Effect of waste textile dye adsorbed almond shell on self compacting mortar

•Powder almond shell was produced and then Christal dye was absorbed as a textile waste.•Effect of christal violet dyed almond shell (VDSA) was investigated by substitution with cement.•Fresh, hardened and durability properties of self-compacting mortar incorporation with VDSA are considered.•Optimum VDSA content is determined between the 5.0% and 12.5% in terms of fresh and hardened state properties.•VDSA, as a textile industry waste, can be used in SCMs to prevent disposal accumulation. The aim of the current experimental study is to investigate the effect of waste textile dye absorbed almond shell on fresh and mechanical characteristics of self-compacting mortar (SCMs). In this context, eight SCMs were designed by substituting Violet Dye Solution adsorbed Almond shell (VDSA) at the rate of 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0%, 12.5%, 15.0% and 17.5% as a cement on weight basis including the control mix. To measure the rheological properties of SCMs, mini slump and V-Funnel tests were conducted. A total of 72 beams of 40x40x160 mm3 dimension specimens were casted and immersed in water curing at the end of the 7, 28 and 56 days to determine the mechanical parameters. 48 cubes of 50x50x50 mm3 dimensions were casted and kept in the curing tank to determine durability characteristics such as porosity, sorptivity and specific gravity. Quantitative analyses are also performed by using Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The experimental results indicated that as the content of VDSA enchases, a remarkable enhancement in flexural strength at early days age and 28 days age strength. Whereas, increasing the content of VDSA resulted in a considerable decrease in compressive strength higher than 5%.