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Curing of concrete with wastewater and curing compounds : Effect on

strength and water absorption

Article  in  Indian Concrete Journal · October 2014

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 Curing of concrete with wostewoter ond curing
compounds : Effect on strength ond woter obsorption
Kouslov Sorkor, Todesse M. Miretu ond Bishwoiit Bhottochoriee

The scorcity of freshwoter in densely populoted urbon cenlres hos

necessitoted conservotive utilisotion of depleiing woter

resources. The prospect of using recloimed wosrewoter for concreting

operotions in lieu of the convenlionolly topped
municipol, surfoce ond ground worer sources beors o greol polentiol in
ihis regord. The present siudy compores the
(ii) top woter ond commerciolly ovoiloble (iii)
influence of four different surfoce curing ogenls, viz. (i) treoled wostewoter,
strengih ond woter obsorption chorocleristics of
woter bosed ond (iv) resin bosed curing compounds on the compressive
ondinory concrete. The observotions esloblish the suitobility of
woslewsler curing in ochieving better strength ond woter
tightness ot 28 doys.

Keywords: Concrete; curing; treated wastewater; sustainability'

consumption standing next only to that of water, the

1. INTRODUCTION
Freshwater is the most highly consumed natural entity
of our planet. It is a renewable resource abundantly
available in nature; however, its quantity amenable to
human extraction is limited. Thus, the excessive tapping
of available freshwater reserves for industrial, agricultural
and domestic PuPoses often led to its scarcity in densely
populated and arid regions [1]- With rising levels of
population, continuing urbanisation and growing
affluence of tiving standard in cities, the chronic pumping
of ground and surfuce $'ater sources are set to escalate'
leading to the of wastewater in substantial
quantities.
Concrete, on ttre ottrr hand" owing to ib extensive use in
constructiorL tns eurerged as the most rt'idely consumed
man made entit-v of Pnes* era- IA'ith its worldwide
(bbrr UrtlL liol 88' Issue 1O pp' 87-93'
The Indian Concrete hd,
necessity of rendering concrete production sustainable
has been well appreciated. This has led to the utilisation
of industrial by products such as fly ash and slag, recycled
materials like tyres, plastic and glass and in the reuse
of construction and demolition debris as ingredients
of concrete [2-5]. Measures have also been adopted to
achieve energy efficiency in cement production through
the implementation of dry Process, use of advanced
kilns, better heat recovery systems and alternative fuels
also aided
[6]. The development of blended cements have
in reducing the consumption of conventional cement
clinker. It was, however, not until the past two decades
when the growing demand for concrete in dry and arid
regions led to the consideration of using wastewater and
seawater for synthesis of concrete. In recent times, the
concern of freshwater scarcity in densely populated areas
has also necessitated a check for economising the use of
water in concrete Production.

