Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 300-305  
J. Environ. Treat. Tech.  
ISSN: 2309-1185  
Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com  
Experimental Studies of Strength and Cost  
Analysis of Mortar Using Bagasse Waste  
Obtained from Sugarcane Factory of Bangladesh  
Shaikh Mohammad Shamim Reza*  
University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka Bangladesh  
Received: 09/02/2019  
Accepted: 12/06/2019  
Published: 30/09/2019  
Abstract  
Sugarcane bagasse is an available waste material in Bangladesh which is a by-product of sugar factories. Proper uses of  
bagasse ash in cement mortar may give the optimum solution for environmental issues. Whereas the construction industry is  
rapidly expanding in Bangladesh, so the country needs a large amount of cement. In this study Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA)  
was used to replace some part of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Portland Composite Cement (PCC) in the mortar.  
Bagasse sample was collected from Natore sugar mill. After collection, bagasse was dried in sun for a week and then it burned in  
at 800°C to 1000°C temperature for 20 minutes. OPC and PCC was replaced by SCBA at different percentage ratios at 0%, 5%,  
7
.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5% and 30%. The compressive strengths of different mortar with SCBA  
addition were also investigated. Strength was tested for 3, 7 and 28 days. The test results indicated that up to 30% replacement of  
OPC by Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) in mortar satisfied the BNBC (2006) code. On the other hand, up to 27.5% replacement  
of PCC by SCBA in the mortar was satisfied by code. Cost analysis showed the economic advantages of using SCBA. For OPC-  
SCBA mortar the cost was reduced over 20%. On the other hand, the cost was reduced by almost 20% for PCC-SCBA mortar.  
Use of SCBA can also reduce the waste disposal problems of the sugarcane industries.  
Keywords: Industrial Waste, Sugarcane Bagasse, Ash, Cement Mortar, Pozzolanic material, Cement replacement, Sustainable,  
Compressive strength, Cost effective  
1
sugar mills (Habibullah et.al, 2014). Most of them are  
dumped into environment. As a result, it pollutes the  
environment because of disposal problem.  
But sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) can be used in  
mortar as supplementary cementing materials due to its  
pozzolanic reactivity (Cordeiro et al., 2004). Proper  
utilization of this sugarcane bagasse can solve  
environmental pollution and production of cost-effective  
concrete. It can also take part in the production of  
sustainable concrete.  
1
Introduction  
According to a study, over 5% of global CO emissions  
2
occurs during Portland cement production (Worrell et. al,  
001). About 1.25 ton of CO2 release into atmosphere  
during the production of 1 ton of cement (Griffin, 1987).  
Being developing country demand for cement is  
increasing day by day in Bangladesh for its ongoing  
infrastructure developments such as tall buildings, bridges,  
offshore structures, dams, monuments, fly way over, metro  
rail, elevated express way etc. Whereas the most of  
structures are made by concrete, a large amount of cement  
is needed for the country which is very alarming for the  
environment.  
On the other hand, sugarcane bagasse is treated as a  
waste in Bangladesh. A study says, in Bangladesh the  
annual production of sugarcane is about 7.5 million tons  
Mahamud et.al, 2012). Bangladesh now produces 800,000  
tons of bagasse per year. Some of them are used as fuel in  
2
a
2
Materials and Method  
2
.1 Background information  
The study was conducted to investigate compressive  
strength using Bagasse Ash to replace some part of OPC  
and PCC cement in mortar. A cost analysis was also  
conducted to find the cost effectiveness.  
(
2
.2 Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA)  
Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) has the pozzolanic  
Corresponding author: Shaikh Mohammad Shamim  
Reza, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka Bangladesh. E-  
mail: engr.shamim.ce@gmail.com.  
reactivity. So, it can be used as supplementary cementing  
material in mortar. SCBA produced by burning sugarcane  
bagasse at 800°C to 1000°C temperature for 20 minutes  
300  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 300-305  
(
7
Villar et.al, 2008). It contains 58.61% to 59.55% SiO2,  
2.7 Specimen preparation and testing  
In mortar specimen, the SCBA was used as a  
.32% to 7.55% Al O and 9.45% to 9.83% Fe O (Villar  
2
3
2
3
et.al, 2008). It meets the requirement of ASTM C618-17a  
which indicate to have 70% minimum for pozzolanas.  
replacement of OPC and PCC by 0%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%,  
12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5% and 30%.  
