Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

Revista Científica de Matemática, Ciências Naturais e Aplicadas

MUNYO https://www.up.ac.mz/faculdades/fcnm/revista-munyo/publica%C3%A7%C3%B5es.html

Compressive Strength of Industrial Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash Mortars

SALIMO, Salimo 1; MARIZANE, Keneth 1; MANHIQUE, Arão 1; e MADIVATE, Carvalho 2,1
Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Química, araomanhique@gmail.com
2
Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique, cmadivate@isctem.ac.mz
Resumo
Recebido em 26 O uso da cinza do bagaço de cana de açúcar na substituição parcial do cimento em
January 2012
Aceite em 25
argamassas é percebido como estando relacionado com o teor de material amorfo existente
February 2012 nas cinzas. Estudou-se a possibilidade de uso de cinzas industriais de bagaço de cana
provenientes de Xinavane na produção de argamassas. Foram usados dois tipos de cimento
Portland, o cimento 32.5 e o cimento 42.5 N. Os resultados indicam que com o cimento 42.5N
Palavras-chave pode se obter argamassas com propriedades dentro dos limites de trabalho admissíveis, com
Bagaço de cana adições de cinza até 10%. Adições de até 15% só cinzas de granulometria 0.08 e 0.16 mm é
Argamassas que mostraram um desempenho que cai dentro dos limites permitidos pelas normas. O uso do
Cimento cimento 32.5N produziu resultados dentro dos limites apenas com cinzas de granulometria
0.08 mm e as adições limitam-se a 5%.
Keywords
Sugar can bagasse
Abstract
Mortars The use of sugar can bagasse ash in partial replacement of cement in mortars is considered to
Cement be related to the amorphous content in the ash. We investigated the possibility of using
industrial sugarcane bagasse ashes from Xinavane in the production of mortars. Two types of
Portland cement were used, 32.5N and 42.5N. Results with 42.5N cement showed results of
comprehensive strength above the minimum acceptable limit with ash additions up to 10%.
At 15% of ashes only 0.08 and 0.16 mm grain size gave acceptable results. With 32.5N
cement only 5% addition with 0.08 mm ash gave acceptable results. Produced results point
out to the need of further studies in order to fully understand the influence of ashes in the
mortars.
© 2018 Munyo Scientific Publishing,LC. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction soils, and saving non-renewable raw materials used in

Knowledge about the development of the pozzolanic cement production (ARUM et al., 2013; DWIVEDI et al.,
activity in agricultural waste ash promoted significant 2006; KHAN et al., 2012; KARIM et al., 2013; KARIM et
research in this field, which can be seen in the several al., 2014; ALUJAS et al., 2015; MADANDOUST et al.,
publications about use of agricultural waste ash on mortar 2011).
and concrete properties. Published results show the potential Sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) is one of the studied
use of these ashes in partial replacement of cement, with a agricultural waste and most used hereby. Although it has
beneficial effect in properties of the product (CHIN, 2012; been widely studied, results presented in the literature are
CORDEIRO et al., 2018; CORDEIRO et al., 2019). Its use not conclusive enough. Ability of SCBA to act as a
is associated with other benefits such as energy saving pozzolanic material was strongly influenced by the
resulting from the reduction of the energy involved in amorphous silica produced during calcination of the fibers.
cement production. Further benefits are registered like It reacts with calcium hydroxide forming calcium silicates
environmental gains resulting from the use of these (JANJATURAPHAN & WANSOM, 2010). Although
residues, avoiding hereby their deposition and leaching in content of amorphous silica correlate satisfactorily with the

