Lithium Aluminosilicate Residue as Raw Material in the Production of Sustainable Concrete Masonry Units: A Brazilian Case

Abstract

Spodumene (LiAlSi₂O₆) is a natural occurring mineral which is processed to produce lithium carbonate (LiCO₃) and lithium hydroxide (LiOH), both used for several industrial and medical applications. The processing of spodumede generates a lithium aluminosilicate residue with no commercial value in Brazil, which is therefore landfilled. This paper studied the effect of the partial replacement of Portland cement (PC) in the production of sustainable concrete masonry units (CMU) for construction. The residue was thoroughly characterized and its interaction with PC was also assessed. Several mixes of CMU were manufactured and compared with a reference mix (without residue). Results indicated that the lithium aluminosilicate is highly reactive and may replace PC in the concrete formulations.