In the context of world concern with the environment, this study aims to characterize an auto-combustion produced bamboo leaf ash (BLA) by its pozzolanic behaviour, reactivity and its influence in the total porosity, pore size distribution, tortuosity and mechanical behaviour of cementitious matrices. The chemical and physical characterization of the BLA was carried using X-ray fluorescence, determination of amorphous silica content, X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR), laser granulometry and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The assessed BLA is a siliceous material (74.23%) with an amorphous nature due to the amorphous silica content, which represents 92.33% of the total silica. The BLA was classified as highly reactive by assessing its pH and conductivity in a saturated calcium hydroxide (CH) medium for different proportions and temperatures. Frattini analysis, the study of CH:BLA pastes (Thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR) and Portland cement (OPC) /pozzolan pastes (Thermogravimetric analysis and FESEM) are in agreement with this classification. The replacement of OPC by BLA improved the mechanical behaviour of the cementitious matrices, as well their durability. All the mortars containing BLA presented very similar compressive strength to a control mortar (100% OPC) after only 3 days of curing and at the following tested curing ages: 7, 28 and 90 days. In the mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis, the pastes with 20 and 30% BLA content presented higher tortuosity or fewer connected pores than the control paste. Thus, the auto-combustion method proved to be successful and BLA is a suitable alternative for sustainable highperformance matrices.

A cura térmica é um processo utilizado para acelerar as reações de hidratação do cimento Portland, em argamassas e em concretos, com objetivo de se obter ganhos de resistência mecânica nas primeiras idades, uma vez que a velocidade das reações químicas de hidratação aumenta com o aumento da temperatura. Nesse sentido, é importante estudar o comportamento de concretos que possuem adições minerais em sua composição. Dentre as adições mais estudadas na composição do concreto encontra-se a Cinza de Casca de Arroz (CCA). Além de ser uma forma de destinar adequadamente este resíduo, e, consequentemente, reduzir os impactos ambientais, tem como principal vantagem os ganhos de resistência, mesmo quando se diminui a quantidade de cimento na mistura. Este trabalho apresenta resultados experimentais de resistência à compressão axial, de resistência à tração por compressão diametral e do módulo de elasticidade para concretos elaborados com CCA, incorporada à mistura em dosagens de 5% e 10% (em massa), em substituição ao cimento. A CCA foi produzida por meio da queima não controlada da casca do arroz. Os traços de concreto foram definidos a partir de uma avaliação das propriedades mecânicas de corpos de prova de argamassa com e sem adição de CCA, tendo sido adotados os que apresentaram as maiores resistências. O processo de cura térmica a vapor dos concretos foi desenvolvido em ciclos de 6 horas, a uma temperatura constante de 80°C. Os resultados mostram um ganho de resistência das amostras com a adição de CCA.Palavras-chave: cimento Portland, concreto, cura térmica, resistência mecânica, cinza de casca de arroz. ABSTRACTThe thermal curing is a process used to accelerate the hydration reactions of the Portland cement in mortar and concrete elements, in order to achieve gains in mechanical strength at early ages, since the temperature acts on the degree of these reactions. On this way, it is important to assess the mechanical behavior of concretes with mineral additions. The rice husk ash (RHA) is a residue that lies among the most studied additions in the concrete composition. The reuse of RHA besides reduce the environmental problems, can cause an increment on the mechanical strength of mortars and concrete, even when is used in partial substitution of Portland cement. This paper presents experimental results of the compressive strength, of the tensile strength (obtained by the split test), and of the modulus of elasticity for concrete prepared with RHA, incorporated into the mixture at dosages of 5% and 10% (by mass), in substitution of the cement. The RHA was produced through the uncontrolled burning of rice husk. The concrete mixtures were defined from an evaluation of the mechanical properties of specimens that were made with and without the addition of RHA. The process of thermal steam curing of the concrete was developed in cycles of 6 hours, at a constant temperature of 80° C. The results showed higher strengths for specimens that were made with the addition of RHA.

