Comparative study of the properties of mortar incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash and natural pozzolan
Fatima BOUKABOUS, Jalal IKEN, Omar DADAH, Khalil NACIRI, Issam AALIL, Ali CHAABA
Abstract The cement industry is facing numerous environmental and energy-related challenges. Its fabrication requires a significant amount of energy and causes various environmental impacts, including high consumption of natural resources, the release of dust and certain pollutants, as well as significant greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly 50% of global CO₂ emissions are attributed to cement plants, and approximately 900 kg of CO₂ are released per ton of cement generated. While a complete replacement of cement is difficult, partial substitution is possible through Utilizing pozzolanic substances. These materials can improve resistance and durability of mortar. The purpose of this study is to valorize two pozzolanic materials: sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and natural pozzolan (PN). The research involves comparing the structural and physical properties of mortars formulated with these two materials. Mortars were prepared with cement replacement rates of 0% and 10% for each material. The results showed that variations in physical properties remained small. The formulation with 10% SCBA provided the best overall balance: it combined high density, good ultrasonic pulse velocity, satisfactory compressive strength, and only a minor reduction in strength in flexion when compared to the control formula. Meanwhile, the inclusion of 10% PN improved mortar porosity, ultrasonic velocity, and compressive strength, although its effect on flexural strength was less significant. This study demonstrates that using pozzolanic materials such as bagasse ash and natural pozzolan can reduce cement consumption while maintaining good mortar performance, thereby contributing to more sustainable and environmentally friendly construction practices.
Keywords
Pozzolanic Materials, Sugarcane Bagasse Ash, Natural Pozzolan, Mortar, Cement Replacement, Porosity, Compressive Strength
Published online 1/10/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Fatima BOUKABOUS, Jalal IKEN, Omar DADAH, Khalil NACIRI, Issam AALIL, Ali CHAABA, Comparative study of the properties of mortar incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash and natural pozzolan, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 58, pp 78-85, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903933-11
The article was published as article 11 of the book Emerging Research in Materials for Environment, and Civil Infrastructure
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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