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 1

 Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

conductivity loss (another technique used to assess calcined, on one side, sugar cane fibers to produce ashes
pozzolanic activity), results of the strength activity index and, on the other side, submitted industrial ashes to a re-
obtained by these authors point to a significant influence of calcination process, under the same conditions were fibers
the fineness of the ashes and the resulting filler effect on the were treated. Re-calcined ashes show at all temperatures a
increase of the compressive strength. better strength activity index, except for 650 °C, where
ashes from laboratory calcined fibers showed the best
RIBEIRO and MORELLI (2014) studied the effect of the
performance, with a strength activity index of 92.13 %.
calcination temperature on the pozzolanic activity of
CORDEIRO et al. (2018) obtained for re-calcined ashes a
sugarcane bagasse ashes, in the range of 500 to 700 °C.
better performance than that of mortars with non-calcined
These authors obtained, for mortars with 10% ash,
industrial ashes. They attribute the better performance of re-
mechanical strength values comparable to reference
calcined ashes to the pozzolanic reactions taking place, even
mortars, particularly for ash samples treated at 600 and 700
with the lower amount of amorphous phase in re-calcined
°C. Values of flexural strength and compressive strength
ashes. The lower amount of amorphous phase in re-calcined
showed better performance, particularly for samples treated
ashes and the resulting better performance of compressive
at 600 °C, temperature selected as the optimal for the
strength, obtained by CORDEIRO et al. (2018), show that
calcination process.
the amorphous phase formed is not necessarily, or mainly,
HUSSEIN et al. (2014) used industrial ashes ground to a amorphous silica, component that should increase
diameter smaller than 45 µm and obtained values of the occurrence of pozzolanic reactions (MALEIANE et al.,
compressive strength higher that the reference concrete. 2019).
They used 5, 10, 15 and 20% cement substitutions. The
In the present study, we investigated the possibility of using
highest compressive strength was obtained with 5% ash
industrial sugarcane bagasse ashes from Xinavane in the
composition. CHI (2012) tested mortar masses with 10, 20
production of mortars, in partial replacement of cement.
and 30% ashes and obtained, for 7 and 28 days curing age,
These tests were carried out with two different types of
results of the compressive strength smaller than those of the
cement (42.5 N and 32.5 N) and ashes subjected to a simple
reference mortar. However, for the 10% ash composition,
processing, which consisted of grinding and sieving ashes to
after 56 days curing age, he observed higher values of
obtain ashes with a well-defined granulometry.
compressive strength.
CORDEIRO et al. (2019) worked with industrial ashes,
2. Materials and methods
submitted to re-calcination and grinding process, and
obtained, for all curing ages, except for one-day, In these experiments, for specimen’s preparation, we used
compressive strength values of the mortars higher than ashes from the Xinavane sugar factory, two types of
those obtained for the reference materials. Diffraction Portland cement from Cimentos de Moçambique (CEM II /
patterns of the re-calcined ashes show a reduction of the BL 42.5N and CEM II / BL 32.5N) and sand collected at the
amorphous phase and an increase of the crystalline quartz. Corrumana dam, located in the District of Moamba -
Having in mind that amorphous silica is more reactive than Maputo Province.
crystalline silica (MALEIANE et al., 2019), it would have Preparation of samples started with removal of coarse
been interesting to compare compressive strength materials from ashes, drying of ash samples at 105 °C,
performance of mortars with re-calcined and non-re- followed by sieving to produce ashes with three different
calcined ashes, to test the eventual existence of significant grain sizes (<0.08 mm; <0.16 mm and <1.0 mm). The sand
differences introduced by the re-calcination process. was, initially, washed manually, in order to reduce dust and
MANSANEIRA et al. (2017) also practiced re-calcination, other impurities, dried in an oven, ground and sieved for the
but XRD patterns did not show a clear difference in production of six classes of fine aggregate, according to the
amorphous content of re-calcined ashes, when compared specifications for the production of standardized sand
with the starting ashes. In that case, best performance of (LNEC, 1979).
mortars with ashes was attributed to grinding and the higher
specific surfaces of grinded ashes. SUBEDI et al. (2019) Ashes with the different grain sizes were initially submitted
to a) mineralogical analysis by X ray diffraction

