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ISSN E 2409-2770
ISSN P 2521-2419

Geo-Polymerization of Marble Sludge: A Way Forward for its Eco-friendly Utilization

Muhammad Irshad, Salim Raza, Zahid Ur Rehman, Sajjad Hussain,  Ishaq Ahmad, Saira Sherin


Vol. 12, Issue 08, PP. 150-169, August 2025

DOI

Keywords: Geopolymerization Marble Sludge Fly Ash Blast Furnace Slag Alkaline activators Compressive Strength

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Pakistan boasts abundant marble reserves, primarily concentrated in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. The extraction of marble blocks in these regions leads to the generation of marble sludge, comprising water and marble powder, which presents significant environmental challenges by contaminating water bodies, infiltrating groundwater, and posing health risks due to airborne particles. Given the pressing climate situation, it is imperative to address these concerns. To mitigate the environmental impact, we propose the application of a geo-polymerization technique. This method leverages marble powder, fly ash, and blast furnace slag to substitute cement in concrete production. Various mixtures were prepared, utilizing different proportions of these components and diverse liquid media. Particularly noteworthy was the use of a Na2SiO3-8M NaOH solution, which yielded concrete samples with significantly higher compressive strength compared to other media. Upon analyzing the results, it has been concluded that replacing 50% of cement with a combination of 25% marble powder and 25% fly ash, using this solution, resulted in an impressive 143% increase in strength compared to standard concrete (M20 grade) and other geo-polymer concretes. This innovative approach not only mitigates the environmental impact of marble sludge but also contributes to a circular economy by producing high-strength geo-polymer concrete suitable for a wide range of applications.


  1. Muhammad Irshad, , Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Khyber PukhtunKhwa, Pakistan, Pakistan.
  2. Salim Raza Raza, , Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Khyber PukhtunKhwa, Pakistan, Pakistan.
  3. Zahid Ur Rehman, , Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Khyber PukhtunKhwa, Pakistan, Pakistan.
  4. Sajjad Hussain, , Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Khyber PukhtunKhwa, Pakistan, Pakistan.
  5. Ishaq Ahmad, , Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Khyber PukhtunKhwa, Pakistan, Pakistan.
  6. Saira Sherin, , Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Khyber PukhtunKhwa, Pakistan, Pakistan.

Muhammad Irshad Salim Raza Zahid Ur Rehman Sajjad Hussain Ishaq Ahmad Saira Sherin “Geo-Polymerization of Marble Sludge: A Way Forward for its Eco-friendly Utilizatio Vol. 12 Issue 08 PP. 151-169 August 2025. https:// doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16758040.


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