Effect of air pollution-controlled residue of a sewage sludge incinerator on the drying shrinkage and the pore structure of alkali-activated materials

•Drying shrinkage of alkali-activated material (AAM) is related to mesopore volume.•Na2SO4 crystals act as expansive agents and aggregates reducing drying shrinkage.•Air pollution-controlled residue (20 %) applied to AAM is safe for the environment.