A New Environmental-Friendly Approach to Preparing Glass-Ceramics from Desert Sand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63333/eem.v1n23Keywords:
Desert sand, Glass-ceramics, Preparation process, Comprehensive utilization of resources, Environmental protectionAbstract
The word’s mineral resources are sharply decreasing, and the process of desertification is severe. The use of desert sand as a substitute for natural materials is of great significance for reducing the consumption of mineral resources and protecting the environment. Desert sand contains a large amount of SiO2. Using desert sand to replace pure oxides not only saves costs and natural minerals, but also enhances the comprehensive utilization of desert resources, which meets the requirements of sustainable development. This paper reviews the research status of the preparation of glass-ceramics with desert sand as the main raw material, including the resource status of desert sand, the preparation process and application of glass-ceramics. The advantages and challenges of preparing glass-ceramics from desert sand were studied. Finally, the future development direction of glass-ceramics prepared from desert sand was prospected.
References
[1] Chen Y., Lu H., Wu H., et al. Global desert variation under climatic impact during 1982–2020 . Science China Earth Sciences, 2023, 66(5): 1062-1071. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-022-1052-1
[2] Gavriletea M.D. Environmental Impacts of Sand Exploitation. Analysis of Sand Market. SUSTAINABILITY, 2017, 9(7): 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071118
[3] Huynh T-P., Ho L.S., Ho Q.V. Experimental investigation on the performance of concrete incorporating fine dune sand and ground granulated blast-furnace slag. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 347: 128512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128512
[4] Shi Z.M. Green manufacturing of silicate materials using desert sand as a raw-material resource. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 338: 127539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127539
[5] Luo H.W., Shi Z.M., Wang H.H., et al. The microstructure, phase transformation and sinterability of desert sand. Materials Today Communications, 2023, 35: 105685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.105685
[6] Wang Z.D., Liu Z.W., Wang W.B., et al. Effect of desert-sand replacing pure SiO2 on crystallization, densification and properties of cordierite glass-ceramic. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2024, 31: 2202-2216. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.07.001
[7] Deubener J., Allix M., Davis M.J., et al. Updated definition of glass-ceramics. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2018, 501: 3-10. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2018.01.033
[8] Karmakar B. 1 - Introduction to functional glasses and glass-ceramics [M]//KARMAKAR B. Functional Glasses and Glass-Ceramics. Butterworth-Heinemann. 2017: 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805056-9.00001-5
[9] Xiao H.N., Cheng Y., Yu L.P., et al. A study on the preparation of CMAS glass–ceramics by in situ crystallization. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 2006, 431(1): 191-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2006.05.153
[10] Guo X.ZH., Cai X.B., Song J., et al. Crystallization and microstructure of CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 glass–ceramics containing complex nucleation agents. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2014, 405: 63-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2014.08.048
[11] An Z.Q., Gao Y., Chen J.J. Combined effect of La2O3 and Fe2O3 on the crystallization behavior and microstructure of CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass-ceramics. Ceramics International, 2025, 219 :http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.02.269
[12] Gao H.T., Liu X.H., Chen J.Q., et al. Preparation of glass-ceramics with low density and high strength using blast furnace slag, glass fiber and water glass. Ceramics International, 2018, 44(6): 6044-6053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.12.228
[13] Wang W.B., Song J.W., Shi Z.M., et al. Crystallization behavior and properties of quartz glass-ceramics synthesized from desert sand. Ceramics International, 2024, 50(1A): 370-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.10.111
[14] Bansal N.P., Choi S.R. Properties of CMAS glass from desert sand. Ceramics International, 2015, 41(3A): 3901-3909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.11.072
