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Decarbonizing the Concrete Industry: Optimal Creation and Application of Geopolymers as Ordinary Portland Cement Alternative

CSEF · 2023 Materials Science Second Award

Doren Jackson · 8

Overview

The industrial manufacture of concrete contributes to an estimated 6-10% of all global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The main carbon-producing constituent in concrete is Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which produces about 0.93 pounds of carbon dioxide for every pound of cement manufactured. Cement alternatives created through the process of geopolymerization provide a promising solution for mitigating these carbon emissions. The purpose of this research is to discover the optimal method of creating and applying these materials, known as geopolymers, so that they can be utilized on a much larger scale. I experimented with three variations of alkaline reagent solutions (alkali soda + soluble silica + water) with a homemade simulated aluminosilicate precursor material created primarily of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide. I first attempted to synthesize LiOH, NaOH, and KOH using water and their respective pure elements which was successful but after further research I opted to buy NaOH and KOH instead. The solutions that I ended up using were made with NaOH, KOH, and 50% NaOH + 50% KOH. Upon creating and testing these solutions, it was confirmed that the KOH solution exhibited the most basic pH when tested with pH paper and a pH meter in comparison to the others. In addition, it exhibited the highest energy absorption capacity, which was roughly quantified by the number of hits from a hammer it could withstand without breaking. However, I came to the conclusion that the Na2SiO3 + 50% NaOH + 50% KOH solution would be most optimal in creating geopolymers on an industrial scale, as the abundance and cost-efficiency of NaOH provides a benefit beyond what is provided with increased strength. The results from this research provide additional information that could aid companies in the process of optimally creating geopolymers for use in future projects. Due to some disadvantages that inhibit their fast large-scale application, an additional recommendation is to utilize them in accordance with their greatest advantages, that way they would gain larger-scale recognition and in turn commence something of a “concrete revolution”.

Source coverage

This record comes from a published award list, not a complete project archive. Its abstract comes from CSEF's public project showcase as archived by the Internet Archive before judging (https://web.archive.org/web/20230401224130/https://ca-csef.zfairs.com/showcase/ShowcaseInfo?f=838e60b7-ea75-46e8-865c-fde4864244b3); the version presented may differ.

Awards (1)

Competition history

  • CSEF 2023 Materials Science · Entry J1320

Resources

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