Use of Prefabrication, Construction and Demolition Wastes as an Aggregate in Vibropressed Precast Concrete Blocks Production

The aim of current study was to determine the recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) applicability in the production of concrete mixture for vibropressed concrete blocks. The experiments were focused especially on the crushed waste material from the same concrete elements producing plant.  For this type of precast elements only some finer fractions can be implemented and the “earth-moist” consistency of fresh mixture is required. The series of samples was prepared in which the mixture of natural aggregates was partially or totally substituted by recycled concrete aggregate. The 0/4 RCA fraction, which is usually rejected in ready mix concrete technology, plays a role of 0/2 sand.  The substitution of sand fraction was from 20% to 100% respectively. The substitution of the coarser aggregate fractions by 4/16 RCA was also done. The standard properties of vibropressed elements, such as the degree of densification, the density of material, the compressive and splitting tensile strength and the water absorption capacity according to the relevant standards were determined. The parameters of materials with the natural aggregate substitution by RCA are affected by the ratio of recycled concrete aggregate. In most cases the results do not decline specially from those for reference samples, when only the natural sand (0/2) fraction is substituted by the 0/4 recycled aggregate. As one could expect, as lower the substitution, as better the test results. The partial substitution of natural aggregate by coarser fractions requires experimental verification; over 20% substitution of natural aggregate by 4/8, 8/16 or 0/16 RCA should be excluded

Inmobilization of Zn(II) in Portland cement pastes. Determination of microstructure and leaching performance

