This paper explored reported the effect of sewage sludge ash (SSA) on the mechanical and microstructural properties of geopolymers based on metakaolin (MK) involving two different SiO2/Na2O molar ratios (0.8 and 1.6), two temperature curing conditions (25°C and 65°C) and various ages of curing (1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 90 or 180 days). The geopolymers tests were characterized performed using different techniques: as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and compressive strength of mortars. Tests were performed for both high (65°C) and room (25°C) temperature curing conditions lasting for 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 90 or 180 days. The geopolymeric samples were activated using sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions using two different SiO2/Na2O molar ratios (0.8 and 1.6). The compressive strength tests showed that the replacement of MK by SSA in 10 wt.% when cured at 25 °C with the highest SiO2/Na2O molar ratio reaches similar compressive strengths after 14 days of curing compared to the samples with only MK, which reached a maximum compressive strength of 50.8 MPa at 180 days. The FTIR analyses carried out in the geopolymer pastes with SSA (10 wt.% of SSA and 90 wt.% of MK) showed a formation of N-A-S-H gels in the samples cured at 25 °C. The microstructural studies by XRD, TGA and SEM pointed out the formation of a crystalline phase as Na P-type zeolite in MK/SSA based-geopolymer pastes cured at 65 °C, which explained the loss of compressive strength of the samples cured at high temperature. However, the SSA retarded the crystallization process in the MK basedgeopolymer.

11In recent years, geopolymers have become a widely researched binding material. There are technological 12 and environmental advantages to using this type of binder instead of Portland cement. In this study, 13binary systems of geopolymers were produced by using mixtures of metakaolin (MK), a well-known 14 aluminosilicate raw material, and a residue from sewage sludge incineration: sewage sludge ash (SSA). 15This ash was used to partially replace the metakaolin in proportions of 0-20%. The mixtures were 16 activated with alkaline solutions and they were cured by using two different conditions: at room 17 temperature (25 ºC) and in a thermal bath (65 ºC). The samples were assessed by X-ray diffraction,

RESUMO O setor sucroalcooleiro vem se expandindo nos últimos anos, alavancado principalmente pelo advento da bionergia. No Brasil, a produção de cana-de-açúcar vem avançando em áreas destinadas à pecuária extensiva e a outras culturas importantes como a soja, o milho e a laranja, e concerne à geração de energia elétrica pela queima do bagaço (cogeração) e ao uso de etanol como combustível de veículos automotores. Contudo, a produção de açúcar, álcool e energia a partir de cana-de-açúcar pode causar problemas ambientais em decorrência da geração de resíduos como a cinza do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (CBC). Deste modo, este trabalho apresenta a viabilidade técnica da utilização de cinza resultante do processo de queima do bagaço de cana para a geração de energia como adição mineral, em concretos. Para isso foram realizados ensaios de caracterização química e difração de raios-x na CBC. Produziram-se concretos contendo a CBC nos teores de 5%, 10%, 15% e 20%, em massa, como substituição parcial ao agregado miúdo. Realizaram-se ensaios mecânicos e, a partir dos resultados obtidos, o traço de concreto que apresentou os melhores resultados foi submetido aos seguintes ensaios de durabilidade: resistência ao ataque químico, absorção por capilaridade, penetração de cloretos e abrasão. O trabalho foi realizado com CBC de baixa atividade pozolânica, entretanto, os resultados indicaram ser possível utilizar a CBC como substituição parcial do agregado miúdo na produção de concretos, pois seus resultados são similares ao concreto sem adição da cinza.

This paper aimed to evaluate the long-term compressive strength development of the sewage sludge ash/metakaolin (SSA/MK)-based geopolymer. SSA/MK-based geopolymeric mortars and pastes were produced at 25ºC with different SSA contents (0 - 30 wt.%). Compressive strength tests were run within the 3-720 curing days range. A physicochemical characterisation (X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy) was performed in geopolymeric pastes. All the geopolymeric mortars presented a compressive strength gain with curing time. The mortars with all the SSA evaluated contents (10, 20, 30 wt.%) developed a compressive strength over 40 MPa after 720 curing days at 25ºC. The maximum compressive strength of the mortars with SSA was approximately 61 MPa (10 wt.% of SSA), similarly to the reference mortar (100% MK-based geopolymer). The microstructure analyses showed that the SSA/MK-based geopolymer presented a dense microstructure with N-A-S-H gel formation.

The aim of this study was to use the electrical impedance spectroscopy technique (IS) to carry out a systematic study on the mechanism of metakaolin geopolymerization for up to 7 curing days. The study was developed on two batches of metakaolin (MK), and their reaction processes were compared. Interpretative fundamental elements were developed based on the effective electrical conductivity curves regarding the metakaolin geopolymerization. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were previously carried out and used to interpret and validate the electrical behavior of the fresh and hardened MK-based geopolymer pastes. The results highlighted the sensibility of the impedance technique to the identification and description of the MK geopolymerization process, as well as the changes resulting from even slight variations in the metakaolin composition. Furthermore, this indicated that the geopolymerization process in highly alkaline solutions could be divided into seven stages, including the processes of dissolution, nucleation, precipitation and formation of the gel and, eventually, the retraction/microcracks constitution. Late dissolution processes could be observed during the more advanced stages and were attributed to particles not being fully hydrated.

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This paper evaluates the pozzolanic activity of sewage sludge ash (USSA) obtained following an uncontrolled-combustion process, a simple and economic procedure. Compressive strength of Portland cement/USSA mortars with different percentage of USSA (5-25 wt.%) were evaluated, as well as calcium hydroxide/USSA (CH/USSA) and Portland cement/USSA (PC/USSA) pastes were chemically and physically characterised. The compressive strength of the mortars was increased as Portland cement replacement level by USSA was increased, reaching values 27%, 16% and 7% higher than the one corresponding to the reference mortar (0% USSA) at 7, 28 and 90 curing days, respectively, with 25% USSA. The TG/DTG tests run in the CH/USSA pastes revealed the pozzolanic behaviour of USSA. The TG/DTG, FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses performed in the PC/USSA pastes showed the formation of hydrated products such as C-S-H, C-A-S-H, and C-A-H from the pozzolanic reaction of USSA, which contributed to the compressive strength improvement.

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