Co-treatment of steel slag and oil shale waste in cemented paste backfill: Evaluation of fresh properties, microstructure, and heavy metals immobilization

The environmentally sustainable treatment of steel slag (SS) and oil shale waste (OSW) is a significant concern in the field of industrial development. The mining industry also faces challenges related to the high costs and carbon emissions associated with ordinary Portland cement (OPC), leading to environmental pollution. To address these challenges, this study aimed to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly binder for cemented paste backfill (CPB) by utilizing SS and calcined oil shale waste (COSW) as primary precursors. Extensive investigations were conducted to evaluate the properties of the CPB sample with varying COSW content, including rheological properties, mechanical strength, and microstructure. The binder sample was comprehensively characterized using isothermal calorimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on systematic experimentation, an optimal blend ratio for the binder was determined, consisting of 60 wt% SS, 15 wt% COSW, 15 wt% phosphogypsum (PG), and 10 wt% OPC. The exceptional performance of the binder was attributed to the substantial formation of precipitated ettringite (AFt), resulting in a more compact structure and improved mechanical strength. Additionally, a sequential extraction test revealed that the heavy metals in the CPB sample were mainly present in the residual fraction, demonstrating the effective immobilization of heavy metals by the binder. •Steel slag and oil shale waste were co-disposed in this work.•CPB samples with 60% SS-15% COSW presented the highest compressive strength.•Heavy metals leaching from CPB samples fulfilled the regulation limit.