Emerging sustainable solutions for depollution: Geopolymers

Abstract

Air pollution and water pollution are critical issues because they negatively affect ecosystem and human health, as well as affecting buildings and industries. Utilizing photocatalysts that rely on light irradiation to decompose pollutants is a promising solution to this issue. Geopolymers, when used as a green substitute for cement and other engineered materials, can be synthesized using different agricultural and industrial wastes. These materials exhibit synergies in the depollution process and can be regarded as cost effective and novel in the context of removing organic pollution from water and air to protect and improve the environment. Geopolymer catalytic performance is closely linked to the composition, microstructure, and preparation method of the geopolymer. This review investigates the types of geopolymers and catalysts and their corresponding preparation methods and performances. The limitations of these products and future works are also detailed. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd