Statistical Analysis of the Chemical Composition of Concrete Slurry Waste: A Case Study of Sedimentation Tanks from Concrete Batching Plants in Manaus-Brazil

Abstract

Concrete slurry waste is a material removed from sedimentation tanks that receive water used to wash concrete mixer trucks and patios of concrete batching plants (CBP). The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical composition of this residue from three different producers, in three consecutive months and at different collection points using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence, investigate the inconstancy of content through analysis of variance, compare the qualitative and quantitative results with the literature and discuss the possibility of inserting the material in the proposal of different authors. Twenty-two oxides and elements were identified; among them, five showed their incidence in a punctual way. The analysis of variance showed that there are significant differences in the concentration of components between batching plants, months and collection points. The comparison with the literature showed that CaO, Al2O3 and SiO2 are the majority, both in the samples under study and in the samples from different authors. However, the average amounts of CaO are higher in the waste sludge from the concrete batching plants in question and, consequently, if this material were reused in the same proposals as the authors, the products would possibly present different characteristics and performance.