Mortar was tested for compressive strength. According to  
ASTM C109, compressive strength of the hydraulic cement  
mortars is determined by using 2 inch or 50 mm cube  
specimens. The mix design used for making concrete was  
according to BNBC (2006), which is given in Table 1. It is  
to be noted here that no admixture was used in this study.  
For mortar specimen 3, 7 and 28 days strengths were tested.  
2
.3 Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)  
The type of this cement is CEM-I. Which contains 95-  
1
00% Clinker and 0-5% Gypsum. Its standard meets BDS  
EN 197-1:2003 Comply to ASTM C 150.  
2
.4 Portland Composite Cement (PCC)  
The type of this cement is CEM-II/B. Which contains  
2-79% of Clinker, 21-28% of Blast Furnace Slag and  
7
Table 1: Concrete mix proportion  
Limestone and 0-5% of Gypsum. Its standard meets BDS  
Grade of  
Mortar  
M2  
Fine  
aggregate  
4
Binder  
w/b  
2
32:1993, BDS EN 197-1:2003; Comply to ASTM C 595.  
1
0.45  
2
.5 Collection of Material  
Sugarcane bagasse collected from local sugar mills in  
Natore district. OPC and PCC cement collected from local  
market. Standard quality river sand was used as fine  
aggregate.  
Figure 3: Preparing mortar cube  
Figure 1: Sugarcane Bagasse was drying under the sun light after  
collecting from sugar mill  
2
.6 Preparing SCBA  
After collecting sugarcane bagasse, it kept under sun  
light for a week. It burned in an oven in material lab. The  
temperature was between 800°C to 1000°C temperature. It  
burned for 20 minutes.  
Figure 4: Mortar cubes before test  
2
.8 Data processing and analysis  
After getting all the test results, they were shown in  
tables and bar charts.  
2
.9 Cost analysis  
A comparative cost analysis had shown. It will help to  
Figure 2: Sugarcane Bagasse burning in the oven at Lab  
301  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 300-305  
find the economic benefit by partially replacing of cement  
in mortar.  
greater than the compressive strength of PCBA 0 mortar  
which satisfied the BNBC code of M2 grade mortar’s  
required strength. It is also found that the compressive  
strength of OPBA 30 mortar was very close to PCBA 0  
mortar. It also satisfied the BNBC code of M2 grade  
mortar’s required strength. In case of PCC-SCBA mortar,  
the entire replacement ratio from PCBA 5 to PCBA 27.5  
mortar the BNBC code of M2 grade mortar’s required  
strength.  
3
. Result and Discussion  
3
.1 Compressive Strength of the concrete  
From Table 2 and 3 it is found that, the compressive  
strength gradually decreased with the increasing  
replacement percentages of SCBA in both cases.  
Table 2: Compressive strength of OPC-SCBA (OPBA)  
mortar  
Replacement  
%)  
Average Compressive  
Strength (N/mm )  
2
(
Mix Code  
OPC : SCBA  
00:0  
00 : 5  
2.5 : 7.5  
00 : 10  
7.5 : 12.5  
5 : 15  
2.5 : 17.5  
0 : 20  
7.5 : 22.5  
5 : 25  
2.5 : 27.5  
0 : 30  
3 days  
7 days  
18.06  
18.00  
17.73  
17.27  
16.52  
15.59  
15.08  
14.32  
13.74  
13.54  
13.28  
12.86  
28 days  
1
OPBA 0  
OPBA 5  
11.01  
11.11  
10.94  
10.65  
9.85  
8.94  
8.70  
8.31  
8.18  
8.29  
8.18  
7.97  
27.13  
26.99  
26.84  
26.41  
25.98  
25.27  
24.55  
23.40  
22.26  
21.72  
21.19  
20.40  
1
9
OPBA 7.5  
OPBA 10  
OPBA 12.5  
OPBA 15  
OPBA 17.5  
OPBA 20  
OPBA 22.5  
OPBA 25  
OPBA 27.5  
OPBA 30  
1
8
8
7
7
8
Figure 5: Comparison of 28 days compressive strength between  
OPC-SCBA and PCC-SCBA mortar  
8
From figure 5, it was found that the strength decreasing  
pattern of OPC-SCBA mortar (OPBA) was differ from  
decreasing pattern of PCC-SCBA mortar (PCBA). The  
7
2
strength of OPBA was higher than 20 N/mm . On the other  
7
hand, the strength PCC-SCBA mortar showed a huge  
difference between PCBA 0 to PCBA 30. The lowest  
2
Table 3: Compressive strength of PCC-SCBA (PCBA)  
mortar  
strength was 6.68 N/mm at 30% replacement of SCBA in  
PCC-SCBA mortar.  
