EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF OMO-KURAZ SUGAR FACTORY BAGASSE ASH AS A SUSTAINABLE PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT IN CONCRETE FOR THE ETHIOPIAN CONSTRUCTIONS

This paper presents the recycling of sugar cane bagasse ash from the Omo-Kuraz sugar factory in Ethiopia as a cement replacement in concrete that offers a suitable solution to environmental issues related to waste disposal management and the emission of greenhouse gases. The influence of bagasse ash as a cementing material in concrete was examined by performing several strength and durability experiments. From a strength perspective, compressive and splitting tensile strength were tested. As part of durability properties, carbonation and chloride penetrability of bagasse ash concrete was studied. Bagasse ash-based concrete mixes were produced with different cement replacements (10% - 40%) and were tested at different curing periods. As per the strength and durability test results, bagasse ash can be utilized as a cementing material in concrete with 10% cement replacement as the optimum quantity. The durability test results revealed bagasse ash doesn’t have adverse effects from carbonation and chloride penetrability perspective on concrete. This indicates that the Ethiopian construction industry can consider bagasse ash as nonconventional cementing material. Keywords: Bagasse ash, Compressive strength, Sorptivity, Tensile strength, Workability