Published Paper Details:

Nano zeolite is a nanoscale aluminosilicate material with a high surface area, a porous structure, a high ion exchange capacity, and surface reactivity. Because of these properties it has attracted growing interest in the fields of construction, soil stabilization, asphalt mixtures, geopolymer systems and environmental applications. The present review looks at the literature concerning the evaluation of nano zeolite's project performance, with a special focus on its mechanical performance, durability, environmental sustainability, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost and cost-benefit considerations. The studies reviewed show that both zeolite and nano zeolite are able to increase strength and promote densification in certain construction applications and can in part substitute conventional cementitious or filler materials. For instance, recent studies have found that the performance of cement-zeolite sand can be improved within certain optimal replacement ranges and that there is a significant increase in strength in soft soils treated with nano-zeolite and with municipal solid waste incineration ash. A recent study on asphalt also found that a 50% substitution of cement filler with nano-zeolite represented the best level for Marshall performance under the laboratory conditions stated. At the same time, studies based on life cycle assessment indicate that the environmental benefits are highly dependent on material production, energy consumption, the use of alkali, transportation, the replacement ratio and the definition of the system boundaries. The literature makes it clear that there is a need for an integrated project-level evaluation that combines technical performance, life cycle assessment and economic analysis rather than looking at these aspects separately. The review thus suggests an integrated framework for assessing nano zeolite in comparison with conventional stabilizers such as cement and lime by means of performance indicators, environmental impact categories and cost-benefit indicators.