The tndion Corrcrdle Joumol October 2Ol4

 Over the years, investigations have been pursued to
ascertain the feasibility of synthesising concrete with
ocean and sea water [7-11], wash water discharge of ready
mixed concrete plants 112-ISj and even with the effluent
of wastewater treatment plants 116-22) in lieu of plain
water obtained from surface and ground water sources.
The studies corresponding to each of the alternative water
types have exhibited agreement in the observed setting
and workability characteristics of concrete but have led
to contradictory findings in the aspect of compressive
strength development. The dearth of general insights
therefore necessitates the characterisation of water in its
available state and the study of its inJluence on concrete
properties prior to its application in practice.
As an initial endeavor, the present work considers treated
domestic wastewater obtained from a sewage treatment
plant located in a typical Indian urban area and explores
the feasibility of its utilisation for concrete production.
The treated effluent (TE) used in this study was obtained
from Vasant Kunj Sewage Treatment plant located at
South Delhi, India. The application of TE was limited to
curing of concrete and its impact on the development of
compressive strength and water absorptioncharacteristics
were investigated. The efficiency of TE curing was
compared with respect to normal tap water (TW) and
membrane curing using commercially available resin and
wax based (RB and WB)compounds. Figure l provides a
snapshot of the different curing agents used in the study.
2. EXPERTMENTAL PROGRAMME
Scope of the present work is limited to the study of ordinary
concrete of three different water to cemen t ratio (w c) viz.
/
0.4, 0.5 and 0.6. Four curing regimes (designated as TE,
TW, RB and WB as described previously) and two
ages of 28 and 90 days were considered for investi
The effect of curing on compressive strength and
absorption were studied to evaluate the influence of
water retainment and replenishment on the pro
of cement hydration and surface porosity.
2.1 Mqteriols ond mix design
43-grade Ordinary Portland Cement complying with
provisions o fIS8112:1989 [23] was used for the
of all test samples. The fine and coarse aggregate (FA
CA) phases were constituted by river sand and
crushed rock of 10 mm and 20 nun m.s.a. complying
the quality specifications of IS 3BZ:1970
[24]. The finer
modulus values of FA, 10 mm and 20 mm CA fracti
were determined using standard sieve analysis carri
out as per to the guidelines of IS 23g6 (part I)_1963
and were found tobeZ.2S,5.92 and6.60 respectively-
corresponding specific gravity values, determined as
to the provisions o{IS2Z86 part III-1963 [26]werc,2:6{*
2.96 and 2.93 respectively.
The TE used in this study was collected from Vasant Ku{i
sewage treatment plant at New Delhi. Figure 2 providese
few snapshots of the treatment processes carried out in tl-
plant and the collection of TE. The chemical characterisths
of TWand TE and the associated tolerance limits of variqrr
constituents are furnished in Table 1. A comparison of TE
characteristics against the tolerance limits indicates dre
suitability of TE for use in concrete production exc€Iil
for a higher level of alkalinity which might be a cause d
concern in the presence of reactive aggregates. Here, itfo
worth noting that these standards specify the quality d
mixing water for concrete and in practice the same limits
are generally considered applicable for curing water.

The mix proportioning was carried out to obtain a dense

Waxbased Resin based Treated
compound compound wastewater
Figure I . Curing ogents used in the presenf study
concrete with minimum voids. The intended design wro
achieved by mixing the aggregate {ractions in proportions
to maximise the packing density (defined as the ratio of
volume of solids to total volume). Through systematic
experimental trials, a 2:Z mix of the 10 mm and 20 mm
Tap
water
CA fractions by volume and a 3:2 mix of the combined
CA system with FA fraction were observed to provide an
optimum packing density of 0.72 with a corresponding
 void fraction of 0.28. For a given water to cement
ratio,
the quantity of cement paste in the mix Table 1. Characteristics of tap water and
was kept 20% in treated effluent
excess of the void volume to ensure complete
filling of ,,,, , Conrenfration
,,,
the voids. Superplasticiser dosages were Parameter ,, , , (mAA exceptforpll)
used to keep the
slump of fresh concrete in the range of 120t10 MiTE;fimiti Reference
mm. The
details of mix design are presented in Table Total solids 150 1000 50000 ASTI'{C1602[27]
2.
Suspended matter 69.50 2000 rs 456 [281
2.2 Somple preporotion qnd test procedure Inorganic solids 100 800 3000 IS 456
Organic solids 50 200 200 IS 456
Cubes of 150 mm side were cast for compressive pH
strength 7.5 8.1 >6 IS 456
test. Cylinders of 100 mm diameter and
100 mm height Total alkalinity* 288 36L 250 IS 456
were used for testing of water absorption.
Necessary Total aciditv* 10 50 IS 456
moisture corrections were made prior to the
casting of IS 456,
samples to account for the state of moisture Chloride 775
in FA. The CA 789 500 BSEN 1008 [29],
fractions, on the other hand, were brought ASTM C1602
to a saturated
surface dry condition before use. The 400 IS 456
mixing of concrete
and casting of specimen were carried Sulphate 45 65
out in accordance to 2000 BS EN 1OO8

the provisions of IS 516:1959 3000 ASTM C1602

[31]. The cast specimen were
removed from moulds after 24 hours and 500 Mindess 1981 [30]
subsequently Pb 0 0
allowed to cure up to the ages of 2g and 90 100 BS EN 1OO8
days.
Zn 500 Mindess 1981
0.48 0
The quality of TE was characterised through 100 35 EN 1008
standard
tests prior to its use for curing operation. Mn 0 0 500 Vlindess 1981
The curing
expressed as CaCO. equivalent
compounds were applied on specimen surface
in quantities

