Advances in using municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash as precursor for alkali-activation materials

Abstract

The pursuit of low-carbon binders as alternatives to Portland cement has
sparked interest in developing alkali-activated materials (AAM).¹
Using municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash as precursor
for AAM has attracted increasing attention as it offers a sustainable,
resource-efficient solution to mitigate the environmental impacts
associated with the landfill of MSWI bottom ash. However, the varying
properties of MSWI bottom ash present challenges in its wide application
as AAM precursor. This review provides a comprehensive overview of
advances in MSWI bottom ash-based AAM,²
with a particular focus on the relationship between the physicochemical
properties of MSWI bottom ash and the engineering properties of MSWI
bottom ash-based AAM. This work consolidates the most up-to-date
understanding of the reaction mechanism and reaction products of MSWI
bottom ash, along with the existing knowledge about mix design and
microstructure formation of MSWI bottom ash-based AAM. The factors
influencing the engineering properties of MSWI bottom ash-based AAM are
detailed, and the environmental impacts of MSWI bottom ash-based AAM are
reviewed. Ultimately, this review provides recommendations for the
standardized and effective use of MSWI bottom ash as AAM precursor.