A Comprehensive Review on Red Mud-based Geo-polymerase a Sustainable Material

Abstract

Effective waste management is crucial; every waste component can be systematically controlled to
minimize its creation. The development of geo-polymer concrete offers a pathway towards
achieving this objective.
Methods: Geo-polymers are inorganic materials that result from the alkali activation of aluminosilicates.
The alumino-silicates are sourced from naturally occurring materials and industrial
waste such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, and rice husk ash. Red mud, a by-product from an
alumina refining industry practically rich in alumina content, can be used as a geo-polymer
material along with other calcium and silicate-rich by-products to create an excellent binding
material like cement.
Findings: This paper studies the properties of red mud-based geo-polymer concrete. Red mud is
known for its high alkalinity; it contains significant amounts of aluminium, silicon, and iron
oxides, making it a valuable material for polymerization. Incorporating red mud in the production
of geopolymer concrete is anticipated to have a significant impact in the future. Studies show red
mud-based geo-polymer concrete's mechanical and durability properties, drawing insights from
past literature. The chemical properties of red mud were correlated with the mechanical
properties of the geo-polymer concrete block. Strength comparison of red mud and fly ash-based
geo-polymer and red mud-mud-metakaolin eco-polymer was made to know the optimum
percentage of replacement of red mud in the geo-polymer mix.
Novelty: The findings will serve as a technical framework for future experimental endeavours and
a more environment-friendly construction approach, ultimately assessing its practical feasibility.