Synthesis of a Green Nano-Silica Material Using Beneficiated Waste Dunites and Its Application in Concrete

Nano-silica, one of the substances boosting the field of nanomaterials, can be produced by dissolving olivine in acid. The dissolution of olivine is a convenient alternative route to the existing methods of nano-silica production (neutralization of sodium silicate and flame hydrolysis) because the olivine dissolution is a low temperature process making this method cheaper and greener. Furthermore, this process can use waste olivine materials for the production of nano-silica. The produced nano-silica has a specific surface area between 100 and 400 m/g; a primary particle size between 10 and 25 nm, which is agglomerated in clusters; and an impurity content below 5 wt.%. In addition, olivine nano-silica can be classified as a pozzolanic material with an activity index of 101%. The optimum replacement level of olivine nano-silica in conventional vibrated concrete is around 5% by volume resulting in: 1) a compressive strength increase of 20%; 2) a CO2 emission reduction of 3%. Therefore, the use of the olivine nano-silica in CVC does not only improve the compressive strength but also reduce the CO2 emissions.