Alkali Activation of Natural Pozzolan for Geopolymer Cement Production

The challenge for the civil engineering community in the near future will be to realize structures in harmony with the concept of sustainable development, through the use of high performance materials of low environmental impact that are produced at reasonable cost. Geo-polymeric materials provide a route towards this objective. The main benefit of geo-polymeric cement is the reduction in environmental impact. Using lesser amounts of calcium-based raw materials, lower manufacturing temperature and lower amounts of fuel, result in reduced carbon dioxide emissions for geopolymer cement manufacture by up to 80%-90%, in comparison with Portland cement.This paper reviews geopolymer cement technology and presents preliminary results using activated Iranian natural pozzolans namely, taftan and Shahindej.

Keywords:

Natural pozzolan , zeolite , alkali activated pozzolan , kaolinite , geopolymer