Carbon mineralization of steel slag and its application in building materials—A state-of-the-art review

Abstract

Steel slag is produced in large quantities annually but suffers from a low utilization rate, primarily being disposed through stockpiling or landfilling. This not only occupies land resources but also brings environmental risks due to the leaching of metal ions. Although the mineral composition of steel slag is similar to that of Portland cement, endowing it with potential as a cementitious material, it still faces challenges such as slow hydration rates, low early strength, and poor durability. Currently, mineralization of steel slag is regarded as a key strategy for achieving net-zero emissions in steel manufacture. However, reviews on cement-free mineralized steel slag compacts are still lacking. This review comprehensively outlines the research progress of mineralized steel slag, including their mineralization behaviors and characteristics, while evaluating the performance of steel slag compacts via carbon mineralization. This review is expected to provide valuable insights into the feasibility analysis of utilizing mineralized steel slag as building materials.