Development of low pH cement systems forming magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H)

This work aimed to develop novel cement systems for waste encapsulation that would form with a pH of around 10. The approach taken was to investigate the formation of brucite by hydration of a light burned periclase (MgO). Commercially available MgO powders often contain some CaO, and therefore silica fume was added to form C-S-H gel. Identification of the hydrated phases in MgO/silica fume samples showed that brucite formed in substantial quantities as expected. However, brucite reacted with the silica fume to produce a magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H) gel phase. After 28 days, the pH of systems rich in MgO tended towards the pH controlled by residual brucite (~ 10.5), whereas when all brucite reacts with silica fume a cement with an equilibrium pH just below 10 was achieved.