Environmental Impact Assessment of fly ash and GGBS based Geopolymer Concrete in Road Construction

Abstract

– Geopolymer concrete is an effective alternative to reduce adverse impacts of cement manufacturing on environment and achieving sustainable development. Road construction is a major sector, which utilizes concrete in large volume, having significant effect on environment. The present work is presented in two parts. In the first part, evaluation of CO2 emission for 1m3 of geopolymer and ordinary Portland cement concrete has been carried out and further compared. In the second part the results of first part are used to evaluate the CO2 emission for various types of road construction, National highway, State highway, Major District Road, Other District Road, Village Road for 1km of road. About 18 % of reduction in CO2 emission can be obtained by using geopolymer concrete instead of ordinary Portland cement concrete in road construction, just in 1km of stretch. Significant reduction in CO2 emission can be obtained in road sector by utilising geopolymer concrete leading to sustainability.