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 2

 Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

(PANalytical Empyrean diffractometer), to identify phases Difractograms of mortars with addition of the finest ash
present and estimate amounts of each phase, particularly the fraction (<0.08 mm) (Figure 2), with 5, 10 and 15 % ash
amorphous phase, and b) thermal analysis, using a TA content show a similar pattern, meaning that different
instrument modell SDT-Q-600. Mineralogical analysis were amounts of ashes do not result necessarily in different
further performed with mortar samples submitted to phases being formed, when experiments are performed
different curing ages (2, 7 and 28 days). under same conditions. However, the evolution of these
phases did not show a regular pattern (Figure 3). For
Preparation of specimens and mechanical tests followed the
instance, calcite content, in mortars with 5% ash, reduces
methodology described in Macie et al. (2016), which is
from 35% at 2 days curing age to 10% after 7 days and
based on standards ASTM 91977 (1977); NM NP N 197-
slightly increases to 12% after 28 days. In mortars with 10%
1:2000 (2000) and NBR 9778 (1987). For this purpose,
of ash, calcite content (≈13%) did not change in the three
mortar compositions were formulated, keeping constant all
ages considered, while in mortars with 15% of ash the
components except cement and ashes, used to partially
calcite content (≈12%) was constant after 2 and 7 days and
replace cement. The amount of cement plus ash was kept
increased to approximately 24% after 28 days (Figure 3).
constant and equal to the amount of cement in reference
On other hand, portlandite did not show changes in its
mortar.
content nor with curing age and neither with ash content.
Molded specimens were maintained in a humid chamber for
24 hours and, after demolding, test pieces were submitted to
cure in a water tank for 2, 7 and 28 days. After each curing
period, the specimens were submitted to compressive
strength tests according to the norm NP EN 196-1 (2006).

3. Results and discussion

Figure 2: Difractogram of mortars with addition of 5%, 10% and
3.1. Results
15% ashes with a grain size <0.08 mm.
3.1.1. Mineralogical analysis Q - Quartzo (SiO2); P - Portlandite (Ca(OH)2); Cb - Cristobalite; C -
Calcite (CaCO3); A - Albite (NaAlSi 3O8); R - Rutile (TiO 2); H - Hatrurite
Figure 1 shows the mineralogical composition of the three (Ca3SiO5); Qt - Quintinite (Mg4Al2(OH)12CO3.3H2O)
different fractions of the industrial ashes. Results show the
presence of quartz (major crystalline phase, with increasing
contents in fractions with higher grain size), calcite,
cristobalite, rutile, albite and amorphous phase. Estimated
amount of amorphous phase increases with decreasing grain
size (39.14%, 52.17% and 64.95% in the fractions <0.5 mm,
<0.16 mm and <0.08 mm respectively).

Figure 1: Difractogram of the industrial ashes with different grain

sizes.
Q - Quartz (SiO2); Cb - Cristobalite; C - Calcite (CaCO 3); A - Albite
(NaAlSi3O8); R - Rutile (TiO2); H - Hatrurite (Ca3SiO5)

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 3

 Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

Figure 3: TG and DTA of ashes with a grain size <0.08 mm.

The first peak (<100°C) corresponds to a loss of absorbed

water. The endothermic peak at 472°C, more pronounced
with the <0.08 mm samples and associated with the 3.7%
mass loss, is associated with the oxidation of carbon, while
the endothermic peak at 560-670 °C corresponds to the
transformation of quartz (TORRES AGREDO et al.; 2014).
Quartz transformation is more visible with the coarser
fraction (<0.5 mm), representative of the highest quartz
content (≈ 54%).

Figure 7: Variation of the contents of components present in

mortars with 10% ashes with a grain size < 0.08 mm, obtained
with 32.5N cement. Figure 4: TG and DTA of ashes with a grain size <0.05 mm

3.1.2. Thermal analysis 3.1.3. Mechanical strength tests

Thermogravimetric and thermal analysis experiments of Mortars prepared with Portland cement 42.5 show for 5 and
ashes show, for the fractions <0.08 mm (Figure 3) and <0.5 10 % results of the compressive strength above the
mm (Figure 4), similar peaks, but more pronounced on the
minimum for the 3 fractions, while for 15% only the
<0.08 mm fraction, suggesting occurrence of a higher
content of a course and inert materials in the fraction with a fractions 0.08 mm and 0.15 mm gave satisfactory results
higher grain size. (Figure 5).

