Tentative Optimum Proportion of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Blended Cement to Perform Better under Tannery Wastewater

Abstract

The present research studies the compressive strength of cement mortar cubes prepared from different proportions of supplementary cementitious materials (Fly Ash and Slag) in blended cement. This research aims to find the tentative optimum composition of supplementary cementitious material that shows better performance under tannery wastewater condition, such as that in effluent treatment plants. Synthetic tannery wastewater was simulated in laboratory after collecting wastewater sample from local tannery industry. Eight types of cement compositions (varying supplementary materials proportions) have been chosen. Compressive strength test has been conducted on mortar cubes over a period of three months. Test results revealed that slag addition had shown significantly stronger effects than that of fly ash addition. Also, the combined effect of fly ash and slag and their order of variation on strength were studied. The observations made from this research will be helpful for selection of blended cement proportions in future structures exposed to similar severe conditions.