Production of synthetic zeolite and geopolymer materials from the tailings derived from thermal power plants and metallurgical plants

This study consists of 2 chapters to investigate the production possibilities of artificial zeolite and geopolymer materials from the thermal power plant and metallurgical plant tailings. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) were used as basic activators in the production of geopolymer building materials. Yates and Box Behnken test design were used to determine the effective parameters. Using basic/acidic pumice and calcined perlite aggregates, lightweight (1263-1792 kg/m3) geopolymer concretes with uniaxial compressive strengths of 11,69 to 51,87 MPa could be obtained. Much more aggregate containing geopolymer concretes with higher strengths and weights were obtained when arc furnace and ferrochrome slag aggregates were used. In addition, point load strengths were determined. Water absorption, sonic velocity and Mohs hardness values of specimens were determined on the 28th day. NaOH was used in the zeolite synthesis experiments. Gismondine group zeolites (zeolite Na-P1, Gismondine and Garronite) with high cation exchange capacity (CEC) were obtained by hydrothermal alkali leaching. Na-LSX and Ca-Filipsite type zeolites were produced by basic fusion technique. Before the alkali leaching process, high intensity magnetic separation was applied and the non-magnetic materials were used to synthesize the zeolites. Zeolites were characterized and interpreted using XRD, XRF, SEM, EDS, DTA-TGA-DSC, M-H and FTIR techniques.