Utilisation of alkali-activated blast furnace slag in paste backfill of high-sulphide mill tailings
Effect of activator type and addition time
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19928265Keywords:
cemented paste backfill, humidity cell test, acid mine drainage, kinetic testing, mine waste managementAbstract
In this study, the effect of alkali activated blast furnace slag with solid sodium metasilicate (SMS), liquid sodium silicate (LSS) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which is prepared in different binder gel forms at the same design and added into the paste backfill mixture was investigated. SMS samples (SMSs) produced higher unconfined compressive strengths (UCSs) of 4.82 times, 16% and 1.94 folds in average in the long term (360 days) compared to LSS, NaOH and CEM I 42.5R samples (OPCs), respectively. LSS samples (LSSs) gave 1.82 and 4.38 times higher UCSs at the end of the 360 day compared to NaOH samples (NaOHs) and OPCs. NaOHs had 2.41-fold higher UCSs than OPCs. Mechanical preparation by mixing the activator solution and slag was seen to reduce UCSs about 3.6% to 9.01% in all alkali activated slag samples (AASs) of LSS and NaOH. The samples prepared with SMS, LSS and NaOH decreased the total porosity by 14.24%, 15.78% and 10.68% compared to OPCs, respectively. SMS and LSS are the most effective activators improving the micro-porous structure of cemented paste backfill (CPB) samples for Mixture-1 and Mixture-6, respectively, where the latter has the lowest porosity. Alkali activated slag (AAS) significantly improved the porous microstructure of CPB prepared by OPC. The ultrasonic P-wave velocity (UPV) values of the SMSs, LSSs and NaOHs prepared with different forms were higher than OPCs about 25.14%, 21.87% and 20.84%, respectively. Mean UPV values are as SMS > LSS > NaOH > OPC. Similar trends were observed between in UCSs and UPVs. However, AASs produced 2.23-4.82 times higher UCSs than the CEMs while the difference between the UPV values was in the range of 1.21-1.25%.
References
Bauné, E., Bonnet, C., Liu, S., & others. (2000). Reconsidering the basicity of a FCAW consumable-part 1: solidified slag composition of a FCAW consumable as a basicity indicator. WELDING JOURNAL-NEW YORK-, 79(3), 57–s.
Cao, H. T., Bucea, L., Ray, A., & Yozghatlian, S. (1997). The effect of cement composition and pH of environment on sulfate resistance of Portland cements and blended cements. Cement and Concrete Composites, 19(2), 161–171. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-9465(97)00011-5
Cihangir, F., & Akyol, Y. (2018). Mechanical, hydrological and microstructural assessment of the durability of cemented paste backfill containing alkali-activated slag. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 32(2), 123–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2016.1242183
Cihangir, F., Ercikdi, B., Kesimal, A., Deveci, H., & Erdemir, F. (2015). Paste backfill of high-sulphide mill tailings using alkali-activated blast furnace slag: Effect of activator nature, concentration and slag properties. Minerals Engineering, 83, 117–127. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2015.08.022
Cihangir, F., Ercikdi, B., Kesimal, A., Ocak, S., & Akyol, Y. (2018). Effect of sodium-silicate activated slag at different silicate modulus on the strength and microstructural properties of full and coarse sulphidic tailings paste backfill. Construction and Building Materials, 185, 555–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.07.105
Cihangir, F., Ercikdi, B., Kesimal, A., Turan, A., & Deveci, H. (2012). Utilisation of alkali-activated blast furnace slag in paste backfill of high-sulphide mill tailings: Effect of binder type and dosage. Minerals Engineering, 30, 33–43. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2012.01.009
Cihangir, F., Koc, E., Orak, M., Deveci, T. Y., & Ercikdi, B. (2023). IMPORTANCE OF STATIC TESTS FOR THE PREDICTION OF AMD POTENTIAL OF CEMENTED PASTE BACKFILL. International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Surveying Geology and Mining Ecology Management, SGEM, 23(1.1), 349–355. https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2023/1.1/s03.42
Ercikdi, B., Cihangir, F., Kesimal, A., Deveci, H., & Alp, İ. (2009). Utilization of industrial waste products as pozzolanic material in cemented paste backfill of high sulphide mill tailings. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, 168(2–3), 848–856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.02.100
