The Effect of the Calcination Temperature on the Physical, Chemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) for Use As Pozzolan

Statement of Novelty: This study analyzes the influence of the washing process and the calcination temperature on the morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of SCBA. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA). The ashes were obtained by calcination of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), a waste product generated by the sugar and alcohol industry, at temperatures of 500°C, 600° C and 700°C, and the influence of this calcination on the pozzolanic activity of SCBA. The techniques used to characterize these ashes include helium gas picnometry, sedigraphy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The evaluation of the pozzolanicity of these ashes was carried according to chemical titration method as proposed by Fratini, modified Chapelle method and finally using the pozzolanic activity index (PAI) with cement. The results showed that the SCBA presented high pozzolanicity, regardless of the calcination temperature.