Effects of Cr~(3+), Cu~(2+), and Pb~(2+) on Fly Ash based Geopolymer

The effects of Cr~(3+), Cu~(2+), and Pb~(2+) on compressive strength, reaction products, and pore structures of fly ash based geopolymer were studied. In addition, the immobilization and bonding interaction between heavy metal and fly ash based geopolymers were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic(XPS) and environmental scanning electron microscope(ESEM) techniques. The experimental results showed that the incorporation of Cr~(3+), Cu~(2+), and Pb~(2+) had a great effect on the later compressive strength and resulted in producing reinhardbraunsite in the solidified body. Moreover, the Pb~(2+) reduced the total pore volume of the solidified body, while Cr~(3+) and Cu~(2+) increased it. The XPS results indicated that O(1 s), Si(2 p), and Al(2 p)bind energy increased due to Cr~(3+) and Cu~(2+) addition, but it did not change significantly due to Pb~(2+) addition.The microstructure of calcium silicate hydrate(C-S-H) gel and sodium silicoaluminate hydrate(N-A-S-H) gel changed in different degree according to the ESEM results. The immobilization of Cr~(3+), Cu~(2+), and Pb~(2+) using fly ash based geopolymer is attributed not only to the physical encapsulation, but also to the chemical bonding interaction.