Preliminary Assessment of Utilization of Al-Jaif Scoria (NW Sana’a, Yemen) for Cement Production

Abstract

This paper presents the results of investigations on the potential industrial utilization of scoria, collected from Al-Jaif quarry, NW Sana'a, Yemen as a cement additive. Scoria was chosen as a cement additive material due to its availability and low cost from the Sana’a-Amran volcanic field in Yemen. The chemical composition of scoria was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The studied scoria is mainly composed of volcanic glass with a few zeolites (e.g. clinoptilolite) as revealed from petrographic investigation and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The scoria was added to the clinker in the range of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12% by weight. The fineness, surface area, water demand, setting time and compressive strength were conducted on scoria blended cement. According to experimental results, the high volcanic glass allows the addition of up to 12% scoria to the clinker to maintain a good potential of manufacturing blended cement. The results satisfy the European Standard EN requirements and confirm the viability of using scoria as a cement additive.

Potential Use of Scoria as a Cementitious Material for Green Concrete Production

“…According to Celik et al [7], the use of 30% natural pozzolans, 15% limestone, and 55% OPC mix produces a low-cost and ecofriendly concrete that does not bear calcining of natural pozzolans or limestone with OPC and would reduce CO 2 emissions 48% compared with the 100% OPC control mix while providing higher ultimate strength and resistance to chloride penetration. Scoria can be used up to 12% as a partial substitute for Portland cement in the production of blended cement; this additional ratio could provide economic and environmental benefts due to reduced clinker consumption and lowered CO 2 emissions from cement production [8]. In all, the incorporation of natural pozzolanic material in concrete has insignifcant efects on the properties of fresh concrete, namely initial slump, setting times, and slump loss [9].…”

“…Te use of binders containing volcanic scoria and other pozzolans as cement substitutes can lead to the efective use of natural resources, saving energy consumption, and reduction in CO 2 emissions [8,26,27]. So, to reduce environmental pollution, high amount of energy consumption, raw material consumption during the production of cement, and to reduce the incremental cost of cement, natural volcanic scoria would be a good alternative material as a partial replacement for cement [17].…”