Ercikdi, B., Kesimal, A., Cihangir, F., Deveci, H., & Alp, İ. (2009). Cemented paste backfill of sulphide-rich tailings: Importance of binder type and dosage. Cement and Concrete Composites, 31(4), 268–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.01.008
Ercikdi, B., Yılmaz, T., & Külekci, G. (2014). Strength and ultrasonic properties of cemented paste backfill. Ultrasonics, 54(1), 195–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2013.04.013
Fall, M., Benzaazoua, M., & Ouellet, S. (2005). Experimental characterization of the influence of tailings fineness and density on the quality of cemented paste backfill. Minerals Engineering, 18(1), 41–44. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2004.05.012
Fall, M., & Pokharel, M. (2010). Coupled effects of sulphate and temperature on the strength development of cemented tailings backfills: Portland cement-paste backfill. Cement and Concrete Composites, 32(10), 819–828. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2010.08.002
Fernández-Jiménez, A., Palomo, J. G., & Puertas, F. (1999). Alkali-activated slag mortars: Mechanical strength behaviour. Cement and Concrete Research, 29(8), 1313–1321. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(99)00154-4
Fernández-Jiménez, A., & Puertas, F. (2003). Effect of activator mix on the hydration and strength behaviour of alkali-activated slag cements. Advances in Cement Research, 15(3), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1680/adcr.2003.15.3.129
Galaa, A. M., Thompson, B. D., Grabinsky, M. W., & Bawden, W. F. (2011). Characterizing stiffness development in hydrating mine backfill using ultrasonic wave measurements. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 48(8), 1174–1187. https://doi.org/10.1139/t11-026
Ghirian, A., & Fall, M. (2013). Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical–chemical behaviour of cemented paste backfill in column experiments. Part I: Physical, hydraulic and thermal processes and characteristics. Engineering Geology, 164, 195–207. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.01.015
Koc, E., & Cihangir, F. (2023). Ultrasonic and Microstructural Evaluation of Sulphide-Rich Tailings Cemented Paste Backfill Properties Containing Alkali-Activated Slag: Effect of Slag Fineness. Minerals, 13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/min13121524
Koc, E., Cihangir, F., & Ercikdi, B. (2023). Chapter 3 - Geochemical evaluation of sulfidic tailings and cemented paste backfill with respect to environmental impacts. In C. Qi & C. H. Benson (Eds.), Managing Mining and Minerals Processing Wastes (pp. 47–70). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91283-9.00003-1
Koc, E., Cihangir, F., Ercikdi, B., & Deveci, H. (2025). Evaluation of acid mine drainage and metal release potential of cemented paste backfill of sulfide rich tailings. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2024.2444885
Kurtuluş, M. (2019). Effect of activator nature and timing of activator addition for activation of blast furnace slag on the properties of paste backfill [Master Thesis]. Karadeniz Technical University Institute of Science.
Landriault, D. (2001). Backfill in underground mining. Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies, 601–614.
Powers, T. C. (1958). Structure and Physical Properties of Hardened Portland Cement Paste. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 41(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1958.tb13494.x
Ravikumar, D., & Neithalath, N. (2012). Reaction kinetics in sodium silicate powder and liquid activated slag binders evaluated using isothermal calorimetry. Thermochimica Acta, 546, 32–43. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2012.07.010
Rosković, R., & Bjegović, D. (2005). Role of mineral additions in reducing CO2 emission. Cement and Concrete Research, 35(5), 974–978. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.04.028
Shi, C., Roy, D., & Krivenko, P. (2003). Alkali-Activated Cements and Concretes (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482266900
Song, S., Sohn, D., Jennings, H. M., & Mason, T. O. (2000). Hydration of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag. Journal of Materials Science, 35(1), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004742027117
Tariq, A., & Nehdi, M. (2007). Developing durable paste backfill from sulphidic tailings. Waste Res. Manage., 160(4), 155–166. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-67649789880&partnerID=40&md5=c14af5c1e1a1048fa3530b13c109347e
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Meryem Sahin, Ercüment KOÇ, Ferdi Cihangir
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
