes of waste hydrated cement paste induced by accelerated carbonation. Constr Build Mater 76:360–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frias M, de Rojas MIS, Garcia R, Valdes AJ, Medina C (2012) Effect of activated coal mining wastes on the properties of blended cement. Cement Concrete Comp 34:678–683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu LY, Zhang ZS, Lou DM, Li TC (2007) study on preparation of concrete incorporated material by activation of tailing of flotation bauxite. Chem Eng (China) 35:41–44. (in chinese)

  • Gou MF, Zhou LF, Then NWY (2019) Utilization of tailings in cement and concrete: A review. Sci Eng Compos Mater 26:449–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gu K, Jin F, Al-Tabbaa A, Shi B, Liu J (2014) Mechanical and hydration properties of ground granulated blastfurnace slag pastes activated with MgO-CaO mixtures. Constr Build Mater 69:101–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Feng QM, An DB, Zhang JH (2020) Use of mine tailings as precast construction materials through alkali activation. Mining Metall Explor 37:251–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouamo HT, Elimbi A, Mbey JA, Sabouang CJN, Njopwouo D (2012) The effect of adding alumina-oxide to metakaolin and volcanic ash on geopolymer products: A comparative study. Constr Build Mater 35:960–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li DX, Song XY, Gong CC, Pan ZH (2006) Research on cementitious behavior and mechanism of pozzolanic cement with coal gangue. Cement Concrete Res 36:1752–1759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZF, Gao YF, Zhang J, Zhang C, Chen JP, Liu C (2021) Effect of particle size and thermal activation on the coal gangue based geopolymer. Mater Chem Phys 267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.124657

  • Liu DX, Huang Y, Hu JY, Feng QM, Xiao JH (2021) Thermal activation mechanism and pozzolanic activity characteristics of coal flotation tailing. Adv Cem Res 33:145–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lodeiro IG, Macphee DE, Palomo A, Fernandez-Jimenez A (2009) Effect of alkalis on fresh C-S-H gels. FTIR Anal Cem Concr Res 39:147–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu QH, Hu YH (2013) Whitening of bauxite tailings. Powder Technol 235:136–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo YP, Bao SX, Zhang YM (2020) Preparation of one-part geopolymeric precursors using vanadium tailing by thermal activation. J Am Ceram Soc 103:779–783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Magalhaes LF, Franca S, Oliveira MD, Peixoto RAF, Bessa SAL, Bezerra ACD (2020) Iron ore tailings as a supplementary cementitious material in the production of pigmented cements. J Clean Prod 274

  • Perumal P, Kiventera J, Illikainen M (2021) Influence of alkali source on vproperties of alkali activated silicate tailings. Mater Chem Phys 271

  • Qiang ZQ, Shen XJ, Guo M, Cheng FQ, Zhang M (2019) A simple hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite X from bauxite tailings for highly efficient adsorbing CO2 at room temperature. Micropor Mesopor Mat 287:77–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren YH, Ren Q, Wu XL, Zheng JL, Hai O (2019) Mechanism of low temperature sintered high-strength ferric-rich ceramics using bauxite tailings. Mater Chem Phys 238

  • Santhanam M, Cohen MD, Olek J (2003) Effects of gypsum formation on the performance of cement mortars during external sulfate attack. Cem Concr Res 33:325–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scrivener KL, Fullmann A, Gallucci E, Walenta G, Bermejo E (2004) Quantitative study of Portland cement hydration by X-ray diffraction/Rietveld analysis and independent methods. Cement Concrete Res 34:1541–1547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Souri A, Kazemi-Kamyab H, Snellings R, Naghizadeh R, Golestani-Fard F, Scrivener K (2015) Pozzolanic activity of mechanochemically and thermally activated kaolins in cement. Cem Concr Res 77:47–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YH, Lan Y, Hu YH (2008) Adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) on the modified bauxite tailings. Miner Eng 21:913–917

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu PX (2005) existing status of interlayer water in vermiculite mineral material. J Chin Ceram Soc 33 209–214. (in Chinese)

  • Wu B, Ye G (2017) Development of porosity of cement paste blended with supplementary cementitious materials after carbonation. Constr Build Mater 145:52–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao J, Li FC, Zhong QF, Bao HG, Wang BJ, Huang JD, Zhang YB (2015) Separation of aluminum and silica from coal gangue by elevated temperature acid leaching for the preparation of alumina and SiC. Hydrometallurgy 155:118–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang HZ, Chen CP, Pan LJ, Lu HX, Sun HW, Hu X (2009) Preparation of double-layer glass-ceramic/ceramic tile from bauxite tailings and red mud. J Eur Ceram Soc 29:1887–1894

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang YC, Chen LQ, Mao YG (2021) Different effects of wet and dry grinding on the activation of iron ore tailings. J Renew Mater 9:2261–2276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang MJ, Sun JH, Dun CY, Duan YJ, Meng ZL (2020) Cementitious activity optimization studies of iron tailings powder as a concrete admixture. Constr Build Mater 265

  • Ye JY, Zhang WS, Shi D (2014) Effect of elevated temperature on the properties of geopolymer synthesized from calcined ore-dressing tailing of bauxite and ground-granulated blast furnace slag. Constr Build Mater 69:41–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yi ZL, Sun HH, Wei XQ, Li C (2009) Iron ore tailings used for the preparation of cementitious material by compound thermal activation. Int J Min Met Mater 16:355–358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang N, Sun HH, Liu XM, Zhang JX (2009) Early-age characteristics of red mud-coal gangue cementitious material. J Hazard Mater 167:927–932

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YS, Zhang J, Wu L, Tan L, Xie F, Cheng JG (2021) Extraction of lithium and aluminium from bauxite mine tailings by mixed acid treatment without roasting. J Hazard Mater 404

  • Zhou ZJ, Chen DZ (1999) The properties and evolution of illite at high temperature. J Miner Petrol 19:20–22 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou SX, Dong JL, Yu LH, Xu CJ, Jiao XK, Wang MY (2019) Effect of activated coal gangue in North China on the compressive strength and hydration process of cement. J Mater Civil Eng 31

  • Zhou LF, Gou MF, Guan XM (2021a) Hydration kinetics of cement-calcined activated bauxite tailings composite binder. Constr Build Mater 301

  • Zhou LF, Gou MF, Luo SQ, (2021b) Hydration kinetics of a calcination activated bauxite tailings-lime-gypsum ternary system. J Build Eng 38

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1704148, U1905216).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003, China

    Longfei Zhou, Mifeng Gou, Wenli Hou, Mengke Zhao, Jinhui Zhao & Zhaoliang Shen

Authors
  1. Longfei Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mifeng Gou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wenli Hou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mengke Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jinhui Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhaoliang Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Longfei Zhou: investigation, data curation, formal analysis, writing—original draft. Mifeng Gou: validation, review and editing, project administration. Wenli Hou: investigation. Mengke Zhao: investigation. Jinhui Zhao: investigation. Zhaoliang Shen: investigation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mifeng Gou.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: George Z. Kyzas

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Highlights

• The bauxite tailings are treated with thermally activated after being classified by a powder separator.

• The optimum activation temperature of CBT and FBT is 700 °C.

• The reactivity of tailings is increased with the increase of tailings fineness.

• Activated fine tailings can be used active additive in cement.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhou, L., Gou, M., Hou, W. et al. Effect of thermal activation and particle size on cementitious activity of bauxite tailings. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 78960–78972 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21409-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21409-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation