Preparation of Portland Cement with Gold Ore Tailings

Abstract

e disposal of gold ore tailings (GTs) has been a very difficult problem for a long time. us, this study explored a new approach to the management of GTs by preparing Portland cement. Physical properties, reaction mechanisms, and hydration product types of cement prepared with GTs (C-GTs) and ordinary Portland cement (C-SS) were compared. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscope energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis techniques were used to study the mineralogical phases of the clinker and raw materials, hydration product types, and microtopography. e consistency, setting time, flexural strength and compressive strength values of the cement samples (C-GTs and C-SS), and burnability of the raw materials were also studied. e burnability analysis indicated that GTs provided a higher reactivity. e XRD results showed that the clinker phases of the C-GTs were C 3 S, C 2 S, C 3 A, and C 4 AF. e XRD, TG, and SEM-EDS results showed that the hydration products were flaky calcium hydroxide, rod-shaped ettringite, and granular C-S-H gels. Its compressive strength and flexural strength were, respectively, 30.4 MPa and 6.1 MPa at the curing age of 3 days and 59.1 MPa and 9.8 MPa at the curing age of 28 days, which were slightly higher than those of the C-SS. Furthermore, the results showed that the consistency, initial setting time, and final setting time for the two kinds of cement were similar, which further suggested that GTs could be used to prepare Portland cement.

A Review on Emerging Cementitious Materials, Reactivity Evaluation and Treatment Methods

“…X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the hydration products of cement with GT were identical to those observed for cement without GT. The lack of detection of any diffraction peaks for C-S-H was attributed to the poor crystallization and amorphous properties of the C-S-H gels [97,114]. Based on Table 7, it was observed that the addition of 5% GT achieved the highest strength while further addition of GT caused a significant decrease in strength.…”

“…Meanwhile, other researchers [113] suggested that the tailings should only pass through a 45 µm sieve. Wang et al [97] produced OPC clinker using gold mine tailings (GT) as a substitute for natural sandstone. The burnability analysis indicated that the GT had high reactivity.…”

Toward the Implementation of Circular Economy Strategies: An Overview of the Current Situation in Mineral Processing

“…It is interesting to visualize options of this type, given that tailings are mainly considered as waste, but have the potential to positively intervene in the circularity of the cement industry by promoting the reduction of virgin resource consumption such as limestone, bauxite, clay, sand, and gypsum (Wang, Yao, et al 2019). Cement production is an activity considered as one of the three industrial processes that have the highest environmental impact, together with the use of fossil fuels and the exploitation of land (Andrew 2018).…”

Geopolymer Concrete Preparation Using Gold Ore Tailings and Cost Comparison with Conventional Concrete

“…Earlier studies stated that GOTs can be utilized as partial replacement to the RS [13]. Wang et al [14] studied the physical properties, reaction mechanism, and hydration product types of cement prepared with GOTs.…”