Portland cement (OPC) production is one of the most contaminating greenhouse gas producing activities. In order to reduce OPC consumption, several alternatives are being assessed, and the use of pozzolanic material is one of them. This paper presents study on the reactivity of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), a residue from sugarcane industry, as a pozzolanic material. In order to evaluate SCBA reactivity, it was mixed in pastes with hydrated lime and OPC, which were microstructurally characterised. These studies showed that SCBA presents some pozzolanic characteristics. Studies on mortars in which OPC was replaced by SCBA in the range 10-30% were also carried out. Replacement in the range 15-20% yielded the best behaviour in terms of compressive strength. Finally, it can be concluded this ash could be valorised despite its relative low pozzolanic reactivity. RESUMEN: Valorización de la ceniza de bagazo de azúcar (SCBA) con alto contenido de cuarzo como material puzolánico en mezclas de cementoPortland. La producción de cemento Portland (OPC) presenta una elevada emisión de CO 2 . Con el objeto de reducir el consumo de OPC, se están evaluando algunas alternativas, y el uso de materiales puzolánicos es una de ellas. En este trabajo se presenta el estudio de la reactividad de la ceniza de bagazo de caña de azúcar (SCBA) como material puzolánico, un residuo procedente de la industria de la caña de azúcar. Al objeto de evaluar la reactividad de SCBA, se realizaron pastas con cal hidratada y con OPC, las cuales fueron caracterizadas microestructuralmente. Estos estudios mostraron que SCBA presenta una cierta característica puzolánica. Se llevaron a cabo estudios en morteros en los que OPC se sustituyó por SCBA en el intervalo de 10-30%. La sustitución en el intervalo 15-20% produjo el mejor comportamiento en términos de resistencia a compresión. Finalmente, se puede concluir que esta ceniza puede ser valorizada a pesar de su baja reactividad puzolánica.

Steam curing is a process used to accelerate cement hydration reactions with the purpose of enhancing the mechanical strength of concrete at early ages, since hydration reactions are temperature dependent. To evaluate the influence of temperature on the development of mechanical properties of concrete the maturity concept was used. This method estimates the development of these properties according to the temperature history of concrete along the curing process. The temperature influence is indicated through the apparent activation energy (AE) value. The higher the AE value, the higher the energy amount will be necessary to start reactions, and thus the velocity of these reactions will be affected by temperature. This work is based on an experimental study of steam-cured concrete made with 5% and 10% of rice husk ash (RHA) addition in which the development of some mechanical properties was investigated. The rice husk ash used was obtained from uncontrolled combustion of rice husk, in an open chamber, without any temperature control or burning time. The mechanical property investigated was the compressive strength. Results indicate the influence of RHA addition and its dosage on the hydration reactions of cement and the mechanical properties of steam-cured concretes.

Environmental risks and vulnerabilities in coastal regions include the massive deposits of brown algae of the genus Sargassum in regions such as the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and northern Brazil. Efforts have been made to turn this problem into an opportunity by seeking new uses for this biomass in the sectors of food, agriculture, health, biofuels, bioremediation, and civil construction. Thus, this study aimed to produce quantitative data for different end-of-life scenarios of the Sargassum algae, seeking for potential applications of this macroalgae in the civil construction sector. For this purpose, we conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) study of the Sargassum algae, in its natural destination, and evaluated its potential impact. This evaluation was then compared to the possible impacts of alternatives to their end of life, such as landfill disposal, drying and grinding to use as fibers or particles, burning the biomass to generate energy and fly ash, using a consequential LCA and the indicators of the ReCiPe 2016 method. For each of the proposed scenarios, the functional unit of 1 kg of the three types of unprocessed Sargassum algae that are found in the Brazilian deposits (natans I, natans VIII, and fluitans) was considered separately, and also for a composition that is closer to that found in the Brazilian deposits (50% fluitans, 15% natans I, and 35% natans VIII). The results for both natural decomposition scenarios demonstrated a dominant contribution to the categories of impact for climate change, marine eutrophication, and land use, thus justifying the search for new initiatives for the use of the algae. The burning process showed a significant contribution to most of the indicators, with emphasis on the massive generation of particulate, inherent to the biomass burning process; however, it showed a reduction in the magnitude of climate change emissions from around 47% to less than 2%. Finally, the proposed scenario of processing Sargassum biomass to obtain particles presented prevalence of magnitude for potential impact in most of the proposed indicators, due to the processes with high electricity consumption, but keeping climate change emissions’ relative reduction from 47% to 6%. Thus, new studies may further investigate the potential of application of these materials in different products and components of civil construction.

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