Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage

Given the current problem of CO2 emissions and the overexploitation of natural resources, it is essential to make a change in the materials typically used for concrete manufacturing. The aim of this research is to establish the scientific basis for the manufacture of concrete with sustainable materi...

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Main Authors: M. Rosales, J. Rosales, S. Moreno, F. Agrela, J.L. Díaz-López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Case Studies in Construction Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005832
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author M. Rosales
J. Rosales
S. Moreno
F. Agrela
J.L. Díaz-López
author_facet M. Rosales
J. Rosales
S. Moreno
F. Agrela
J.L. Díaz-López
author_sort M. Rosales
collection DOAJ
description Given the current problem of CO2 emissions and the overexploitation of natural resources, it is essential to make a change in the materials typically used for concrete manufacturing. The aim of this research is to establish the scientific basis for the manufacture of concrete with sustainable materials, achieving strengths and durability results comparable to conventional concrete. Alternative materials include biomass bottom ash (BBA) and mixed recycled aggregate (MRA), which replace both aggregate in different percentages and cement. Eleven concrete mixes with different degrees of substitution were manufactured, dividing to set into two series. Series 1 included CEM II/A-L 42.5 concrete mixes with different proportions of both natural aggregates and recycled aggregates. Series 2, which included cement and aggregate substitutions, compared with a CEM II/B-L 32.5 control mix, as the substitution of cement by recycled powders is 25 %. Physico-chemical characterisation, mineralogy and leaching studies were carried out to determine the suitability of the materials to be included in the cementitious matrices. For the technical evaluation of the manufactured concrete mixtures, mechanical strength studies (compression, flexural, indirect tensile and modulus of elasticity), durability studies (density, water absorption, porosity, dimensional changes, freeze/thawing) and microstructure studies (ITZ and SEM maps) were carried out. The mixes containing the Eco-Hybrid alternative cement (EcHy), composed of 75 % clinker, 19 % MRA powder (pMRA) and 6 % BBA powder (pBBA), achieved strengths results of 97 % at 28 days of the control mix with CEM II/B-L and natural aggregate and, at 90 days, the mechanical strength of the alternative concrete containing the EcHy cement exceeded the strength of the conventional concrete mix. The replacement of natural aggregate by recycled by-products also showed good results with respect to mechanical strength. Substitutions of 50 % natural aggregate achieved strength results of 86 % of the strength of the control concrete mix. In the long term (strengths measured at 360 days) the mixes that included BBA in both cement and aggregate substitution showed a considerable increase in mechanical performance, increasing their strength at 360 days by between 20 % and 25 % of the strength achieved at 28 days.
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spelling doaj-art-700d9826725a4a19a28ff6a0cff311ea2025-08-20T03:21:51ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-07-0122e0478510.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04785Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentageM. Rosales0J. Rosales1S. Moreno2F. Agrela3J.L. Díaz-López4Area of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, SpainArea of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, SpainArea of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, SpainCorresponding author.; Area of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, SpainArea of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, SpainGiven the current problem of CO2 emissions and the overexploitation of natural resources, it is essential to make a change in the materials typically used for concrete manufacturing. The aim of this research is to establish the scientific basis for the manufacture of concrete with sustainable materials, achieving strengths and durability results comparable to conventional concrete. Alternative materials include biomass bottom ash (BBA) and mixed recycled aggregate (MRA), which replace both aggregate in different percentages and cement. Eleven concrete mixes with different degrees of substitution were manufactured, dividing to set into two series. Series 1 included CEM II/A-L 42.5 concrete mixes with different proportions of both natural aggregates and recycled aggregates. Series 2, which included cement and aggregate substitutions, compared with a CEM II/B-L 32.5 control mix, as the substitution of cement by recycled powders is 25 %. Physico-chemical characterisation, mineralogy and leaching studies were carried out to determine the suitability of the materials to be included in the cementitious matrices. For the technical evaluation of the manufactured concrete mixtures, mechanical strength studies (compression, flexural, indirect tensile and modulus of elasticity), durability studies (density, water absorption, porosity, dimensional changes, freeze/thawing) and microstructure studies (ITZ and SEM maps) were carried out. The mixes containing the Eco-Hybrid alternative cement (EcHy), composed of 75 % clinker, 19 % MRA powder (pMRA) and 6 % BBA powder (pBBA), achieved strengths results of 97 % at 28 days of the control mix with CEM II/B-L and natural aggregate and, at 90 days, the mechanical strength of the alternative concrete containing the EcHy cement exceeded the strength of the conventional concrete mix. The replacement of natural aggregate by recycled by-products also showed good results with respect to mechanical strength. Substitutions of 50 % natural aggregate achieved strength results of 86 % of the strength of the control concrete mix. In the long term (strengths measured at 360 days) the mixes that included BBA in both cement and aggregate substitution showed a considerable increase in mechanical performance, increasing their strength at 360 days by between 20 % and 25 % of the strength achieved at 28 days.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005832Sustainable concreteOlive Biomass Bottom AshConstruction and Demolition WasteMixed recycled aggregatesCement substitutionAggregates substitution
spellingShingle M. Rosales
J. Rosales
S. Moreno
F. Agrela
J.L. Díaz-López
Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Sustainable concrete
Olive Biomass Bottom Ash
Construction and Demolition Waste
Mixed recycled aggregates
Cement substitution
Aggregates substitution
title Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
title_full Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
title_fullStr Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
title_short Sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash, replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
title_sort sustainable concrete manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass bottom ash replacing aggregate and cement to a high percentage
topic Sustainable concrete
Olive Biomass Bottom Ash
Construction and Demolition Waste
Mixed recycled aggregates
Cement substitution
Aggregates substitution
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005832
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