Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation and strength formation mechanism of alkali-stimulated spontaneous combustion gangue-granulated blast furnace slag backfill

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spontaneous combustion gangue (SCG) is often used as aggregate in traditional cemented paste backfill (CPB) for mine backfill, but the activation of SCG is insufficient. To stimulate the activity of SCG for the preparation of spontaneous combustion gangue-granulated blast furnace slag backfill (SGB), a new CPB was prepared by activating SCG via a mechanochemical composite activation method and adding ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) to improve its activity. The mixing ratio was optimized by the response surface method and satisfaction function, and the strength formation mechanism was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM–EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that SCG had a certain pozzolanic activity, and the optimal grinding time was 30 min. The optimal mix ratio was 82.58% mass concentration, 2.93% alkali content, 30% GGBS content, and 52.92% fine gangue rate. Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel and calcium aluminate sulfate hydrate (C-A-S-H) gel were the main reaction products of backfill, and with increasing curing age, C-S-H gel in the reaction system was gradually converted into C-A-S-H gel. FTIR analysis results showed that there were H-O-H, Si-O, and Si-O-T (T was Si or Al) bonds in the product, indicating that C-S-H gel and C-A-S-H gel were formed in the product. A new damage constitutive model was developed. The damage constitutive model could completely describe the backfill stress-strain curve. The study verified the feasibility of preparing cemented paste backfill with SCG and GGBS, which was beneficial to clean coal mine production and environmental protection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achara BE, Mohammed BS, Liew MS (2019) Bond behaviour of nano-silica-modified self-compacting engineered cementitious composite using response surface methodology. Construct Build Mater 224:796–814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra MA, Santelli RE, Oliveira EP, Villar LS, Escaleira LA (2008) Response surface methodology (RSM) as a tool for optimization in analytical chemistry. Talanta 76(5):965–977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • China Aggregates Association GB/T 14684-2022 (2022) Sand for construction. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China, p 28

  • China Academy of Building Research GB/T 50080-2016 (2016) Standard for test method of performance on ordinary fresh concrete. China Architecture & Building Press

  • China Building Materials Academy GB/T 12957-2005 (2005) Test method for activity of industrial waste slag used as addition to cement. General Administration of Quality Supervision. Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China, Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China, p 8

  • China Building Materials Academy GB/T 2847-2022 (2022) Pozzolanic materials used for cement production. State Administration for Market Regulation, Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China p. 16

  • Cao S, Yilmaz E, Yin Z et al (2021) CT scanning of internal crack mechanism and strength behavior of cement-fiber-tailings matrix composites. Cem Concr Compos 116:103865

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q, Luo K, Wang Y, Li X, Zhang Q, Liu Y (2022) In-situ stabilization/solidification of lead/zinc mine tailings by cemented paste backfill modified with low-carbon bentonite alternative. J Mater Res Technol 17:1200–1210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q, Zhang Q, Qi C, Fourie A, Xiao C (2018) Recycling phosphogypsum and construction demolition waste for cemented paste backfill and its environmental impact. J Clean Prod 186:418–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Shi X, Zhou J, Du X, Chen Q, Qiu X (2019) Effect of overflow tailings properties on cemented paste backfill. J Environ Manage 235:133–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding Y (2021) Study on the mechanical properties and strength evolution characteristics of aeolian sand filling. Xian University of Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.27397/d.cnki.gxaku.2021.000035

  • Fang X, Li J, Li J, Chen S, Yao Z (2018) Damage constitutive model of biocemented coral sand columns under unconfined compression. Chinese J Undergr Space and Engineering 14(05):1234–1239

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Lodeiro I, Palomo A, Fernández-Jiménez A, Macphee DE (2011) Compatibility studies between N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels. Study in the ternary diagram Na2O–CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O. Cem Concr Res 41(9):923–931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He Y, Chen Q, Qi C, Zhang Q, Xiao C (2019) Lithium slag and fly ash-based binder for cemented fine tailings backfill. J Environ Manage 248:109282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang G, Ji Y, Li J, Hou Z, Dong Z (2018a) Improving strength of calcinated coal gangue geopolymer mortars via increasing calcium content. Construct Build Mater 166:760–768

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang S, Liu Q, Cheng A (2018b) A statistical damage constitutive model under freeze-thaw and loading for rock and its engineering application. Cold Reg Sci Technol 145:142–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang H, Qi Z, Yilmaz E, Han J, Qiu J, Dong C (2019) Effectiveness of alkali-activated slag as alternative binder on workability and early age compressive strength of cemented paste backfills. Construct Build Mater 218:689–700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang K, Song Y, Yu X (2022) Study on early mechanical properties and damage constitutive model of tailing-cemented backfill with different fibers. Chinese J Rock Mech and Engineering 41(02):282–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai Y, Zhao K, Yan Y, Yang J, Wu J, Ao W, Guo L (2022) Damage study of fiber-doped superfine tailings cemented backfill based on acoustic emission cumulative ringing count. J Mater Sci 57(25):11612–11629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-022-07280-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemaitre J (1984) How to use damage mechanics. Nucl Eng Des 80(2):233–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Sun H, Xiao X (2005) Study on gangue-containing aluminosilicate based cementitious materials. J China Coal Soc 06:778–782

    Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Zhang J, Li A, Zhou N (2020) Reutilisation of coal gangue and fly ash as underground backfill materials for surface subsidence control. J Clean Prod 254:120113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120113