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 4

 Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

shows that portlandite did not change its content during the
considered period of study (2 – 28 days). Meanwhile calcite
show astonishing results (Figure 3a), for 5% ash additions
the content of calcite reduces as the curing time increases,
while for 10 and 15% no significant changes were observed
in the content of calcite. CHI (2012) extended curing age to
56 ages and obtained for the 56 days curing age better
results, even with the coarse fractions.
Recalcination of samples reduce or even eliminate unburnt
Figure 5: Compressive strength of mortars prepared with Portland carbon detected in thermal analysis experiments, but the
cement 42.5 and ash addition up to 15%, after 28 days of curing. effect of recalcination should be discussed carefully. At
certain temperatures, recalcination can cause reduction of
Use of the 32.5 cement had a bad performance, with only amorphous phase and increase of quartz, a process not
one composition (mortar with 5% of the finest fraction) absolutely associated with a reduction of compressive
having a compressive strength value above the minimum strength (CORDEIRO et al., 2019).
value of the compressive strength prescribed for this type of
cement (Figure 6). Compressive strength of mortars with a 42.5 cement show
by far better results than the 32.5. While cement 42.5 can be
used in contents up to 10-15%, depending on grain size, the
32.5 cement showed only for the finest fraction and for 5%
addition satisfactory results. These results are more similar
to results obtained by RIBEIRO and MORELLI (2014), but
different from HUSSEIN et al. (2014), who obtained
satisfactory results even with addition of ashes up to 20%.
HUSSEIN et al. (2014) worked with finer non re-calcined
ashes.
Re-calcination seems to be a promising way to improve
Figure 6: Compressive strength of mortars prepared with Portland quality of mortars and ashes, but results presented by
cement 32.5 and ash addition up to 15%, after 28 days of curing. CORDEIRO et al. (2019) do not show a simple linear
relation between parameters used for characterization of re-
3.2. Discussion calcined ashes and mechanical properties of mortars. These
authors obtained any increase of compressive strength with
Mineralogical characterization of ashes with different grain increase of quartz and reduction of amorphous phase,
size show that the finest fraction has higher amount of disordered and apparently more reactive form of SiO 2,
amorphous phase and lower content of crystalline quartz. suggesting the existence of further parameters that affect
Finest fraction shall, therefore, be more reactive due to the quality of mortars. On the other side, the better results
presence of the more reactive amorphous phase and also the obtained HUSSEIN et al. (2014), indicate the need to better
particles with the smaller size, which contributes more to control further parameters which are responsible for
the physical pozollanicity. strength development in mortars.
Results in Figure 2 suggest the need to study development
of the pozollanic reaction over a broader time interval, since 4. Conclusions
the increase of the ash amount from 5 to 15% do not
Results obtained in this study show a better effect of the
necessarily result in a different XRD pattern. Components
SCBA when using the 42.5 Cement. Good results were
responsible for the development of pozollanic activity exist
obtained for all fractions with the 10% ashes; while for the
in significant amounts but do not react completely within
15% addition only 0.08 and 0.16 mm grain size gave
the curing age used normally in these experiments. Figure 3
acceptable results.

