{"id":11870,"date":"2026-02-04T15:34:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T15:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/?p=11870"},"modified":"2026-02-04T15:34:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T15:34:49","slug":"from-mining-waste-to-sustainability-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/04\/from-mining-waste-to-sustainability-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"From mining waste to sustainability goals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Researchers at Australian educational institution Flinders University are working to turn mining waste into a powerful tool for sustainable construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Aliakbar Gholampour, a senior lecturer in Civil and Structural Engineering at the school\u2019s College of Science and Engineering, said his team has uncovered promising applications for a rare earth by-product in concrete production, a major building block that could help to reshape the future of construction materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe study focuses on delithiated \u03b2-spodumene (D\u03b2S), a by-product of lithium refining, which exhibits pozzolanic properties \u2013 meaning it reacts chemically to enhance the strength and durability of concrete,\u201d he said. \u201cThe research shows that when used in geopolymer binders, D\u03b2S can significantly improve mechanical performance and long-term resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By examining the microstructural behavior of D\u03b2S-based geopolymers under varying alkaline activator ratios, he said the group has gained critical insights into its suitability as a sustainable concrete ingredient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conventional concrete is the world\u2019s most manufactured item and most widely used construction material, with 25 billion tonnes used every year \u2013 but it consumes about 30% of non-renewable natural resources, emitting about 8% of atmospheric greenhouse gases and comprising up to 50% of landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n

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PhD candidate Mohammad Kiamahalleh (left) and Dr Aliakbar Gholampou<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The benefits are significant, not to mention that it creates an alternative to conventional concrete that is environmentally friendly. What\u2019s more is that neither strength nor durability is undercut with this method, and waste and emissions \u2013 along with natural resource consumption \u2013 are mitigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gholampour noted that his research team has found that their studies provide insight that points to the incorporation of D\u03b2S as an alternative ingredient to fly ash in the creation of geopolymer binders and outlines an optimal alkaline ratio range for use in geopolymers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis approach not only enhances mechanical properties and durability of geopolymer concrete, but also addresses a growing environmental concern by diverting D\u03b2S from landfill,\u201d Gholampour said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith lithium refining responsible for generating increased volumes of D\u03b2S, the capability to reuse this in construction offers a sustainable solution that will reduce industrial waste, prevent potential soil and groundwater contamination, and support circular economic practices in the mining and building sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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The findings for the D\u03b2S study can be found in Materials and Structures journal, Vol. 58 (DOI: 10.1617\/s11527-025-02789-5) and in the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 38, Issue 1 (DOI: 10.1061\/JMCEE7.MTENG-21163).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more on the work done since, follow-up reports are available to view in the International Journal of Construction Management (DOI: 10.1080\/15623599.2025.2595498 and DOI: 10.1080\/15623599.2025.2595500).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The D\u03b2S study received financial assistance from Cooperative Research Centres Projects Grant. The research team also received delithiated beta spodumene material from Backtech.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Researchers at Australian educational institution Flinders University are working to turn mining waste into a powerful tool for sustainable construction. Dr. Aliakbar Gholampour, a senior lecturer in Civil and Structural Engineering at the school\u2019s College of Science and Engineering, said his team has uncovered promising applications for a rare earth by-product in concrete production, a major building block that could…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":11871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[2365,4323,4321,4322],"coauthors":[1632],"class_list":["post-11870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-construction-materials","tag-geopolymer-concrete","tag-geopolymers","tag-lithium-refining"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t