Solidification of heavy metal elements in waste phosphate acid activated
metakaolin geopolymer with environmental and economic benefits
Abstract
This paper investigates the feasibility of using industrial waste acid
to prepare geopolymer with significant environmental and economic
benefits. Two types of waste acid were examined to discuss the effect of
waste acid content on the microstructure, mechanical performance,
thermal stability and heavy metal solidification efficiency. The core
issue solved in this investigation is the harmless treatment of
industrial waste acid and solidification efficiency of heavy metals, so
as to reduce the pollution of heavy metals on the environment and the
urgent demand for low carbon emissions in the construction and ceramic
industries. The results showed that the metal elements (Ag, Fe, Mo, Cu
and Ni) can be successfully solidified with over 95% solidification
efficiency, indicating that the geopolymers are appropriate for
hazardous material stabilisation, and the leaching of the heavy metals
to the environment can be well controlled. The environmental and
economic analysis indicates that the carbon and energy consumption
intensity were reduced by 92.7% and 77.9%, respectively, compared to
cement. What is more important is that the cost intensity is negative
due to the income of waste acid treatment, meaning that additional value
benefit was added to the product. This paves a promising way for the
low-carbon transformation of ceramic enterprises and industrial waste
treatment enterprises, drives further breakthroughs in high-tech
industries, and promotes the sustainable development of the local
national economy.