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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
An Innovative Geopolymer Composite
Insulation Material Based on Phytoremediation
Biowaste: Solidification/Stabilization
of Potentially Toxic Metals
1
Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710025, China
2
Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., Xi’an, Shaanxi 710054, China
Submission date: 2025-07-06
Final revision date: 2025-08-15
Acceptance date: 2025-10-23
Online publication date: 2026-01-08
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Phytoremediation biowaste without proper disposal might release potentially toxic metals (PTMs)
back into the environment and pose a serious threat to environmental safety and human health.
A composite geopolymer based on phytoremediation biowastes (PBWs) was used to effectively
solidify/stabilize toxic heavy metals and served as an insulation material in the present study.
For the solidification/stabilization of PTMs, the optimum proportion of biowastes in the geopolymer
insulation material was 3%, at which the compressive strength of the geopolymer reached a maximum
of 32.6 MPa and the thermal conductivity of the geopolymer was 0.11 W/(m·K), meeting the requirements
of insulation materials. The leaching results indicated that the solidification efficiency of PTMs
in the geopolymer materials was over 98%. The leaching concentration of all samples was within
the standard limits and decreased with the extension of curing time. The XRD and FT-IR spectra
of the biowaste-geopolymer confirmed the effective solidification/stabilization of PTMs
in the geopolymer composite, where Zn was immobilized as carbonate and silicate. The geopolymer
technique can stabilize the PTMs and prepare insulation materials simultaneously. Hence, this research
provided a helpful insight and theoretical support for the post-treatment and the reutilization of plant
waste accumulated with heavy metals.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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