The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer
Waste generated in fine wool production is homogeneous and without contamination, which increases its chances of reuse. Waste mineral wool from demolition sites belongs to the specific group of waste. However, the storage and collection require implementing restrictive conditions, such as improper s...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/6/2050 |
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| author | Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk Monika Czop Dominik Smyczek |
| author_facet | Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk Monika Czop Dominik Smyczek |
| author_sort | Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Waste generated in fine wool production is homogeneous and without contamination, which increases its chances of reuse. Waste mineral wool from demolition sites belongs to the specific group of waste. However, the storage and collection require implementing restrictive conditions, such as improper storage of mineral wool, which is highly hazardous for the environment. The study focuses on the leachability of selected pollutants (pH, Cl<sup>−</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>) and heavy metals (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) from the waste mineral wool. As a solution to the problem of storing mineral wool waste, it was proposed to process it into wool-based geopolymer. The geopolymer, based on mineral wool, was also assessed regarding the leaching of selected impurities. Rock mineral wool is very good for geopolymerisation, but the glass wool needs to be completed with additional components rich in Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The research involved geopolymer prepared from mineral glass wool with bauxite and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. So far, glass wool with the mentioned additives has not been tested. An essential aspect of the article is checking the influence of wool-based geopolymer on the environment. To investigate the environmental effects of the wool-based monolith and crushed wool geopolymers were compared. Such research has not been conducted so far. For this purpose, water extracts from fragmented geopolymers were made, and tests were carried out following EN 12457-4. There is no information in the literature on the influence of geopolymer on the environment, which is an essential aspect of its possible use. The research results proved that the geopolymer made on the base of mineral wool meets the environmental requirements, except for the pH value. As mentioned in the article, the geopolymerisation process requires the dissolution of the starting material in a high pH (alkaline) solution. On the other hand, the pH minimum 11.2 value of fresh geopolymer binder is required to start geopolymerisation. Moreover, research results analysed in the literature showed that the optimum NaOH concentration is 8 M. for the highest compressive strength of geopolymer. Therefore, the geopolymer strength decreases with NaO concentration in the NaOH solution. Geopolymers glass wool-based mortars with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> obtained an average compressive strength of 59, the geopolymer with bauxite achieved about 51 MPa. Thus, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> is a better additional glass wool-based geopolymer than bauxite. The average compressive strength of rock wool-based geopolymer mortar was about 62 MPa. The average compressive strength of wool-based geopolymer binder was about 20–25 MPa. It was observed that samples of geopolymers grout without aggregate participation are characterised by cracking and deformation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:30:15Z |
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| id | doaj.art-848013efb4c64add8263fa17f399266e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:30:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-848013efb4c64add8263fa17f399266e2023-11-30T21:18:53ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-03-01156205010.3390/ma15062050The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based GeopolymerBeata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk0Monika Czop1Dominik Smyczek2Department of Building Processes and Building Physics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 5, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Technologies and Installations for Waste Management, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Building Processes and Building Physics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 5, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandWaste generated in fine wool production is homogeneous and without contamination, which increases its chances of reuse. Waste mineral wool from demolition sites belongs to the specific group of waste. However, the storage and collection require implementing restrictive conditions, such as improper storage of mineral wool, which is highly hazardous for the environment. The study focuses on the leachability of selected pollutants (pH, Cl<sup>−</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>) and heavy metals (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) from the waste mineral wool. As a solution to the problem of storing mineral wool waste, it was proposed to process it into wool-based geopolymer. The geopolymer, based on mineral wool, was also assessed regarding the leaching of selected impurities. Rock mineral wool is very good for geopolymerisation, but the glass wool needs to be completed with additional components rich in Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The research involved geopolymer prepared from mineral glass wool with bauxite and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. So far, glass wool with the mentioned additives has not been tested. An essential aspect of the article is checking the influence of wool-based geopolymer on the environment. To investigate the environmental effects of the wool-based monolith and crushed wool geopolymers were compared. Such research has not been conducted so far. For this purpose, water extracts from fragmented geopolymers were made, and tests were carried out following EN 12457-4. There is no information in the literature on the influence of geopolymer on the environment, which is an essential aspect of its possible use. The research results proved that the geopolymer made on the base of mineral wool meets the environmental requirements, except for the pH value. As mentioned in the article, the geopolymerisation process requires the dissolution of the starting material in a high pH (alkaline) solution. On the other hand, the pH minimum 11.2 value of fresh geopolymer binder is required to start geopolymerisation. Moreover, research results analysed in the literature showed that the optimum NaOH concentration is 8 M. for the highest compressive strength of geopolymer. Therefore, the geopolymer strength decreases with NaO concentration in the NaOH solution. Geopolymers glass wool-based mortars with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> obtained an average compressive strength of 59, the geopolymer with bauxite achieved about 51 MPa. Thus, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> is a better additional glass wool-based geopolymer than bauxite. The average compressive strength of rock wool-based geopolymer mortar was about 62 MPa. The average compressive strength of wool-based geopolymer binder was about 20–25 MPa. It was observed that samples of geopolymers grout without aggregate participation are characterised by cracking and deformation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/6/2050production wasterock woolglass woolloss on ignitionpollutants washoutgeopolymer |
| spellingShingle | Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk Monika Czop Dominik Smyczek The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer Materials production waste rock wool glass wool loss on ignition pollutants washout geopolymer |
| title | The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer |
| title_full | The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer |
| title_fullStr | The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer |
| title_short | The Comparison of the Environmental Impact of Waste Mineral Wool and Mineral in Wool-Based Geopolymer |
| title_sort | comparison of the environmental impact of waste mineral wool and mineral in wool based geopolymer |
| topic | production waste rock wool glass wool loss on ignition pollutants washout geopolymer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/6/2050 |
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