Life Cycle Assessment of Geopolymeric Materials

Ali, Mlinde

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/10044

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Authors

Ali, Mlinde

Advisor(s)

Gaspar, Florindo José Mendes

Oliveira, Nelson Simões

Abstract(s)

Recently, there have been significant technical advancements in the development of construction materials, particularly geopolymer materials (GPM). The emphasis on the environmental sustainability in the cement and construction industry has led to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. This trend has prompted the exploration and optimization of new environmentally friendly building materials and technologies. Geopolymer materials are gaining widespread acceptance in the realm of construction materials, offering technological properties that rival those of conventional Portland cement materials. To gain a comprehensive understanding of these emerging materials, this research focuses on the sustainability of GPM and compares it to Portland cement materials (OPCM). The comparison is carried out through a life cycle assessment (LCA), considering some factors such as the impact of climate change, water usage, renewable primary energy, toxicity, and cancer effects. To achieve this objective, the research utilizes the LCA for Experts software and the Ecoinvent databases as tools for evaluating and analyzing the environmental impact. Various formulations of GPM are compared with OPCM to assess their environmental performance. Additionally, the study incorporates an evaluation of the mechanical performance of both materials (GPM and OPCM). The findings of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and information gathered from the five separate studies indicate that GPM may exhibit higher mechanical performance, particularly high compressive strength, and lower environmental impact than OPCM. However, the extent of these advantages depends on the specific materials used and the proportion of the composite materials in the mixture composition. The use of a typical alkaline activator (sodium hydroxide + sodium silicate) in GPM has a substantial environmental impact. Using diverse precursors in alkali-activated systems results in a variety of outputs. Furthermore, sodium silicate, used in the manufacturing of GPM, is the second-highest contributor to environmental impact, following PC.