Mortar with Opuntia Ficus-Indica Mucilage Additions Exposed to CO2-Laden Environment

Mortar cubes containing different addition levels (0, 1.5, 4, 8, 42, and 95%, by water mass replacement concentration) of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) mucilage were exposed for a 14-year (5110-day) period in a natural CO2-laden environment. Physical characterization tests were performed on the mortar cubes, such as saturated electrical resistivity (rho(S)), percent total void content (%TV), water capillary absorption (epsilon(EFF)), and compressive strength (f(c)). Changes in pH due to carbonation were also determined, and carbonation rates (K-CO2) were recorded. Findings suggest that the addition of OFI mucilage concentrations between 4 and 8% (by water mass replacement) may be suitable for durability-enhancing applications in cement-based mortar exposed to carbonation-induced environments.