[15] Xu W.C., Shen K.X., Cao Z., et al. Crystallization and thermal stability effects on tailings glass-ceramics by various heat treating processes. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2021, 263: 124334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.124334
[16] Zdorovets M.V., Kozlovskiy A.L. Study of phase transformations in Co/CoCo2O4 nanowires. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2020, 815: 152450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.152450
[17] Shi X.p., Liao Q.L., Chen K., et al. Foaming process and thermal insulation properties of foamed glass-ceramics prepared by recycling muti-solid wastes. Construction and Building Materials, 2025, 466: 140270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140270
[18] Ibrahim S., Ei-Kheshen A.A., Abdel-baki M., et al. Synthesis and characterization of erbium silica glass and glass-ceramics for potential low-emissivity coating applications. Ceramics International, 2025, 51(1): 458-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.11.021
[19] Chen C., Park T., Wang X.H., et al. China and India lead in greening of the world through land-use management. Nature Sustainability, 2019, 2(2): 122-129. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0220-7
[20] Kedir N., Faucett D.C., Choi S.R, et al. Slow-crack-growth and indentation damage in calcium magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) glass from desert sand. Ceramics International, 2018, 44(3): 2676-2682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.10.194
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Qi Hu, Dr. Wenbin Wang, Dr. Ao Yu, Dr. Wenli Luo, Junfei Gu, Xiaoqing Yi, Linhui Zhou, Dr. Zhiming Shi (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Similar Articles
- Dr. Ao Yu, Dr. Wenbin Wang, Junfei Gu, Dr. Wenli Luo, Qi Hu, Linhui Zhou, Xiaoqing Yi, Dr. Zhiming Shi, Application Progress in the Preparation of Eco-Friendly Composite Ceramics from Solid Waste , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)
- Wenli Luo, Zhiming Shi, Wenbin Wang, Ao Yu, Zhiwen Liu, Eco-Friendly Cement Clinker Manufacturing Using Industrial Solid Waste and Natural Idle Resources as Alternative Raw Materials , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)
- Leela Kaur, Prem Godara, Application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in groundwater quality evaluation: A case study of arid region , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)
- Yi Hu, Shiqi Zhang, Qirui Pan, Chi Cong Nie, Development Trends and Solutions for Comprehensive Energy Services in the Context of Green and Low-Carbon Initiatives , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
- Oleksii Hrechanyi, Khudiakov Rostyslav, Dernovyi Oleksandr, Vernydub Mykhailo, Mylenkyi Bohdan, Experimental Study of the Process of Obtaining Filament for 3D Printing from Plastic Waste , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)
- Mohammad Amini, Prof. Longsheng Deng, Fatima Zahra Zidane, Reza Jafari, Spatiotemporal Analysis of Sand Dune Dynamics: A Case Study from Southern Afghanistan , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)
- Tao Zheng, Chao Bian, Xiaohong Sun, Lianyong Wang, Design and Application of Low-NOx Burners in Rotary Kilns , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
- Mohammad Amini, Longsheng Deng, Waqas Hassan, Reza Jafari, Fatima Zahra Zidane, LNRF-Based Landslide Zonation: Enhancing Risk Assessment in Badakhshan, Afghanistan , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
- Xuemei Jiang, Tingyin Deng, Wenying Zhang, Application Status, Hotspots, and Future Trends of Artificial Intelligence in the Field of Sustainable Environmental Governance , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
- Hai Tian, Zhiliang Sun, Slaking tests of soil-rock mixture and the simulation of state-dependent elastoplastic model , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Dr. Ao Yu, Dr. Wenbin Wang, Junfei Gu, Dr. Wenli Luo, Qi Hu, Linhui Zhou, Xiaoqing Yi, Dr. Zhiming Shi, Application Progress in the Preparation of Eco-Friendly Composite Ceramics from Solid Waste , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)
- Wenli Luo, Zhiming Shi, Wenbin Wang, Ao Yu, Zhiwen Liu, Eco-Friendly Cement Clinker Manufacturing Using Industrial Solid Waste and Natural Idle Resources as Alternative Raw Materials , Energy & Environment Management: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025)