The aim of this paper is to study the solidification/ stabilization potential of cementitious matrices on the immobilization of Zn(II) before its disposal into the environment by determining the mechanisms of interaction between the Zn(II) ions and the binder. The results of structural and mineralogical characterization of cement pastes formed with different amounts of immobilized Zn(II) ions are presented and the study includes results from thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and leaching performance. Zn(II) ions delay the hydration reaction of Portland cement due to the formation of mainly CaZn2(OH)6 2H2O , as well as Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6, Zn(OH)2, and ZnCO3 in minor proportion. Correlations between total mass loss in TG analysis and leached Zn(II) ions in long-term curing pastes have been obtained. This result is important because in a preliminary approach from a TG on an early-aged cement paste containing Zn(II), it could be possible to perform an estimation of the amount of Zn(II) ions that could be leached, thus avoiding costly and time-consuming tests.Mellado Romero, AM.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Soriano Martinez, L.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ.; Monzó Balbuena, JM. (2013). Inmobilization of Zn(II) in Portland cement pastes. Determination of microstructure and leaching performance. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 112(3):1377-1389. doi:10.1007/s10973-012-2705-8S137713891123Mojumdar SC, Sain M, Prasad RC, Sun L, Venart JES. Selected thermoanalytical methods and their applications from medicine to construction, Part I. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2007;90:653–62.Perraki M, Perraki T, Kolovos K, Tsivilis S, Kakali G. Secondary raw materials in cement industry. Evaluation of their effect on the sintering and hydration processes by thermal analysis. 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Thermogravimetrical analysis for monitoring carbonation of cementitious materials. Uptake of CO2 and deepening in C–S–H knowledge. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2012. doi: 10.1007/s10973-012-2466-4 .Batchelor B. Overview of waste stabilization with cement. Waste Manag (Oxford). 2006;26:689–98.Gineys N, Aouad G, Damidot D. Managing trace elements in Portland cement-Part I: interactions between cement paste and heavy metals added during mixing as soluble salts. Cem Concr Compos. 2010;32:563–70.Erdem M, Özverdi A. Environmental risk assessment and stabilization/solidification of zinc extraction residue: II. Stabilization/solidification. Hydrometallurgy. 2011;105:270–6.Nocuń-Wczelik W, Małolepszy J. Application of calorimetry in studies of the immobilization of heavy metals in cementitious materials. Thermochim Acta. 1995;269(270):613–9.Dweck J, Buchler PM, Cartledge FK. The effect of different bentonites on cement hydration during solidification/stabilization of tannery wastes. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2001;64:1011–6.Melchert MBM, Viana MM, Lemos MS, Dweck J, Buchler PM. Simultaneous solidification of two catalyst wastes and their effect on the early stages of cement hydration. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2011;105:625–33.Vessalas K, Thomas PS, Ray AS, Guerbois JP, Joyce P, Haggman J. Pozzolanic reactivity of the supplementary cementitious material pitchstone fines by thermogravimetric analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2009;97:71–6.Tommaseo CE, Kersten M. Aqueous solubility diagrams for cementitious waste stabilization systems. 3. Mechanism of zinc immobilization by calcium silicate hydrate. Environ Sci Technol. 2002;36:2919–25.Peyronnard O, et al. Study of mineralogy and leaching behavior of stabilized/solidified sludge using differential acid neutralization analysis. Cem Conc Res. 2009. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.03.016 .Moulin I, et al. Lead, zinc and chromium (III) and (VI) speciation in hydrated cement phases. International conference on the science and engineering of recycling for environmental protection, waste materials in construction (WASCON 2000), Harrogate, England, 2000, pp. 269–280.Ziegler F, Gieré R, Johnson CA. Sorption mechanisms of zinc to calcium silicate hydrate: sorption and microscopic investigations. Environ Sci Technol. 2001;35:4556–61.Qiao XC, Poon CS, Cheeseman CR. Investigation into the stabilization/solidification performance of Portland cement through cement clinker phases. J Hazard Mater. 2007;B139:238–43.Chen QY, et al. Immobilisation of heavy metal in cement-based solidification/stabilisation: a review. Waste Manag (Oxford). 2009;29:390–403.Chen QY, et al. Characterisation of products of tricalcium silicate hydration in the presence of heavy metals. J Hazard Mater. 2007;147:817–25.Fernandez-Olmo I, Chacon E, Irabien A. Influence of lead, zinc, iron (III) and chromium (III) oxides on the setting time and strength development of Portland cement. Cem Concr Res. 2001;31:1213–9.Fernandez-Olmo I, Chacon E, Irabien A. Leaching behavior of lead, chromium (III) and zinc in cement/metal oxides systems. ASCE J Environ Eng. 2003;129:532–8.Cappuyns V, Swennenb R. The application of pHstat leaching tests to assess the pH-dependent release of trace metals from soils, sediments and waste materials. J Hazard Mater. 2008;158:185–95.Payá J, Monzó J, Borrachero MV, Velázquez S. Evaluation of the pozzolanic activity of fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue (FC3R): thermogravimetric analysis studies on FC3R-Portland cement pastes. Cem Concr Res. 2003;33:603–9.Wang S, Yang Z, Zeng L. Study of calcium zincate synthesized by solid-phase synthesis method without strong alkali. Mater Chem Phys. 2008;112:603–6.Stumm A, et al. Incorporation of zinc into calcium silicate hydrates, Part I: formation of C–S–H(I) with C/S = 2/3 and its isochemical counterpart gyrolite. Cem Concr Res. 2005;35:1665–75.Stephan D, Mallmann R, Knöfel D, Härdtl R. High intakes of Cr, Ni, and Zn in clinker, Part II. Influence on the hydration properties. Cem Concr Res. 1999;29:1959–67.Liu Y, et al. Thermal decomposition of basic zinc carbonate in nitrogen atmosphere. Thermochim Acta. 2004;414:121–3.Wahab R, et al. Synthesis and characterization of hydrozincite and its conversion into zinc oxide nanoparticles. J Alloy Compd. 2008;461:66–71.Hatakeyama T, Liu Z. Handbook of thermal analysis. New Yok: Wiley; 2000

Blast furnace slag-Mg(OH)(2) cements activated by sodium carbonate

The structural evolution of a sodium carbonate activated slag cement blended with varying quantities of Mg(OH)2 was assessed. The main reaction products of these blended cements were a calcium-sodium aluminosilicate hydrate type gel, an Mg-Al layered double hydroxide with a hydrotalcite type structure, calcite, and a hydrous calcium aluminate phase (tentatively identified as a carbonate-containing AFm structure), in proportions which varied with Na2O/slag ratios. Particles of Mg(OH)2 do not chemically react within these cements. Instead, Mg(OH)2 acts as a filler accelerating the hardening of sodium carbonate activated slags. Although increased Mg(OH)2 replacement reduced the compressive strength of these cements, pastes with 50 wt% Mg(OH)2 still reached strengths of ∼21 MPa. The chemical and mechanical characteristics of sodium carbonate activated slag/Mg(OH)2 cements makes them a potentially suitable matrix for encapsulation of high loadings of Mg(OH)2-bearing wastes such as Magnox sludge