Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Portland cement mortars and alkali-activated mortars

• Grant number: 19/20709-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: October 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Construction Industry
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Mitsuuchi Tashima
• Grantee: Thássia Dias Zanardo Rufato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years, concern with environmental repercussions due human actions intensified mainly regarding greenhouse gas emission for which the construction sector presents a high contribution besides its demand for natural resources and waste generation. In this scenario, the number of studies related to the reduction of its environmental impacts is in a growing evolution striving both for the search for alternative materials and for changes in the production systems. These include geopolymers which are cementitious materials based on alkaline activating aluminous silicates and may originate from industrial process wastes such as blast furnace slag (BSF) and sugar cane bagasse ashes. (SCBA). Because of this, it is believed that the cement replacement by geopolymers can have environmental benefits, but according to studies the use of alkaline solutions needed in its production creates negative impacts being necessary to verify the validity of the use of each geopolymer through of environmental management techniques. One of the best-known tools in the world for its contribution in this regard is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which allows quantifying, analyzing and comparing the environmental impacts of a material or system over its life cycle, that is, in all of processes from raw material extraction to use or discard, allowing the indication of more sustainable products and stage. Thus, this project aims to apply the LCA to analyze and compare from an environmental point of view geopolymer mortars composed by a mix of BSF and SCBA alkaline activated by sodium hydroxides and silicates in relation to traditional Portland cement mortars. (AU)