Alumina sludge's Influence on the physicochemical characteristics of CPJ 55 cement

Partial replacement of the Portland cement CPJ55 ingredients by various quantities of alumina sludge (AS), produced during drinking water plant sludge, was used in the preparation of mortar mold with dimensions 40×40×160 mm. The characterization of materials is carried out by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Xray diffraction (XRD), free lime dosing, and the mechanical tests. Analysis of the chemical composition by XRF shows that the studied alumina sludge is mainly composed of aluminum oxide, silica, which is correlated with the principal mineral phases identified in the XRD analysis results. It is demonstrated that adding 5% of the alumina sludge in Portland cement does not affect the mineralogy of final product. Nevertheless, the compression and flexural strength tests (in 28 days) conducted on mortar sample comprising 5% sludge elucidate that it belongs to cement mortar class of type 32.5 R.