RECYCLING PAPER MILL SLUDGE AS REPLACEMENT FOR SAND AGGREGATES IN CEMENT MORTAR
AUBREY MAY ABANILLA LEANO
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BANOS
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR IN PULP AND PAPER TECHNOLOGY
OCTOBER 2009
ABSTRACT
LEANO, AUBREY MAY ABANILLA. University of the Philippines Los Baños.
October 2009. Recycling Paper Mill Sludge as Replacement for Sand Aggregates in Cement Mortar
Paper mill sludge was oven dried and grinded to partially replace sand aggregates in cement mortars. Five samples of different sludge proportions were done: 0, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%. Daracem and calcium chloride were added to evenly distribute mortar components and accelerate curing time. Mortars for compression test were molded in a 101.6-mm by 203.2-mm PVC pipe while mortars for dimensional stability test, water absorption and thickness swelling, were molded in 50.8-mm by 50.8-mm by 50.8-mm wire-held wood sticks. The mortars were observed to have decreasing density with increasing sludge content. Test for compressive strength showed maximum load applied decreased with increasing sludge content. As a result, compressive strength decreased as sludge content increased. On the other hand, water absorption of the mortars increased with increasing sludge content. Although 0, 5%, and 10% mortar did not exhibit thickness swelling, 20% and 40% manifested an increase in thickness swelling. Statistical analysis showed that sludge content has significant effect on the compressive strength and dimensional stability of the mortars. Results suggest that: 5% sludge proportion could be used in general purpose mortar mix; 10% sludge proportion may be incorporated in above grade, non-load bearing interior and exterior applications; and 20%
sludge proportions may be used for historic preservations only.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
List of Appendices viii
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x
I. Introduction 1
A. Objectives of the Study 3
B. Date and Place of the Study 3
C. Scope and Limitations 4
II. Review of Literature 5
A. Cement Mortar 5
B. Sludge 9
C. Cement-Sludge Development 11
III. Methodology 14
A. Materials 14
B. Methods 17
1. Mixing 17
2. Molding 18
3. Curing 21
4. Testing 22
IV. Results and Discussion 25
A. Compressive Strength 25
B. Dimensional Stability 28
V. Summary and Conclusion 34
VI. Recommendations 36
Literature Cited 37
Appendices 40
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix Title Page
A Test Methods 40
A.1 Sample Preparation 41
A.2 Thickness Swelling and Water Absorption 42
B Raw Data 43
B.1 Properties and compressive strength of individual sample 44
B.2 Water absorption per sample 45
B.3 Thickness swelling per sample 46
C Statistical Analysis 47
C.1 Descriptive analysis using one-way ANOVA for
compressive strength 48
C.2 Tukey’s B HSD analysis for significant mean difference in
compressive strength. 48
C.3 Descriptive analysis using one-way ANOVA for water
absorption 49
C.4 Tukey’s B HSD analysis for significant mean difference in
water absorption 49
C.5 Descriptive analysis using one-way ANOVA for thickness
swelling 50
C.6 Tukey’s B HSD analysis for significant mean difference in
water absorption. 50
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page
1 Ratio of the different components of the cement mortar 16 2 Mass prepared for different cement-sand-sludge proportions 16 3 Average mass, density, and maximum load applied of the
cement mortars of four replicates
25 4 Average compressive strength of cement mortars 26 5 One-way ANOVA analysis on compressive strength of cement
mortars.
27
6 Change in mass of cement mortars after soaked in water for 24 hours
29
7 Average water absorption of cement mortars 29
8 One-way ANOVA Analysis of water absorption of cement mortars
31 9 Change in thickness of cement mortars after soaked in water
for 24 hours
31
10 Average thickness swelling of cement mortars 32
11 One-way ANOVA Analysis on thickness swelling of cement mortars
33
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Title Page
1 Pulp and paper mill sludge, 500x magnification 10
2 Compressive strength of concrete mixtures 12
3 Type I Portland Cement 14
4 White sand 15
5 Oven-dried paper mill sludge 15
6 Before and after appearance of concrete mixture 18
7 Molding of cement mortar cylinder blocks 19
8 Molding of cement mortar cubic blocks 20
9 Curing of samples 21
10 Weighing of cylinder blocks 22
11 Testing of mortar cylindrical blocks 23
12 Testing of cement mortar cubic blocks 24
13 Effect of sludge in the compressive strength of cement mortars
27
14 Effect of sludge on the water absorption of cement mortars 30 15 Effect of sludge on the thickness swelling of cement mortars 32
