Effect of calcination temperature on the pozzolanic activity of sugar cane bagasse ash

This work presents the results of the processing of sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) under controlled calcination conditions in order to obtain materials with optimum pozzolanic activity. Bagasse samples were burnt in an aired electric oven with a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min, at 350 degrees C for 3 h, and at different temperatures ranging from 400 to 800 degrees C for another 3 h. For all calcination temperatures the pozzolanic activity, structural state of silica and loss on ignition of the ashes were determined. Moreover, the SCBA with greater pozzolanicity was characterized by using chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, density, specific surface area and chemical reactivity. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.