The lndion Concrele Journol Octob er 2014

 t::
itil

complying with the manufacturer's specifications. The with TW curing at wf c = 0.40. Extending TE curing io
compounds were sprayed on the damp trowelled surface 90 days, however, results in lower strengths rangirry
of the specimen in moulds soon after the drying of bleed between 89-99o/o of the control case with the loss becomiry
water after casting and the other surfaces were treated more substantial in mixes of lower w/c. The rationale
after the removal of moulds. for additional gain of strength at curing age of 28 dalu
may be attributed to the high concentration of dissoh,edl
Prior to the conduction of water absorption test, the matter in curing water which on percolation into concreh
layer formed by curing compounds was scrubbed off the get precipitated and consequently cause reduction d
specimen surface. The specimen were then kept in hot porosity with concomitant enhancement of strength. Th
air oven maintained at a temperature of 105.C and the larger strength gain observed in mixes of higher r,ty'c
loss in mass was recorded in intervals of 24 hours until ratio and hence of greater porosity which in turn allm
the same became lesser than 0.5% of the lower specimen a higher penetration of curing water substantiates sucha
mass. Following this, the specimen were air cooled and notion. The loss of strength in lower w f cratio mixes after
then immersed in a constant temperature water bath 90 days of TE curing can be attributed to the effect of setr-
maintained at 27"C and their mass was measured at desiccation that might be coming into action due to the
24 how intervals until the gain in mass became lesser clogging of pores hindering thereby the replenishmentd
than 0.5% of the higher specimen mass. The mass of water in the capillaries during hydration.
water absorbed by the specimen expressed as a fraction
of its oven dried mass has been reported as the water An interpretation of water absorption data further testi_fies
absorption. to the action of pore clogging in the case of TE curing. h
is seen that, at 28 days, water absorption in the case of
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS control remains 3-9%higher than that observed under TE
The observations on compressive strength and water curing. The effect remains more dominant in the case of
absorption of tested samples are presented in Table 3 and lower w/c mixes, which when cured with TE get clogged
the reported values correspond to the average of three to the ingress of water to a greater extent due to their
lower capillary porosity. At 90 days, the water absorption
test results. The instance of TW curing has been referred
characteristics for TW and TE curing become practicallr
to as the control case in the following discussion.
identical with a difference of aroundlYo.
It is evident from the data in Table 3 that, at curing age
of 28,days, TE curing results in the development of 1l%
higher compressive strength for w / c = 0.60 as compared Table 3. Compressive strength (N/mm'z) and water
(%) results
to TW curing. This gain in strength however reduces to
3% for w/c = 0.50 and becomes equal to that achieved
Curing w / c ratro w/c ratio
regime
0.40 0.50 0.60 0.40 0.50 0.60
TW 46.02 &0.?2 31.70 7.83 8.71 9.32
Table 2. Mix design details TE 45.82 41,.25 35.28 7.1.5 8.17 9.02
RB 39.68 32.A4 27,.69 8.69 .9.24 fi.w
WB 37.U 31,.36 25.57 9.19 10.31 11,.26
Water (kglm3) 179 195 207 Strengti at90 days Absorption at90 day$
Cementikglrna) rl45 391 -3t4V,,'
w/crutio
Curing w/c ratio
FA (kglm3) 71.8 7t8 718 regime 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.40 0.50
CA.10mm(kg/m3) 347 347 3M TW 57.!6 49.95 39.97 6.27 6.84 7,0'L
CA -20 mm(kglm3) 634 634 634 TE 51,.36 46.24 39.5s 6.19 6.71,
5P (% by wt. of C) 0:30 0.20 0.00 RB 43.21 M.gA 30.16 6:98 7.L4 738 f'
Slump (mm) 130 120 130 WB 40.41 33.49 27.30 7.07 7.18 7.69 ct
 The curing efficiency of WB and RB compounds, on the
other hand, remains far lower than water curing at all ages
rvith the RB compound giving relatively better results. The
compressive strength achieved in these cases remains in
the range of 78-87% of the contr ol at28 days and 67-76%
after 90 days. The corresponding water absorption values
fall in the range of 6-36% and 4-13%.
Figures 3 and 4 graphically compare the normalised
values of compressive strength and water absorption
values witt."O" arrd"1" corresponding to the minimum
and maximum observed values in the combined data set
of 28 and 90 days for each w/c ratio' It is evident from
Figure 1 that the percentage gain in strength beyond 28
days of TE curing for aII w/c ratios remains at around
a value of 30% with respect to the recorded maximum
at 90 days. The same in case of TW curing can be seen
to be higher than 50%. The observation establishes that
the rate of gain of strength with TE curing becomes
slower beyond 28 days and eventually points towards
the possible influence of pore clogging and consequent
onset of self-desiccation. Figure 3 also depicts the weakest
performance of WB compound in terms of compressive
strength development at 28 as well as 90 days'
Figure 4 on the other hand highlights that the specimen
curedwithTE absorb the leastquantity of water atboththe
ages and is followed in increasing order by the instances

