Analysis of experimental conditions for alkali activation of mining tailings based on literature data

The growing focus on utilizing mining waste in construction, driven by environmental concerns, underscores its potential significance as global annual tailing production surpasses 7 billion tons. Alkaline activation of mining waste emerges as a promising approach, providing a sustainable alternative for creating value-added materials. Despite numerous studies on this subject, finding optimal ranges of values for process variables remains challenging. In this context, an evaluation was sought based on experimental conditions from the literature data to understand the relationships between experimental conditions and the mechanical response of alkali-activated products with mining rejects. The analysis reveals that the type of precursor significantly influences mechanical strength. Also, combinations of tailings and co-precursors demonstrate superior performance compared to using 100% tailings. NaOH and sodium silicate prove to be predominant activators, and the addition of co-precursors enhances mechanical strength. The study suggests the need for more flexible conditions, including alternative activators and co-precursors, to reduce environmental and financial costs in real-world applications.