Replacement  
%)  
Average Compressive  
Strength (N/mm )  
2
(
3.2 Cost Analysis  
Mix Code  
For cost analysis the PWD (2018) was followed. Cost  
analysis was divided into two parts. One was for Mortar  
used in Brickwork with 1st class bricks in superstructure in  
2
days  
8
PCC : SCBA  
3 days  
7 days  
1
00:0  
00 : 5  
2.5 : 7.5  
00 : 10  
7.5 : 12.5  
5 : 15  
2.5 : 17.5  
0 : 20  
7.5 : 22.5  
5 : 25  
2.5 : 27.5  
0 : 30  
PCBA 0  
PCBA 5  
8.40  
8.27  
7.63  
7.23  
6.30  
5.49  
4.78  
4.17  
3.63  
3.17  
2.76  
2.41  
15.60  
15.36  
14.17  
13.42  
11.70  
10.19  
8.88  
23.34  
22.98  
21.20  
20.08  
17.50  
15.25  
13.29  
11.58  
10.10  
8.80  
1
:4 cement-sand ratio considering 100 sft of work. Another  
1
was 3/4" thick cement plaster in 1:4 cement-sand ratio on  
one side of the walls considering 100 sft of work.  
9
PCBA 7.5  
PCBA 10  
PCBA 12.5  
PCBA 15  
PCBA 17.5  
PCBA 20  
PCBA 22.5  
PCBA 25  
PCBA 27.5  
PCBA 30  
The unit price of OPC considered BDT 8.80 per  
kilogram when the price of 1 bag OPC was BDT 440 which  
contains 50 kilogram of cement (The independent, 2018).  
Similarly the unit price of PCC considered BDT 8.30 per  
kilogram when the price of 1 bag PCC was BDT 415 which  
contains 50 kilogram of cement (The independent, 2018).  
The unit price of sand (F.M. 1.2) was BDT 14 per cft  
1
8
8
7
7
8
(PWD, 2018). Here, the production cost of SCBA was  
8
7.74  
about 1.5 BDT per Kg.  
6.75  
According to the results obtained from compressive  
strength of OPC-SBCA and PCC-SCBA mortar the  
strength of the mixing ratios which were met the BNBC  
standard considered for cost analysis. In this scenario, only  
PCBA 30 failed to meet the standard.  
7
5.88  
5.13  
7.67  
7
4.47  
6.68  
From table 4 it was found that, replacing 5%, 7.5%,  
1
3
0%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5% and  
0% of SCBA with OPC in mortar for brickwork, reduced  
The compressive strength of OPBA 20 mortar was  
302  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 300-305  
the material cost then ‘OPBA 0’ accordingly 3.42%,  
3.31%, 5.26%, 7.01%, 8.76%, 10.52%, 12.27%, 14.02%,  
15.77%, 17.53% and 19.28%.  
5
1
.13%, 6.84%, 8.55%, 10.27%, 11.98%, 13.69%, 15.40%,  
7.11%, 18.82% and 20.53%.  
From table 5 it was found that, replacing 5%, 7.5%,  
0%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25% and 27.5% of  
SCBA with PCC in mortar for brickwork, reduced the  
Table 6: Costing for 100 sft mortar in 3/4" thick cement  
plaster work (using different percent replacement of SCBA  
with OPC)  
1
material cost then ‘PCBA 0’ accordingly 3.35%, 5.02%,  
Material Quantity  
Total Cost  
BDT  
6
.69%, 8.36%, 10.03%, 11.70%, 13.38%, 15.05%, 16.72%  
Mix Code  
Cement  
(kg)  
Sand  
(cft)  
SCBA  
(kg)  
and 18.39%.  
Analysing table 4 and 5 it was also found that, replacing  
OPBA 0  
OPBA 5  
75.00  
71.25  
69.38  
67.50  
65.63  
63.75  
61.88  
60.00  
58.13  
56.25  
54.38  
52.50  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
0.00  
3.75  
765  
738  
724  
710  
697  
683  
669  
656  
642  
628  
614  
601  
1
3
0%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5% and  
0% of SCBA with OPC in mortar for brickwork, reduced  
OPBA 7.5  
OPBA 10  
OPBA 12.5  
OPBA 15  
OPBA 17.5  
OPBA 20  
OPBA 22.5  
OPBA 25  
OPBA 27.5  
OPBA 30  
5.63  
the material cost then ‘PCBA 0’ accordingly 2.26%, 4.06%,  
5
1
.85%, 7.65%, 9.44%, 11.24%, 13.03%, 14.83% and  
6.62%.  
