Coal gangue is one of the industrial solid wastes that may harm the human body through the ecosystem for a long time. Using coal gangue in geopolymer preparation can effectively reduce cement output and meet the sustainability requirements. In this paper, the physical and chemical characteristics, including the heavy metal content, of coal gangue from different producing areas are described. Then, the mechanism of physical activation (mechanical and thermal activation), chemical activation, and compound activation of coal gangue are illustrated. The machinability, as well as the mechanical, microscopic, and toxicity consolidation properties of geopolymers prepared from coal gangue, are summarized and analyzed. The results indicate that the coal gangue geopolymers can have higher mobility and mechanical strength than cement-based composites by adjusting high calcium element material, alkali activator content, Na₂SiO₃ modulus, and curing condition. After physical activation, coal gangue is used in geopolymer preparation with a chemical activator (alkali excitation agent), which effectively forms a three-dimensional silicon aluminate polymer network. The pore structure is dense, the physical fixation and chemical bonding are strengthened, and the solidification and adsorption of heavy metal ions are improved. Further, it can also be applied to solidifying radioactive waste, which is following the future development direction.

Nuclear technology benefits humans, but it also produces nuclear radiation that harms human health and the environment. Based on the modified Andreasen and Andersen particle packing model for achieving a densely compacted cementitious matrix, a new magnetite ultra-high-performance concrete (MUHPC) was designed using magnetite fine aggregate as a substitute for river sands with 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% replacement ratios. The comprehensive properties of the developed MUHPC were tested and evaluated. These properties were fluidity, static and dynamic compressive strengths, high-temperature performance, antiradiation behaviors, hydration products, and micropore structures. Experimental results indicate that the developed MUHPC has high work performance and static and dynamic mechanical properties. The gamma ray shielding performance of MUHPC substantially improves with increased magnetite fine aggregate. Corresponding with 100% magnetite fine aggregate substitution, the linear attenuation coefficient of MUHPC is enhanced by 56.8% compared with that of ordinary concrete. Magnetite addition does not change the type of cement hydration products but improves the micropore structures of MUHPC and effectively reduces its total porosity and average pore diameter, thereby contributing to its mechanical and radiation shielding properties. The compressive strength and linear attenuation coefficient of the MUHPC can reach 150 MPa and 0.2 cm⁻¹, respectively. In addition, the MUHPC also exhibits superior mechanical and radiation shielding performance at elevated temperatures (<400 °C). Finally, high strength and antiradiation performance support the use of MUHPC in radiation protection materials in the future.

In this paper, uniaxial compression tests were carried out for recycled aggregate concrete with water cement ratios of 0.38, 0.49, and 0.66 and replacement ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively. The influence of the replacement ratio of recycled aggregate and water cement ratio on the strength, elastic modulus, and deformation characteristics of concrete was discussed. The results show that the replacement rate of recycled aggregate has a significant effect on the macro stress–strain behavior of concrete. In the case of a constant water cement ratio, the peak nominal stress first decreases and then increases with the increase of the replacement rate; while the water cement ratios equal 0.38, 0.49, and 0.66, the corresponding transition states are 25%, 50%, and 50% of the replacement rate, respectively. The deformation and failure is characterized by two stages: distributed damage and local failure. Combined with the statistical damage mechanics, the influence of the aggregate replacement rate on the damage evolution mechanism of recycled concrete on a mesoscopic scale was explored. Two mesoscopic damage modes, fracture and yield, are considered. Their cumulative evolutions are assumed to follow triangular probability distributions, which could be characterized by four parameters. The peak nominal stress state and the critical state are distinguished, and the latter is defined as a precursor to local failure. With the increase of the replacement rate of recycled aggregate, the inhomogeneous evolution of mesoscopic damage shows obvious regular change, which is consistent with the internal chemical and physical mechanism and macro nonlinear stress–strain behavior.

In this study, high concentration wastewater from ready-mixed concrete plants was used to replace potable water as mixing water of concrete, with replacement rates of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, by weight. The solid content of the wastewater was 12%. Five groups of C20 concrete mix proportions were designed. Different concrete properties, including workability, compressive strength and durability under freeze–thaw cycles, carbonization, and drying conditions, were studied, and the effect of the increase in the proportion of wastewater as a replacement for potable water was investigated. The microstructural attributes of the developed C20 concrete were studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TG-DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Finally, the economic benefits of replacing potable water with wastewater were analyzed. The results indicate that using wastewater for concrete mixing reduces workability and a superplasticizer is needed to ensure adequate concrete workability. At the ages of 7, 28, and 56 days, with the increase in the proportion of wastewater as a replacement for potable water (0, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%), the compressive strength of concrete shows a trend of first decreasing, then increasing, and then decreasing. When the proportion of wastewater replacing potable water is 75%, the concrete compressive strength is the highest. The microstructure showed that the main products of wastewater-mixed concrete are calcite (CaCO₃), portlandite (Ca(OH)₂), ettringite (Aft), and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Adding wastewater to concrete does not lead to the formation of new products in the concrete. Wastewater can fill the concrete pores well, thus optimizing the pore structure. When the proportion of wastewater replacing potable water is 75%, C20 concrete has the densest microstructure, lower porosity, and better pore structure. Durability properties further indicate that 25%, 50%, and 75% of wastewater replacing potable water can improve the concrete’s frost resistance. However, there is a negative impact on the carbonation resistance of wastewater. Wastewater replacing 75% potable water by weight can improve the drying shrinkage of concrete. The recycling of wastewater is not only green and environmentally friendly but also has good economic and environmental benefits.