The impact of catalyst waste on physical and mechanical properties of cement materials

Abstract

This paper presents a research on viability of using a waste catalyst (FCCCw) generated in Lithuanian oil-refinery as a pozzolanic cement surrogate in cement-based materials. One prepared mortars and concretes with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25% (by mass) of cement replacement with FCCCw. The pozzolanic activity was assessed both using a direct method (Chapelle test) and an indirect method i.e, computing the Index Activity and assuming, as reference, the requirement laid down in the EN 450-1. Physical and mechanical hardened state properties - density, mechanical strength and ultrasound pulse velocity - of the mortars and concretes were determined. Results reveal that FCCCw presents pozzolanic activity. The mortar and concrete with 10% of cement replacement with FCCCw present improved properties than those with plain cement binders. The use of FCCCw until 25% as cement surrogate do not affect negatively the quality class of the concretes. The concretes microstructures were imaging using SEM/ES mode.