Utilization of Bagasse Ash as Partial Replacement of Cement

Abstract

Pakistan produces approximately 50 Million tons of Sugar cane annually and most of it is used for production of Sugar. The industrial waste of Sugar cane, known as bagasse, is used worldwide as fuel for power generation in the same sugar industry. The combustion yields ash containing high amounts of unburned matters, silicon and aluminum oxides as main components, which have the characteristics to react with free lime made available as the by product of cement hydration. This research study is carried out to evaluate the feasibility of use of bagasse ash, in production of concrete, as partial replacement of cement. The main variable in this research study are the amount of bagasse ash and dosage of superplastisizer. The parameters those kept constant are the amount of cementitious material equal to 430 Kg/m3 and water to cementitious material ratio equal to 0.55. Test results revealed that the mixes associated with bagasse ash, showed slightly lower compressive strength than Control Mix (CM). However, it showed better resistance against water absorption and acid attack than CM. The concrete produced using bagasse ash as partial replacement of cement has exhibited excellent properties as construction material in adverse environments. Government of Pakistan has allowed sugar mills to co-generate electricity through bagasse, this will produce large amount of bagasse ash as industrial waste. The successful utilization of bagasse ash as partial replacement of cement would lower the cost of construction and will also substantially contribute to reduce the greenhouse gases.