Chemical activation of bagasse ash in cement mortar

The production of a large quantity of bagasse ash from sugar mills has become an environmental problem, but its use in cement mortar has provided a satisfactory solution to problems associated with waste management. In the present study, the effect of bagasse ash as a pozzolanic material on the partial replacement of cement and its activation by a chemical method using CaCl2 center dot H2O was studied. The use of calcium chloride increased the strength of the cement very significantly. Equilibrium water extraction indicated that the addition of CaCl2 center dot H2O decreased the evaporable moisture and the pH of the extract from hardened cement paste, which is an indication of enhanced pozzolanic reaction between the lime and bagasse ash. The optimum bagasse ash replacement for cement was found to be 10% without activator and 20% with 4% CaCl2 center dot H2O. The results from both the strength and water extraction suggest that CaCl2 center dot H2O is a good chemical activator.