Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 28 No 2 (2024): 322 – 334

 

ANALYSIS OF EFFLORESCENCE OF SPENT BLEACHING CLAY BASED GEOPOLYMER USING ALKALINE LEACHABILITY METHODS

 

(Analisa Peroian Geopolimer Berasaskan Tanah Liat Terluntur Menggunakan Kaedah Kelarutlesapan Alkali)

 

Puuvina Jeyasangar, Mohd Hazwan Hussin, and Shangeetha Ganesan*

 

School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: shangeetha@usm.my

 

 

Received: 1 September 2023; Accepted: 15 February 2024; Published:  29 April 2024

 

 

Abstract

Geopolymers are a class of inorganic amorphous polymeric materials made up of silica, alumina and alkali- metal oxides. The presence of alkali in the geopolymer formulation aids in the dissolving of aluminosilicate precursors, resulting in the creation of microstructures and increases geopolymer strength. However, the alkali content is the most critical factor influencing efflorescence production. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of curing parameters on efflorescence formation on spent bleaching clay based geopolymer. The efflorescence effects were analysed by alkaline leachability methods using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Neat geopolymer as well as cured geopolymer with different liquid/solid (L/S) ratio effects were studied. Alkaline leaching studies revealed water-cured geopolymers with liquid/solid (L/S) ratio of 2:1 shows that 974.9 ppm Na+ ions leached from the geopolymer. This method helps to prevent efflorescence from reoccurring as most of the free Na+ ions has already been leached from the geopolymer sample. The EIS analysis also showed that a 2:1 ratio had excellent resistance which reflects the mobility of the other ions such as silicon, aluminium and chloride ions. Functional group analysis using FTIR demonstrated the key peaks involved in development of geopolymer from spent bleaching clay (SBC) such as v(Si-O-Si / Si-O-Al) (bending & stretching), v(Al-O)(symmetrical), v(Si-O / Al-O) (asymmetrical) and v(O-H). Surface morphology analysis using SEM-EDX indicates that adequate silica-rich components were required to increase the mechanical strength of geopolymers by densifying their microstructure with more bulk and compact layers. From the examination of thermal stability of neat and treated geopolymer compositions decomposed at 700 °C confirming the thermal resistance of the material. Therefore, for more sustainable cements, alkali leachability can be performed on SBC-based geopolymer by water-curing as it revealed to have an exceptional performance on total Na leached, resistance and thermal stability as shown in this study.

 

Keywords: geopolymer, spent bleaching clay, efflorescence, leachability

 

Abstrak

Geopolimer adalah kelas bahan polimer amorfus tidak organik yang terdiri daripada silika, alumina dan logam-alkali oksida. Kehadiran alkali dalam formula geopolymer membantu dalam pelarutan bahan pemula aluminosilika, menghasilkan mikrostruktur serta menguatkan struktur geopolimer. Akan tetapi, kandungan alkali adalah faktor yang paling kritikal yang mempengaruhi pembentukan peroi. Oleh itu, kajian ini adalah untuk menilai sintesis geopolimer daripada tanah liat terluntur dan menganalisa peroian dengan kaedah kelarutanlesapan menggunakan AAS dan EIS. Geopolimer tulen serta geopolimer yang dirawat dengan kesan nisbah cecair/pepejal (L/S) yang berbeza telah dikaji. Kajian kelarutlesapan alkali menunjukkan geopolimer yang diawet dengan air pada nisbah air/pepejal (L/S) 2:1 menghasilkan 974.9 ppm Na+ ions melarutlesap daripada geopolimer tersebut. Cara ini mencegah pembentukkan peroi daripada berulang kerana kebanyakkan ion Na+  bebas telah dilarutlesap daripada geopolimer. Analisa EIS menunjukkan bahawa nisbah 2:1 juga mempunyai rintangan yang baik yang mencerminkan pergerakan ion-ion yang lain seperti silicon, aluminium dan klorida. Analisa kumpulan fungsi menggunakan FTIR menunjukkan puncak-puncak utama yang terlibat dalam penghasilan geopolimer berasaskan tanah liat (SBC) yang terdiri daripada v(Si-O-Si / Si-O-Al) (bengkok & regangan), v(Al-O) (simetri), v(Si-O / Al-O) (tidak simetri) dan v(O-H). Analisis morfologi permukaan mengunakan SEM-EDX menunjukkan bahawa komponen kaya silika yang mencukupi diperlukan untuk meningkatkan kekuatan mekanikal geopolimer dengan memadatkan struktur mikronya dengan lebih banyak lapisan pukal dan padat. Daripada pemeriksaan kestabilan terma komposisi geopolimer yang asal dan dirawat itu terurai pada suhu 700°C menunjukkan kerintangan haba mereka. Oleh itu, untuk simen yang lebih mampan, kelarutlesapan alkali boleh dilakukan pada geopolimer berasaskan SBC dengan pengawetan air kerana ia menunjukkan prestasi yang luar biasa berdasarkan jumlah Na yang kelarutlesapan serta kestabilan termanya seperti yang dibuktikan dalam penyelidikan ini.

 

Kata kunci: geopolimer, tanah liat terluntur, peroian, kelarutlesapan

 

 

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