A STUDY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE USE OF SILICEOUS INDUSTRIAL WASTE AS MINERAL ADDITION IN CEMENTITIOUS MATRICES

ORIGIN, PROCESSING AND PROPERTIES

Abstract

The exploration of minerals in metallurgical activities generates residues that demand great environmental management for storage, reuse and mitigation of the environmental impacts associated with this activity. The use of these residues, which are potentially polluting to the environment, can be an interesting option, especially in civil construction, where other industrial residues already known are widely studied and used in the national and international market, such as: fly ash, high slag furnace, silica fume, among others. Specifically, the use of these residues in cementitious matrices can increase the durability and performance of concretes subjected to aggressive chemical conditions. Thus, this article aims to analyze the processing of ash from the production of silicon for the perspective of use as a mineral addition in cementitious matrices, from the attainment of a minimum fineness considered adequate. The physical processing of the residue consisted of grinding cycles in a ball mill, analyzing the influence of grinding time (two or four hours) and the load of abrasive balls (12 or 16 balls) on the fineness of the material, each thirty minutes. In parallel, tests of pozzolanic activities with cement and lime, physicochemical, toxicological, environmental and mineralogical characterization were carried out. As a result, particle size curves associated with the studied variables were obtained and efficient processing with lower energy consumption presented and discussed. The particle size composition, considered optimal for the residue, can be compared with that of the limestone filler. Finally, the processed residue can be considered as a potential material for use as fines or fillers in cementitious concrete and mortar matrices.