The high sulfate
content in various alkaline wastes, including
those from fossil fuel and biomass combustion, and other industrial
processes, necessitates careful management when used in cementitious
systems to prevent potential deterioration of construction materials
and environmental safety concerns. This study explores the under-researched
area of high-sulfur fly ash (HSFA) utilization in the production of
cement-free monoliths through accelerated carbonation and further
examines the effect of niobium slag (NS)a calcium aluminate-containing
slagas an additive on the strength development and the mobility
of SO4
2–. The methodology involves mineralogical
and microstructural analyses of monoliths before and after carbonation,
accounting for the effects of accelerated carbonation treatment and
NS addition. The findings suggest that accelerated carbonation significantly
improves the initial compressive strength of the HSFA monoliths and
generally immobilizes heavy metals, while the effect on sulfate immobilization
can vary depending on the ash composition. Moreover, the addition
of NS further enhances strength without substantially hindering CO2 uptake, while reducing the leaching values, particularly
of sulfates and heavy metals. These findings suggest that it is feasible
to use calcium aluminate-containing NS in HSFA-based carbonated monoliths
to immobilize sulfates without compromising the strength development
derived from carbonation. This research contributes to the understanding
of how accelerated carbonation and NS addition can enhance the performance
of HSFA-based materials, providing valuable insights for the development
of sustainable construction materials.