7.50  
9.38  
From table 6 it was found that, replacing 5%, 7.5%,  
0%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5% and  
0% of SCBA with OPC in mortar for 3/4" thick cement  
11.25  
13.13  
15.00  
16.88  
18.75  
20.63  
22.50  
1
3
plaster work, reduced the material cost then ‘OPBA 0’  
accordingly 3.58%, 5.37%, 7.16%, 8.95%, 10.74%,  
1
2.52%, 14.31%, 16.10%, 17.89%, 19.68% and 21.47%.  
Table 4: Costing for 100 sft mortar in brickwork (using  
different percent replacement of SCBA with OPC)  
Material Quantity  
Total Cost  
BDT  
Mix Code  
Cement  
kg)  
Sand  
(cft)  
40  
SCBA  
(kg)  
0
Table 7: Costing for 100 sft mortar in 3/4" thick cement  
plaster work (using different percent replacement of SCBA  
with PCC)  
(
OPBA 0  
OPBA 5  
300  
285  
3200  
3091  
3036  
2981  
2926  
2872  
2817  
2762  
2707  
2653  
2598  
2543  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
40  
15  
22.5  
30  
Material Quantity  
Total Cost  
BDT  
Mix Code  
OPBA 7.5  
OPBA 10  
OPBA 12.5  
OPBA 15  
OPBA 17.5  
OPBA 20  
OPBA 22.5  
OPBA 25  
OPBA 27.5  
OPBA 30  
277.5  
270  
Cement  
kg)  
Sand  
(cft)  
SCBA  
(kg)  
(
PCBA 0  
PCBA 5  
75.00  
71.25  
69.38  
67.50  
65.63  
63.75  
61.88  
60.00  
58.13  
56.25  
54.38  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
7.5  
0.00  
3.75  
728  
702  
689  
677  
664  
651  
638  
626  
613  
600  
587  
262.5  
255  
37.5  
45  
247.5  
240  
52.5  
60  
PCBA 7.5  
PCBA 10  
PCBA 12.5  
PCBA 15  
PCBA 17.5  
PCBA 20  
PCBA 22.5  
PCBA 25  
PCBA 27.5  
5.63  
7.50  
232.5  
225  
67.5  
75  
9.38  
11.25  
13.13  
15.00  
16.88  
18.75  
20.63  
217.5  
210  
82.5  
90  
Table 5: Costing for 100 sft mortar in brickwork (using  
different percent replacement of SCBA with PCC)  
Material Quantity  
Total Cost  
BDT  
Mix Code  
Cement  
kg)  
Sand  
(cft)  
40  
SCBA  
(kg)  
0
15  
22.5  
30  
37.5  
45  
52.5  
60  
67.5  
75  
82.5  
(
PCBA 0  
PCBA 5  
300  
285  
3050  
2948  
2897  
2846  
2795  
2744  
2693  
2642  
2591  
2540  
2489  
From figure 6, it was found that the pattern of cost  
reduction from OPBA-0 between brickwork and plaster  
were almost same. In both civil works for mortar showed  
similar cost reduction scenario for different replacement of  
OPC-SCBA mortar.  
The pattern of cost reduction from PCBA-0 between  
brickwork and plaster was found similar also and it was  
shown in figure 7.  
40  
PCBA 7.5  
PCBA 10  
PCBA 12.5  
PCBA 15  
PCBA 17.5  
PCBA 20  
PCBA 22.5  
PCBA 25  
PCBA 27.5  
277.5  
270  
40  
40  
262.5  
255  
40  
40  
247.5  
240  
40  
40  
232.5  
225  
40  
40  
4
Conclusions and Recommendations  
217.5  
40  
4
.1 Conclusions  
Based on the experimental results, following conclusions  
From table 6 it was found that, replacing 5%, 7.5%,  
0%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25% and 27.5% of  
SCBA with PCC in mortar for 3/4" thick cement plaster  
were drawn:  
The compressive strength of OPC-SCBA mortar met  
the BNBC code up to 30% replacement by the SCBA.  
