Durability Characteristics of Geopolymer Concrete Produced Using Gold Ore Tailings Along with Recycled Coarse Aggregates

Abstract

Abstract The gold ore tailings (GOTs) are one of the major waste in the mining sector. The disposal of these tailings could be the problem to human health and major environmental concern from several years. Hence, the attempt should be made for effective utilization of industrial waste in the construction industry in different forms. In this research work, the GOTs were used as an alternative material to the river sand (RS) in the production of geopolymer concrete (GPC). The developed GPC samples were tested to know the durability characteristics, such as resistance to sulphates and chlorides. The sulphate attack test was conducted by immersing the conventional concrete (CC) and GPC samples in 5% magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) solution for a period of 28 days, 56 days, 90 days, 180 days, 270 days, and 365 days. In this test, the GPC samples showed the reduction in compressive strength and weight, which is slightly more when compared to CC samples, for 270 and 365 days of exposure condition. The rapid chloride penetration test (RCPT) was also conducted to know the chloride ion penetration in which GPC samples exhibited less chloride penetration when compared to CC samples. Further, the toxic characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) analysis showed that the GOTs has very high concentration of hazardous metals, such as arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and mercury (Hg). But the concentration of cyanide (CN−) was minimum in GOTs. In this regard, geopolymerization would be a better method for immobilizing the hazardous metals present in GOTs.