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Structure-Property Relationship of Geopolymers for Aqueous Pb Removal
Sukanta K Mondal1, Adam Welz1, Fateme Rezaei2
1Sustainable Materials Laboratory (SusMatLab), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409, United States.
ACS Omega
|September 9, 2020
Summary
Geopolymers effectively remove over 99.5% of aqueous lead (Pb). Optimizing geopolymer composition and microstructure enhances heavy metal removal performance for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- Geopolymers, inorganic polymeric materials, are researched for heavy metal removal.
- Variability and unanswered questions hinder geopolymer adoption in industry.
- Understanding composition-structure-property relationships is crucial for geopolymer optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of composition and microstructure on geopolymer performance for aqueous lead removal.
- To elucidate the geopolymer composition-structure-property relationship for heavy metal adsorption.
- To investigate Pb sorption kinetics and efficiency in different geopolymer formulations.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized four geopolymers using varied fly ash precursors and alkaline activating solutions.
- Investigated lead (Pb) sorption kinetics and removal efficiency.
- Analyzed the correlation between geopolymer composition, microstructure, and Pb removal performance.
Main Results:
- All tested geopolymers achieved over 99.5% Pb removal efficiency.
- Sorption kinetics decreased with increasing Ca/(Si + Al) and Al/Si molar ratios.
- Sorption kinetics and efficiency correlated strongly with the amorphous phase content.
Conclusions:
- Geopolymer performance in heavy metal removal is strongly linked to its composition and microstructure.
- Optimizing precursor formulation and curing conditions can enhance geopolymer properties for industrial use.
- Tailored geopolymer microstructures are key to high performance in aqueous heavy metal remediation.
