Effect of supercritical carbonation on the strength and heavy metal retention of cement-solidified fly ash

This paper presents both experimental and multi-physics studies on the carbonation and heavy metal retention properties of cement-solidified fly ashes. Cement-solidified fly ash samples with 40% and 60% fly ash ratios were tested for carbonation depth after being supercritically carbonated. Tests were also carried out for compressive strength and retention capacity of heavy metals of the samples before and after supercritical carbonation. Using CO2 absorption instead of calcium carbonate to measure carbonation degree, a multi-physics model was developed and combined with a leaching model to study the impact of carbonation on Cu and Pb leaching from the cement-solidified fly ash. The results show that supercritical carbonation has both positive and negative impacts on the strength and retention capability of heavy metals of the cement-solidified fly ashes, which suggests that both the carbonation conditions and the amount of fly ash recycled in cementitious materials should be properly controlled to maximize potential positive effect.