  • Li X, Li K, Sun Q, Liu L, Yang J, Xue H (2021) Preparation of cemented oil shale residue–steel slag–ground granulated blast furnace slag backfill and its environmental impact. Materials 14(8):2052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Deng X, Liu J, Hui D (2019) Mechanical properties and microstructures of hypergolic and calcined coal gangue based geopolymer recycled concrete. Construct Build Mater 221:691–708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Ruan S, Qi C, Zhang B, Tu B, Yang Q, Song K-I (2021a) Co-disposal of magnesium slag and high-calcium fly ash as cementitious materials in backfill. J Clean Prod 279:123684

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Chen J, Guo Z (2021b) Mechanical properties and damage evolution of cemented coal gangue-fly ash backfill under uniaxial compression: effects of different curing temperatures. Construct Build Mater 305:124820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124820

  • Ma H, Zhu H, Yi C, Fan J, Chen H, Xu X, Wang T (2019) Preparation and reaction mechanism characterization of alkali-activated coal gangue–slag materials. Materials 12(14):2250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nambiar EKK, Ramamurthy K (2006) Models relating mixture composition to the density and strength of foam concrete using response surface methodology. Cem Concr Compos 28(9):752–760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2006.06.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin L, Gao X, Su A, Li Q (2021) Effect of carbonation curing on sulfate resistance of cement-coal gangue paste. J Clean Prod 278:123897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123897

  • Shi X, Zhang C, Wang X, Zhang T, Wang Q (2022) Response surface methodology for multi-objective optimization of fly ash-GGBS based geopolymer mortar. Construct Build Mater 315:125644

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song W, Zhu Z, Pu S, Wan Y, Xu X, Song S, Zhang J, Yao K, Hu L (2020) Multi-technical characterization and correlations between properties of standard cured alkali-activated high-calcium FA binders with GGBS as additive. Constr Build Mater 241:117996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.117996

  • Sun Q, Cai C, Zhang S, Tian S, Li B, Xia Y (2019a) Study of localized deformation in geopolymer cemented coal gangue-fly ash backfill based on the digital speckle correlation method. Construct Build Mater 215:321–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Q, Tian S, Li B, Cai C, Xia Y, Wei X, Mu Q (2019b) Preparation and microstructure of fly ash geopolymer paste backfill material. J Clean Prod 225:376–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Q, Wei X, Li T, Zhang L (2020) Strengthening behavior of cemented paste backfill using alkali-activated slag binders and bottom ash based on the response surface method. Materials 13(4):855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Liu C, Pei W, Li Z (2022) Discussion on the preparation of roadbed filling material with activated coal gangue. J Mater. Sci. Eng 40(01):97–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang K, Jiang Y, Xu C (2018) Mechanical properties and statistical damage model of coal with different moisture contents under uniaxial compression. Chinese J Rock Mech and Engineering 37(05):1070–1079

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Luo K, Wang X, Sun Y (2016) Estimate of sulfur, arsenic, mercury, fluorine emissions due to spontaneous combustion of coal gangue: an important part of Chinese emission inventories. Environ Pollut 209:107–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Lu H, Wu J (2021) Experimental investigation on strength and failure characteristics of cemented paste backfill-rock composite under uniaxial compression. Construct Build Mater 304:124629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weng L, Sagoe-Crentsil K (2007) Dissolution processes, hydrolysis and condensation reactions during geopolymer synthesis: part i—low Si/Al ratio systems. J Mater Sci 42(9):2997–3006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu D, Sun W, Liu S (2021) Effect of microwave heating on thermo-mechanical behavior of cemented tailings backfill[J]. Construct Build Mater 266:121180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xin J, Liu L, Jiang Q, Yang P, Qu H, Xie G (2022) Early-age hydration characteristics of modified coal gasification slag-cement-aeolian sand paste backfill. Constr Build Mater 322:125936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125936

  • Yue C (2021) Low-carbon binders produced from waste glass and low-purity metakaolin for cemented paste backfill. Constr Build Mater 312:125443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125443

  • Zhang W, Dong C, Huang P, Sun Q, Li M, Chai J (2020) Experimental study on the characteristics of activated coal gangue and coal gangue-based geopolymer. Energies 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/en13102504

  • Zhao D (2021) Reactive MgO-modified slag -based binders for cemented paste backfill and potential heavy-metal leaching behavior. Construct Build Mater 298:123894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123894

  • Zhou M, Wang R, Chen C, Zhao H, Qu H (2015) Preparation and effect of coal-gangue admixture on high strength concrete. Non-metallic Mines 38(05):27–30

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the valuable suggestions of the editor and two anonymous reviewers.

Additionally, we would like to thank Wang Siyuan from Shiyanjia Lab (http://www.shiyanjia.com)

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable

Funding

The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 52074144 and 52104132), the Scientific Research Fund of Liaoning Provincial Education Department (no. LJ2020JCL037), and the Discipline Innovation Team of Liaoning Technical University (no. LNTU20TD-12).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ruifeng Ma and Gujian Wang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China

    Ruifeng Ma, Gujian Wang & Qi Sun

  2. Resource Utilization of Coal Gangue and Energy-Saving Building Materials, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China

    Ruifeng Ma, Gujian Wang & Qi Sun

  3. School of Architecture and Transportation, Liaoning Technical University, No.88 Yulong Road, Fuxin, 123000, Liaoning Province, China

    Qi Sun

Authors
  1. Ruifeng Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gujian Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qi Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation and data collection and analysis were performed by Ruifeng Ma, Gujian Wang, and Qi Sun. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Ruifeng Ma and Gujian Wang. Ruifeng Ma and Gujian Wang contributed to this work equally. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qi Sun.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ma, R., Wang, G. & Sun, Q. Preparation and strength formation mechanism of alkali-stimulated spontaneous combustion gangue-granulated blast furnace slag backfill. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 723–739 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30893-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30893-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation