Use of copper slag flotation tailings in concrete
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21703/0718-2813.2025.38.3629Keywords:
Copper slag flotation tailings, Concrete, Cement replacement, Compressive strength, Waste recycling, Sustainable constructionAbstract
This preliminary study explores the potential of copper slag flotation tailings (CSFW), a byproduct of the copper mining industry in Chile, as a partial replacement for Portland cement in concrete. A CSFW sample from a Chilean smelter was characterized, and concrete mixtures with CSFW substitutions ranging from 0% to 20% (in 5% increments) were tested to evaluate compressive strength at 7, 28, and 60 days. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that CSFW is primarily composed of hedenbergite, magnetite, fayalite, and albite. Although compressive strength decreased with higher levels of CSFW substitution, the mixture with 5% replacement achieved approximately 80% of the control concrete’s strength at 60 days. Plasticity increased significantly with CSFW content, with slump tripling in the 20% mixture compared to the control, which indicates an increase in workability but also an excess of water in the mix. These results suggest that CSFW is a viable alternative for low-level cement replacements, promoting the valorization of mining waste and environmental sustainability in the construction sector in Chile.
References
Afshoon, I. and Sharifi, Y. (2017). Use of copper slag microparticles in self-consolidating concrete. ACI Materials Journal 114(5), 691-699. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14359/51700887
Al-Jabri, K.S., Hisada, M., Al-Saidy, A.H. and Al-Oraimi, S.K. (2009). Performance of high strength concrete made with copper slag as a fine aggregate. Construction and Building Materials 23(6), 2132–2140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2008.12.013
Alp, I., Deveci, H. and Süngün, H. (2008). Utilization of flotation wastes of copper slag as raw material in cement production. Journal of Hazardous Materials 159(2–3), 390–395. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.02.056
Chew, S.H. and Bharati, S.K. (2010). Use of recycled copper slag in cement-treated Singapore marine clay. Advances in Environmental Geotechnics: International Symposium on Geoenvironmental Engineering, Hangzhou, China, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 705-710. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04460-1_83
Cocić, M., Logar, M., Erić, S., Tasić, V., Dević, S., Cocić, S. and Matović, B. (2017). Application of the final flotation waste for obtaining the glass-ceramic materials. Science of Sintering 49(4), 431–443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/SOS1704431C
Çoruh, S., Ergun, O. N. and Cheng, T.W. (2006). Treatment of copper industry waste and production of sintered glass-ceramic. Waste Management & Research 24(3), 234–241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X06062600
Diaz, N. (2012). Evaluación escorias. XIII Congreso Geológico Chileno, Sociedad Geológica de Chile, Antofagasta, Chile, 76–78.
Dung, T.T.T., Cappuyns, V., Swennen, R., Vassilieva, E. and Phung, N.K. (2014). Leachability of arsenic and heavy metals from blasted copper slag and contamination of marine sediment and soil in Ninh Hoa district, south central of Vietnam. Applied Geochemistry 44, 80–92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.07.021
EHE-08 (2011). Instrucción de Hormigón Estructural. Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible, Gobierno de España.
Gorai, B., Jana, R.K. and Premchand (2003). Characteristics and utilisation of copper slag—a review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 39(4), 299–313. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-3449(02)00171-4
Karamanov, A., Aloisi, M. and Pelino, M. (2007). Vitrification of copper flotation waste. Journal of Hazardous Materials 140(1–2), 333–339. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.09.040
Mesci, B., Çoruh, S. and Ergun, O.N. (2009). Leaching behaviour and mechanical properties of copper flotation waste in stabilized/solidified products. Waste Management & Research 27(1), 70–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X07082896
Mithun, B.M. and Narasimhan, M.C. (2016). Performance of alkali activated slag concrete mixes incorporating copper slag as fine aggregate. Journal of Cleaner Production 112(Part 1), 837–844. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.06.026
Moura, W.A., Gonçalves, J.P. and Lima, M.B.L. (2007). Copper slag waste as a supplementary cementing material to concrete. Journal of Materials Science 42(7), 2226-2230. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0997-4
Najimi, M., Sobhani, J. and Pourkhorshidi, A.R. (2011). Durability of copper slag contained concrete exposed to sulfate attack. Construction and Building Materials 25(4), 1895-1905. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.11.067
Nazer, A., Payá, J., Borrachero, M.V. and Monzó, J. (2016). Use of ancient copper slags in Portland cement and alkali activated cement matrices. Journal of Environmental Management 167, 115–123. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.024
NCh1019 (2009). Hormigón. Determinación de la docilidad - Método del asentamiento del cono de Abrams. Instituto Nacional de Normalización INN, Santiago, Chile.
NCh148 (1968). Cemento - Terminología, clasificación y especificaciones generales. Instituto Nacional de Normalización INN, Santiago, Chile.
Ozel, E., Turan, S., Çoruh, S. and Ergun, O.N. (2006). Production of brown and black pigments by using flotation waste from copper slag. Waste Management & Research 24(2), 125–133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X06062690
Patel, S., Shahu, J.T. and Senapati, A. (2012). Feasibility of copper slag–fly ash mix as a road construction material. ACEE International Journal on Transportation and Urban Development 2(1), 11–14.
Raposeiras, A.C., Movilla-Quesada, D., Bilbao-Novoa, R., Cifuentes, C., Ferrer-Norambuena, G. and Castro-Fresno, D. (2018). The use of copper slags as an aggregate replacement in asphalt mixes with RAP: physical–chemical and mechanical behavioural analysis. Construction and Building Materials 190, 427–438. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.09.120
Richter, G. (2017). Desafíos fundición y refinería Codelco. Presentación en Seminario Desafíos y Oportunidades del Arsénico en la Industria Minera en Chile, Codelco, Chile.
Sharma, R. and Khan, R.A. (2017). Sustainable use of copper slag in self compacting concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials. Journal of Cleaner Production 151, 179-192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.031
Shi, C., Meyer, C. and Behnood, A. (2008). Utilization of copper slag in cement and concrete. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 52(10), 1115–1120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.06.008
Valenzuela, A. (2016). Mining waste management in Chile: Experience, challenges and opportunities. Presentación XIV Congreso Internacional Expomin, Chile, 1–27.
Vinotha, J. and Brindha, D. (2021). Development of hybrid steelbasalt fiber reinforced concrete – in aspects of flexure, fracture and microstructure. Revista de la Construcción 20(1), 62–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7764/RDLC.20.1.62
Wang, G. and Emery, J. (2004). Technology of slag utilization in highway construction. Environmental Benefits of In-situ Material Recycling and Strengthening Session, Annual Conference of Transportation Association of Canada, Québec, Canada, 1–15.
Wang, R., Shi, Q., Li, Y., Cao, Z. and Si, Z. (2021). A critical review on the use of copper slag (CS) as a substitute constituent in concrete. Construction and Building Materials 292, 123371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123371
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
