Advances on the development of ternary cements elaborated with biomass ashes coming from different activation process

Due to economical and sustainable issues there is growing interest in investigating agro-industrial wastes as alternative route for future eco-efficient and sustainable pozzolans. The generation of ashes from cogeneration processes in which sugar cane wastes are used as biomass, involves significant environmental, social and health problems when they are accumulated in dumps. This paper explores the scientific and technical aspects of two Brazilian sugar cane ashes from different processes of production: one from an industrial cogeneration process and another from laboratory scale, maintaining the same proportions of mixture (50% mixture of bagasse and leaf). Subsequently, their behavior in ordinary Portland cement matrices made with 20% ashes substitution was analyzed. The results show that the industrial ashes presented variations on the chemical and mineralogical compositions, pozzolanic reaction rate and different formation of hydrated phases with respect to the laboratory ashes. The 20% blended cements complied with the chemical, physical and mechanical requirements set out in the existing Standards, maintaining the mechanical performance with respect to the control mortar at 60 days of curing.