Because of its high strength, energy reduction, and low environmental impact, researchers have encouraged considering alkali-activated slag concrete (AASC) as a potential alternative to conventional concrete. In this study, the impact of mix design parameters on the durability of AASC, made with ground granulated blast furnace slag and activated with different alkaline solutions (NaOH, KOH, and Na₂SiO₃) immersed up to six months in a hydrochloric acid bath with pH = 3, has been investigated. A total of 13 mix designs were made in a way that, in addition to the type of alkaline solution, considered three other parameters, namely the molarity of alkaline solutions, the weight ratio of alkaline solutions to slag, and the weight ratio of alkaline solutions to sodium silicate. Visual inspections displayed that the AASC samples almost remained intact after exposure to an HCl acid solution with pH = 3 for up to 6 months, while the OPC sample experienced deleterious deterioration. The results clearly show that AASC outperformed OPC concrete when it comes to durability in an HCl acid solution. The strength reduction and weight loss of AASC compared with OPC concrete were approximately one-tenth and one-fifth, respectively. The AASC samples containing potassium hydroxide showed a higher strength reduction and weight loss in the HCl acid solution than the samples made with sodium hydroxide.

A sensitive and precise method for the determination of trace amounts of total sulfur in organic mixtures is described. With this method bonded sulfur is reacted with activated Raney nickel and is reduced to nickel sulfide at 70 °C. Then, the residue is separated on a filter paper and pyrolysed by induction furnace technique for generation of SO₂ which is then detected by a non-dispersive gas detector. This method is ideally suited for the determination of trace amounts of sulfur in petroleum distillates, organic solvents and pharmaceutical species such as antibiotics and vitamins. The effect of olefines and the amount of Raney nickel on the sensitivity and accuracy of the results is investigated. The 3ς detection limit was 100 ng g^–1 and at 1 µg g^–1 sulfur in iso-octane, the relative standard deviation (n = 5) was ±5.5%.