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 5

 Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

Comprehension of the effect of ashes in mortar properties process. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering v. 22(4), p.
need further studies to better understand the different 1250-1257, 2018. DOI 10.1007/s12205-017-0881-6
parameters that influence compressive strength of mortars.
Cordeiro, G.C.; Anderão, P.V. and Tavares, L.M.
The effect of re-calcined and non-recalcined industrial ashes
Pozzolanic properties of ultrafine sugar cane bagasse
and all parameters that influence development of pozollanic
ash produced by controlled burning. Heliyon v. 5, p.
activity, like e.g. grain size of ashes, temperature of re-
e02566, 2019.
calcination, contents of components responsible for
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019e02566
development of pozollanicity of ashes and methods used for
assessment of pozolanic activity, the difference of quartz Dwivedi, V.N.; Singh, N.P.; Das, S.S. and Singh, N.B. A
present in an amorphous or crystalline form should be new pozzolanic material for cement industry: Bamboo
further studied to determine the eventual correlation leaf ash. International Journal of Physical Sciences v.
between these parameters and the mechanical properties of 1(3), p. 106-111, 2006.
mortars. Hussein, A.A.E.; Shafiq, N.; Nuruddin, M.F. and Memon,
F.A. Compressive strength and microstructure of sugar
cane bagasse ash concrete. Research Journal of
Acknowledgment
Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology v.
The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Fundo de 7(12), p. 2569-2577, 2014.
Investigação Aplicada Multisectorial (FIAM) for the
financial support and to the Laboratório de Engenharia de Janjaturaphan, S. and Wansom, S. Pozzolanic activity of
Moçambique (LEM) for the technical contribution and industrial sugar cane bagasse ash. Suranaree Journal of
support. Science and Technology v. 17(4), p. 349-357, 2010.
Karim, R.; Hossain, M.; Khan, M.N.N.; Zain, M.F.M.;
Jamil, M. and Lai, F.C. On the utilization of pozzolanic
References wastes as an alternative resource of cement. Materials
Alujas, A.; Fernández, R.; Quintana, R. Scrivener, K.L. and v. 7, p. 7809-7827, 2013a. DOI:10.3390/ma7127809
Martirena, F. Pozzolanic reactivity of low grade Karim, M.R.; Zain, M.F.M.; Jamil, M. and Lai, F.C.
kaolinitic clays: Influence of calcination temperature Fabrication of a non-cement blender using slag, palm
and impact of calcination products on OPC hydration. oil fuel ash and rice husk ash with sodium hydroxide.
Applied Clay Science v. 108, p. 94-101, 2015. Construction and Building Materials v. 49, p. 894-902,
Arum, C.; Ikumapayi, C.M. and Aralepo, G.O. Ashes of 2013b.
Biogenic Wastes -Pozzolanicity, prospects for use, and Khan, R.; Jabbar, A.; Ahmad, I.; Kahn, W.; Khan, A.N. and
effects on some engineering properties of concrete. Mirza, J. Reduction in environmental problems using
Materials Sciences and Applications v. 4, p. 521-527, rice-husk ash in concrete. Construction and Building
2013. Materials v. 30, p. 360-365, 2012.
ASTM 91977. Concrete and Mineral Aggregates - Part 14. LNEC: Cimentos – Determinação da resistência mecânica
American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia – (Documentação normativa), 1979.
USA, 1977.
Macie, C.; Manhique, A.; Manjate, R. and Madivate, C.
Chi, M.-C. Effects of sugar cane bagasse ash as a cement Effect of the mineralogical composition of limestone on
replacement on properties of mortars. Science and the properties of mortars. Journal of Materials Science
Engineering of Composite Materials v. 19(3), p. 279- and Chemical Engineering v. 4, p. 16-24, 2016.
285, 2012. DOI:10.1515/secm-2012-0014 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/msce.2016.45003
Cordeiro, G.C.; Barroso, T.R. and Toledo Filho, R.D. Madandoust, R.; Ranjbar, M.M.; Moghadam, H.A. and
Enhancement the properties of sugar cane bagasse ash Mousavi, S.Y. Mechanical properties and durability
with high carbon content by a controlled re-calcination

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 6

 Scientific Journal of Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science 2 (1) (2018) xx-xx

assessment of rice husk ash concrete. Biosystems

Engineering v. 110, p. 144-152, 2011.
Maleiane, F.; Manhique, A.; Júnior, V. and Madivate, C.
Transformações Físico-químicas em massas vítreas
durante a fusão (Physico-chemical transformations
during melting of glass batches). Scientific Journal of
Mathematics, Natural and Applied Science v. 3(1), p.
35-40, 2019.
Mansaneira, E.C.; Schwantes-Cezario, N.; Barreto-
Sandoval, G.F. and Martins-Toralles, B. Sugar cane
bagasse ash as a pozzolanic material. DYNA, v.
84(201), p. 163-171, 2017.
NBR 9778: Argamassa e concreto endurecido –
Determinação da absorção de água por imersão –
Índice de vazios e massa específica, 1987.
NM NP EN 197-1: Métodos de ensaios de cimentos. Parte
1: Determinação da resistência mecânica, 2000.
NP EN 196-1: Métodos de ensaio de cimentos. Parte 1:
Determinação das resistências mecânicas, 2006.
Ribeiro, D.V. and Morelli, M.R. Effect of calcination
temperature on the pozzolanic activity of Brazilian
sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA). Materials Research v.
17(4), p. 974-981, 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-14392014005000093
Subedi, S.; Arce, G.; Hassan, M.; Kumar, N.; Barbato, M.
and Gutierrez-Wing, M.T. Influence of Production
methodology on the pozzolanic activity of sugar cane
bagasse ash. MATEC Web of Conferences v. 271, p.
07003, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201927107003
Torres Agredo, J.; Mejia de Gutiérrez, R.; Escandón
Giraldo, C.E. and González Salcedo, L.O.
Characterization of sugar cane bagasse ash as
supplementary material for Portland cement. Ingenieria
e Investigacion v. 34, p. 5-10, 2014.

Salimo, S; Marizane, K.; Manhique, A.; Madivate, C. 7