Reactivity enhancement of municipal solid waste gasification slag as a low-carbon binder via mechanical and alkaline activation engineering.

Combined mechanical and alkaline activation of municipal solid waste gasification slag achieves 112.6 MPa compressive strength at 28 days, rivaling GGBS and surpassing cement with low carbon footprint.

• Why it matters: Reducing cement-related carbon emissions is critical for sustainable construction, but alternative binders are limited by reactivity issues. Developing effective, low-carbon binders from waste materials can address environmental and resource challenges.
• What they did: The study systematically examined how particle size, NaOH molarity, and SiO2/Na2O ratio influence MSWGS reactivity through mechanical and alkaline activation, using 6 M NaOH and specific molar ratios to optimize performance.
• The result: Findings show that combined activation significantly enhances MSWGS’s strength and microstructure, enabling it to serve as a high-performance, low-carbon alternative binder for construction applications.