Assessment on tungsten mining residues potential as partial cement replacement

Electroremediation and deep eutectic solvents are well-documented clean-up processes for metals extraction from solid matrices. Depending on the purpose, these treatments may generate a residue free of pollutants and critical raw materials. Several studies were conducted to re-insert treated secondary resources in building materials. However, there is a research gap in the improvement of reactive properties of these secondary resources. In addition, there is a lack of pozzolans that can optimize cementitious materials. This study investigates the pozzolanic reactivity of tungsten mining residues after receiving electrodialytic treatment in the presence of natural deep eutectic solvents. In all cases, thermal treatment after electroremediation potentiated the pozzolanic reactivity of tungsten mining residues, between 64% to 87%. The introduction of these pozzolanic resources in cementitious-based materials may increase their performance, enlarge the range of applications in the construction industry, reduce the environmental impact, and contribute to a circular economy.