Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Civil Engineering

One of the primary contributors to CO₂ emissions is the rapid increase in cement
production within the construction industry and resource consumption across
industrial sectors. Environmentalists have spent years urging researchers and builders
to develop sustainable solutions to these problems. This research seeks to offer
sustainable approaches to improper waste disposal by identifying waste materials that
can be effectively utilized as binders or aggregates in mortar or concrete mixtures.
This research thesis aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits, both
environmentally and economically, of producing concrete or mortar for the
construction industry using industrial by-products, such as coal bottom ash and
limestone powder considered in this research. The viability of replacing cement with
coal bottom ash and limestone powder in mortar mixtures was tested through
laboratory experiments, examining various replacement levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%,
and 20% by mass. This comprehensive analysis assessed how different replacement
levels influenced the fresh and hardened properties as well as the cost-effectiveness
and environmental benefits of using these wastes as alternatives to cement in mortar
mixtures. The result of the analysis indicates that both wastes can be succesfully
utilized as supplementary cementious materials at an Optimum level of 10% for
Limestone powder and 15% for Coal bottom ash. This study concluded that both
wastes can be an Ideal alternative to cement due to their pozzolanic capability and
their significant influence on the properties of cement mortars. The study
recommends further exploration of both wastes as sustainable alternatives to reduce
green-house emissions, promote waste management and conserve natural resources.