Flinders University researcher Dr. Aliakbar Gholampour and his team are exploring how a little-used mining by-product, delithiated β-spodumene (DβS), can serve as a practical and sustainable ingredient in next-generation concrete. The material is produced during lithium refining and is usually treated as waste. However, because DβS displays pozzolanic behaviour, it can react with alkaline solutions in a way that strengthens and stabilizes cementitious systems. This characteristic has placed it under increasing attention as the construction industry searches for alternatives to traditional materials.
Valizadeh Kiamahalleh, M., Gholampour, A., Tang, Y., & Ngo, T. D. (2025). Advanced characterization of ambient-cured geopolymer paste with delithiated β-Spodumene: effect of Na2SiO3–to–NaOH ratio on performance and microstructure. Materials and Structures, 58(9), 284. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-025-02789-5
Concrete’s environmental burden is significant. Its production uses vast quantities of non-renewable resources each year and generates a large share of global industrial carbon emissions. At the same time, many of the supplementary materials typically blended with cement, such as coal fly ash, are becoming less available. As coal-fired power plants retire, the construction sector is forced to explore new sources of reactive mineral additives. The expanding lithium industry produces large and growing volumes of DβS, which has led researchers to revisit its potential role in concrete.
Dr. Gholampour’s team has conducted a series of laboratory studies examining how DβS behaves within geopolymer binders under varying sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratios. The researchers found that, when cured under ambient conditions, DβS-based geopolymer paste can achieve mechanical performance comparable to mixes formulated with more established supplementary cementitious materials. Their microstructural analysis shows that DβS participates actively in the binding reactions, creating a dense and stable matrix that supports strength and durability.
Flinders University researcher Dr. Aliakbar Gholampour stated,
“These findings not only contribute to reducing environmental impact and resource consumption but also enhance the performance, predictability and adaptability of next-generation concrete systems.”
The results align with findings from other research groups working on spodumene-derived by-products. A study from a European team investigating leached spodumene residue reported measurable strength increases when this material replaced a portion of Portland cement. In Australia, analysts examining lithium hydroxide production have observed that each tonne of lithium product can generate several tonnes of DβS. Rather than sending this material to landfill, they argue it can be diverted into cement and concrete manufacturing as part of a circular-economy model. Independent civil engineering assessments have also shown that spodumene residues can be incorporated into non-structural concrete, where they offer advantages in embodied-carbon reduction without compromising baseline performance requirements.
Together, these efforts point to a growing consensus. Lithium refining waste streams may represent a scalable new class of mineral additives. The scientific data suggests they can improve or at least match the behaviour of more traditional materials, offering strength stability, improved microstructure, and reduced reliance on resource-intensive virgin inputs. DβS in particular appears suitable for a range of applications, from geopolymer binders to blended cements and even specialized mixes such as cemented paste backfill in mining operations.
There are still challenges to address. Standards bodies will need to determine how DβS fits within existing cement categories and how its variability can be managed. Refineries and construction suppliers will need to coordinate on processing and transport. Long-term field exposure studies must confirm that the material performs reliably under real-world weathering and loading conditions. Despite these considerations, the momentum behind DβS research continues to build, supported by both laboratory evidence and broader industrial interest.
Dr. Gholampour and his collaborators see this work as part of a larger transition in construction materials research. Their group has also studied how machine-learning models can improve the prediction of concrete performance, and how additives such as fibres or metallurgical by-products affect the behaviour of geopolymer and 3D-printed concretes. The incorporation of DβS fits naturally into this framework. It brings together waste reduction, advanced materials science, and practical engineering in a way that supports both performance and sustainability.
The expanding volume of lithium-refining by-products makes this research timely. As global electrification accelerates, the industry will produce far more spodumene residues than it currently consumes. Redirecting this material into concrete presents a realistic opportunity to reduce landfill, conserve raw resources, and reshape a major segment of the construction supply chain. Based on the growing body of evidence, DβS is emerging not as waste but as a workable ingredient for future concrete systems.
If adopted widely, these findings could support a more resilient and less resource-intensive concrete industry. For now, the research from Flinders University contributes an important foundation for understanding how industrial by-products like DβS can be harnessed to build more sustainable infrastructure.
Adrian graduated with a Masters Degree (1st Class Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Chester University along with Harris. His master’s research aimed to develop a standardadised clean water oxygenation transfer procedure to test bubble diffusers that are currently used in the wastewater industry commercial market. He has also undergone placments in both US and China primarely focused within the R&D department and is an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
