EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON CEMENT MORTAR WITH ILMENITE TAILINGS AND CEMENT KILN DUST

Abstract

Beneficial use of industrial by product has the potential to provide economic benefit such as preservation of natural resources, and avoid negative environmental impact associated with the acquisition and processing of raw materials. Cement and ilmenite manufacturing is critically important industry in Nigeria and all over the world. As with most large manufacturing industries, by-products material are generated. These industrial by-product and waste materials must be managed responsibly to insure a clean and safe environment. The effect of the utilization of cement kiln dust (CKD) and ilmenite tailings on the compressive strength of mortar were investigated. Series of mortars were prepared with ilmenite tailings at different level of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% to river sand. Conversely, ordinary Portland cement was replaced with CKD at 10%, 15% and 20%. A sample specimens of 50 mm x 50mm x 50 mm mortar cubes were prepared with 0.45 w/c ratio and tested at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of curing. Laboratory investigations were conducted to evaluate the physical properties in terms of sieve analysis, specific gravity, water absorption, moisture content and setting time of the raw materials. Compressive strength of various mortar cubes were examined and evaluated. The results show that the setting time (initial and final) decrease with increased in percentage of CKD. The compressive strength increases slightly with increasing CKD. The result also showed that there is increased in compressive strength of mortar with the replacement of river sand with ilmenite tailings up to 100% at all the curing period. Considering the test results, CKD can be used up to 20% in replacing ordinary Portland cement and 100% ilmenite tailings in the production of mortar with excellent compressive strength that are above the 17.2 MPa for Type M mortar of ASTM C270 -14a (2014) Standard.