1
.
work, reduced the material cost then ‘PCBA 0’ accordingly  
303  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 300-305  
For PCC-SCBA mortar the replacement was up to  
References  
2
7.5%.  
1
.
ASTM C109 / C109M-16a, Standard Test Method for  
Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars  
.
It was also cost effective too by replacing with different  
percentage of SCBA for mortar. For OPC-SCBA  
mortar the cost was reduced over 20%. On the other  
hand, the cost was reduced almost 20% for PCC-SCBA  
mortar.  
(Using 2-in. or [50-mm] Cube Specimens), ASTM  
International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2016,  
www.astm.org.  
2
3
.
.
ASTM C150 / C150M-18, Standard Specification for  
Portland Cement, ASTM International, West  
Conshohocken, PA, 2018, www.astm.org.  
ASTM C595 / C595M-18, Standard Specification for  
Blended Hydraulic Cements, ASTM International,  
West Conshohocken, PA, 2018, www.astm.org.  
BNBC, 2006. Bangladesh National Building Code,  
Housing and Building research Institute, Bangladesh.  
Cordeiro, G.C., Toledo Filho, R.D., Tavares, L.M.,  
Fairbairn, E.M.R., 2008. Pozzolanic activity and filler  
effect of sugar cane bagasse ash in Portland cement and  
lime mortars. Cement and Concrete Composites, 30 (5),  
4
5
.
.
4
10-418.  
Habibullah, M. and Rahman, G. M. M., 2014. Sugar  
Industry. Banglapedia, Retrived from:  
www.en.banglapedia.org  
6
.
7
8
.
.
Griffin, 1987. IPCC Second Assessment Report,  
Industry, chapter 20.  
Figure 6: Comparison of % cost reduction from OPBA-0 between  
brickwork and plaster  
Mahamud, M.R., and Gomes, D.J., 2012. Enzymatic  
Saccharification of Sugar Cane Bagasse by the Crude  
Enzyme from Indigenous Fungi. Journal of Scientific  
Research, JSR Publications, 4 (1), 227-238.  
PWD, 2018. Analysis of PWD Schedule of Rates 2018  
for Civil Works, 2018, Public Works Department,  
Bangladesh.  
9
1
.
0. The Independent, 2018. Prices of construction materials  
st  
mark rise, The Daily Independent, published on 21  
February 2018.  
http://m.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/138  
1
39 (Accsessed on 18 November, 2018)  
1
1
1. Villar, E., Frías, M., and Valencia, E., 2008. Sugar  
Cane Wastes as Pozzolanic Materials: Application of  
Mathematical Model. ACI Materials Journal, 105 (30),  
5
8-64.  
2. Worrell, Ernst & Price, Lynn & Martin, Nathan &  
Hendriks, Chris Ozawa-Meida, Leticia., 2001.  
Figure 7: Comparison of % cost reduction from PCBA-0 between  
brickwork and plaster  
&
Carbon Dioxide Emission from the Global Cement  
Industry. Annu. Rev. Energy Environ. 26.303-  
4
.2 Recommendations  
2
9.10.1146/annurev.energy.26.1.303.  
SCBA can be used as a partial replacement material with  
OPC and PCC in mortar. It will save the uses of cement.  
Concerned stakeholder can use different replacement of  
SCBA as per their required mortar strength. The concerned  
authorities like sugar industries, cement industries and  
relevant government institutions, higher education  
institutions should be aware about this issue.  
Author Profile  
Shaikh Mohammad Shamim  
Reza received his Master of  
Engineering in Civil Engineering at  
University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka;  
in 2018 Also received his Bachelor  
of Science in Civil Engineering  
Acknowledgment  
from  
Stamford  
University  
Author is very grateful to all the teachers, employees and  
other stuffs of The University of Asia Pacific and  
Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) for  
their cordial help and lab support. Author also thankful to  
the Natore sugar mills factory for providing SCBA as raw  
materials.  
Bangladesh  
,
Dhaka; in 2012.  
Currently he is doing Master of  
Business Administration at Army  
Isntitute  
Administration,  
of  
Business  
Savar under  
304  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 300-305  
Bangladesh  
University  
of  
Professionals, Dhaka. He has more  
then 7 years working experience on  
Water Supply, Sanitation and Waste  
Management sectors. His research  
interests are in hazardous/medical  
waste management, municipal  
waste management, recycling of  
waste for sustainable development  
etc.  
305