Sustainable alkali-activated materials

Large quantities of waste are produced in various industries and domestic applications, most of which cannot be landfilled because of environmental issues. The researcher’s efforts to produce a binder from aluminosilicate-containing wastes led to the developing of a new generation of binders called alkali-activated materials (AAMs). These cementitious aluminosilicate gels are produced by activating reactive low-calcium aluminosilicate precursors at near ambient temperatures (25-80°C), usually by an intense alkaline solution followed by mixing and curing. AAMs possess beneficial engineering properties in a range of cement-like applications, thus rendering them suitable for various applications, including radioactive waste and toxic containment stabilization, binders for special applications of concretes, fiber-reinforced composites, water, and wastewater treatment, biotechnologies, and many others. This chapter aims to discuss various niche applications where AAMs demonstrate the potential for sustainable concrete and industrial waste management.