Experimental study to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide from cement plants: a case study on Asiabar local mineral pozzolan

Abstract

This study aims to optimize the local mineral pozzolan (Asiabar) weight fraction in concrete mixture. Four concrete mixtures by replacing the cement with 5, 10, 15, and 20% of pozzolan by weight were considered. The compressive, X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests have been used to examine the mechanical properties, microstructural analysis, and morphology of proposed concrete mixtures to evaluate the impact of using local mineral pozzolan. According to the results, the best replacement ratio of this pozzolan in the concrete is equal to 15% by weight of the cement, which enhances the strength by 24% compared to the ordinary cement concrete. The chemical reaction of pozzolan in the concrete binder reduced the content of portlandite and calcite. This pozzolan also decreased the number of pores and enhanced the integrity of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in the concrete compared to ordinary (Portland) cement concrete. Also, this pozzolan emits less CO₂, 15.20 kg/m³, than ordinary cement concrete. Due to the effects of this pozzolan in Structural strengthening and reducing cement consumption in concrete, the study may introduce Asiabar mineral pozzolan as an environmentally friendly cement replacing agent with the potential to enhance the strength of concrete.

Keywords:

• Local mineral pozzolan
• pozzolanic concrete
• compressive strength test
• XRD
• SEM
• CO₂ footprint

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Reza Mahjoub], upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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