Combined preparation and application of geopolymer pavement materials from coal slurry-slag powder-fly ash mining solid waste: A case study

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2024-08, Vol.441, p.137510, Article 137510
• Main Authors: Qin, Zhenghan, Yuan, Yong, Chen, Zhongshun, Li, Yong, Xia, Yongqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coal slurry; Geopolymer; Mine solid waste; Paving material; Response surface methodology (RSM)
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.137510

The solid waste treatment problem generated in the process of coal mining has always been an important factor restricting safe and environmentally friendly production, and the coal slurry from the coal mine road surface is a new type of mine solid waste, so it is of great significance to treat and efficiently utilize the coal slurry. Currently, a common method of solid waste utilization is to add modifying reagents to prepare functional materials. Select coal slurry, slag powder and fly ash as raw materials, and sodium sulfate and sodium hydroxide were used as alkali exciters to prepare coal slurry based geopolymer pavement material (CSGPM). Response surface methodology was used to establish regression equations between the design optimization objectives (coagulation time, compressive strength) and the variables (mass fraction, mass ratio of slag powder to fly ash, mass ratio of sodium sulfate to sodium hydroxide). The effects of two-by-two interactions of the factors on the optimization objective were explored, and the use of different raw materials was obtained. Under the optimal proportioning parameters, the coagulation time of CSGPM was 33 min and the compressive strength of 24 h of curing was 11.20 MPa. In addition, the generation mechanism of AFt and C-S-H gel substances inside the specimen was explained with the help of microscopic scanning. CSGPM showed good mechanical properties in both load-bearing numerical simulations and acoustic emission tests. Numerical simulation was used to establish the relationship between the design objective of the roadbed (maximum subsidence of the roadbed after bearing) and the design variable (thickness of CSGPM paving). Comparative analyses yielded an optimal subgrade surface layer design thickness of 5 cm, with a maximum subsidence of 0.0033 m after bearing vehicles. Synchronization of roadbed material and concrete damage in combined specimen acoustic emission tests with uniform load transfer. The final coal mine pavement was successfully paved and the total cost of CSGPMD is 63.2 per cent of C30 concrete. Those results are important for the preparation of new pavement functional materials. [Display omitted] •This research realizes the efficient synergistic use of coal slurry, slag powder and fly ash, and reduces environmental pollution.•Determined the mixing ratios of coal slurry, slag powder, fly ash and alkali exciters.•Determined the maintenance time and laying thickness of the CSGPM.•The engineering applicati