w/c=0.4
L.2 r 28d I 90d
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
n
a 0.2
0.0

.9 1i
E 1,.2 r
B 10 b
o
1.0
o
u 0.8
* 0.8

E o.e E06
t 0.4
'e 0.4
.s o
n
-
zE o.z
O

zE
0.2 O
o.o
o.o

1,.2

1.0
0.8
0.6
a
O 0.4
N
n
O
0.2
0.0

Figure 3. Cor;,:-,,q:r :i ::-:':-'.4 -'-ength results Figure 4. Comporison of woter obsorplion resu/is corresponding fo
corresponding -: : t-=-' :- - -;: :':-e-.s different curing schemes

F
The lndion Concrete Journol October 2014
I

r
of TW, RB and WB curing. Interestingly, it appears that
though the strength attained with TE curing at 90 days
drops lower than that achieved with TW curing, the water
imperviousness in the case of former remains higher than
that of the control. The fact again affirms the pore clogging
effect described PreviouslY.
4. CONCLUSIONS
Motivated by the issue of water scarcity faced in urban
centers across the country and in the arid regions of
western India, the objective of the present study has been
to analyze the efficacy of curing schemes which may serve
as alternatives to theuse of freshwater conventionally
used
for the purpose. The work investigated the feasibility of
utilising treated domestic effluent generated in a typical
Indian urban settlement as curing water by evaluating
its influence on the properties of compressive strength
development and water absorption of ordinary concrete'
The findings of the study substantiate the viability of
wastewater curing in achieving better strength and surface
density characteristics at the age of 28 days, especially for
mixes of high w f c ratio.Prolonged use of wastewater for
curing has however been found to be detrimental towards
the development of compressive strength' The observed
behavior has been attributed to the action of pore clogging
caused due to the precipitation of dissolved solids present
in a significant concentration in wastewater' The use of
curing compounds, on the other hand, have been found
to result in78-87% of strength development with respect
to that of plain water curing at28 days and 67-76% at90
days. The use of resin based curing compound has been
observed to give slightly better performance in terms of
strength development and surface imperviousness than
the wax based comPound.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge National Buildings
Construction Corporation Limited, New Delhi for
funding of the sponsored research project "sustainable
Construction and Reduction of Water Consumption in
Construction" being carried out at the Department of
Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi. The authors also express
their gratitude to the authority of Vasant Kunj sewage
treatment plant for their cooperation and support'
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Kaustav Sarkar received his B.E.(Hons.) degree in civil engineering fromPt. Ravi Shankar Shukla University,
Raipur; M.E.(Hons.) in structural engineering from Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University,
Bhilai; PG Diploma in Computer Applications from Sikkim Manipal University. He has over 8 years of
experience in the areas of teaching and research and is presently a Project Scientist in the Department of
Civil Engineering at IIT Delhi. His areas of interest include computational modeling of transport process in
concrete, application of so{t computing techniques, optimum design of concrete shuchrres and sustainable
concrete Production.

Tadesse M. Miretu holds a B.Sc. in Construction Technology from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia; M.Tech.
in Construction Engineering and Management from IIT Delhi. He is a Lecturer in the School of Civil and
Water Resources Engineering at Bahir Dar Qniversity. His areas of research interest include sustainable
construction practices and concrete technology.

Professor Bishwajit Bhattacharjee is working with the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi, New Delhi (India). His research interests pertain to the domains of cement and
concrete technology, building science, sustainable construction, and health monitoring of structures. His
publications in these areas are well cited. He is also a recipient of the Indian Concrete Institute's Li{e Time
Achievement Award.

The lndion Concre{e Journcl

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