Waste glass reuse in geopolymer binder prepared with metakaolin

Abstract

This work involves valuing residual waste from a glass coming from a recycling station in a geopolymer matrix. This type of waste contains mineral impurities called "infusibles" characterized by a very high melting temperature compared to traditional glass which makes it difficult to use it as glass cullet. The objective of this study is to use this waste as a source of silicates in a geopolymer reaction in combinations with aluminosilicates sources such as Metakaolin (MK).

For that, the first step was to characterize the different raw materials used. A quantitative chemical analysis was carried out by X-Ray Fluorescence and crystallography was determined by X-ray diffraction. The second step focuses on the dissolution of the WG structure. For that, three treatment programs have been realized modifying factors such as temperature (20°C and 90°C) and alkalinity (with sodium hydroxide 10M). After attack of WG, the elements Si⁴⁺, Al³⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were quantified by ICP-OES analysis. In the last step, the reactivity of glass after the different treatment programs was evaluated by the study of the mechanical behavior of mortars including the glasses and metakaolin (MK), which is a source of aluminosilicates.