Copper smelting slag valorization in waste-derived clay ceramics: sintering behavior, microstructural evolution, engineering performance, and leaching behavior
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Toraighyrov University Pavlodar 140000 Kazakhstan
- 2Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Satbayev University Almaty 050013 Kazakhstan
- 3N. M. Kizhner Scientific and Educational Center, Tomsk Polytechnic University Lenin Avenue, 30 Tomsk 634050 Russian Federation
- 4Climate Center, Novosibirsk State University Pirogov Street, 2 Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
Abstract
The Fe- and Si-rich composition of copper smelting slag (CS) provides a basis for its utilization as a secondary raw material in high-temperature ceramic processing. This study investigates the effect of relatively low additions of untreated CS (5 and 10 wt%) on the sintering behavior, phase and microstructural evolution, engineering properties, and leaching behavior of waste-derived ceramics fired at 900–1200 °C. The effect of CS was strongly temperature-dependent, with no clear mechanical benefit at 900–1000 °C but pronounced improvement at 1100–1200 °C. At 1200 °C, 10 wt% CS increased compressive strength to approximately 135 MPa and bulk density to 2.23 g cm−3, while reducing water absorption to 2.2%. XRD, FTIR, and SEM analyses indicated high-temperature structural reorganization and enhanced matrix densification without major changes in the dominant crystalline phase assemblage. CS incorporation did not systematically increase the release of potentially hazardous elements, with regulated concentrations remaining well below the corresponding TCLP limits. The results show that the partial replacement of SS and FA by low additions of untreated CS can improve ceramic performance while maintaining low leachability, supporting its valorization in high-performance ceramic materials. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the long-term durability and environmental performance of CS-containing ceramics under real service conditions, as well as for scaling-up toward industrial production.
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BibTeX
@article{tolegenov2026copper,
title = {{Copper smelting slag valorization in waste-derived clay ceramics: sintering behavior, microstructural evolution, engineering performance, and leaching behavior}},
author = {Dias Tolegenov and Madeniyet Yelubay and Sabit Maussumbayev and Nurdana Kanasheva and Gulzat Aitkaliyeva and Tatyana Vakalova and Vladimir Mokichev and Sergey Volynkin and Anton Kasprzhitskii and Georgy Lazorenko},
journal = {RSC advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ra09416c},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721912},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Copper smelting slag valorization in waste-derived clay ceramics: sintering behavior, microstructural evolution, engineering performance, and leaching behavior
AU - Dias Tolegenov
AU - Madeniyet Yelubay
AU - Sabit Maussumbayev
AU - Nurdana Kanasheva
AU - Gulzat Aitkaliyeva
AU - Tatyana Vakalova
AU - Vladimir Mokichev
AU - Sergey Volynkin
AU - Anton Kasprzhitskii
AU - Georgy Lazorenko
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - RSC advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ra09416c
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721912
AB - The Fe- and Si-rich composition of copper smelting slag (CS) provides a basis for its utilization as a secondary raw material in high-temperature ceramic processing. This study investigates the effect of relatively low additions of untreated CS (5 and 10 wt%) on the sintering behavior, phase and microstructural evolution, engineering properties, and leaching behavior of waste-derived ceramics fired at 900–1200 °C. The effect of CS was strongly temperature-dependent, with no clear mechanical benefit at 900–1000 °C but pronounced improvement at 1100–1200 °C. At 1200 °C, 10 wt% CS increased compressive strength to approximately 135 MPa and bulk density to 2.23 g cm−3, while reducing water absorption to 2.2%. XRD, FTIR, and SEM analyses indicated high-temperature structural reorganization and enhanced matrix densification without major changes in the dominant crystalline phase assemblage. CS incorporation did not systematically increase the release of potentially hazardous elements, with regulated concentrations remaining well below the corresponding TCLP limits. The results show that the partial replacement of SS and FA by low additions of untreated CS can improve ceramic performance while maintaining low leachability, supporting its valorization in high-performance ceramic materials. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the long-term durability and environmental performance of CS-containing ceramics under real service conditions, as well as for scaling-up toward industrial production.
SN - 2046-2069
ER -