INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF PLANTAIN PEELS ASH AS ADMIXTURE IN CONCRETE PRODUCTION

Abstract

This research was carried out to examine the possibility of using Plantain Peels Ash (PPA) as admixture in concrete production. The plantain Peels were sourced locally and were carefully processed (washed, dried, burnt and grinded) into Ash. The powder form of the plantain peels was sieved through a 45µm BS sieve. All of these requirements for Admixture materials were met. It was observed that the slump value and the workability of the concrete decreased as the percentage of PPA was increased this is because of high specific surface area of PPA which increases water demand thereby decreasing the slump value and workability of the concrete. It was observed that the percentage of water absorbed by the concrete cubes decreased as the percentage of PPA increased. It was concluded that PPA increased by 23% the compressive strength of the concrete cubes along the ages of curing as the percentage of PPA was increased. However the compressive strength decreased by 7.2% at the early ages of curing (7days and 14days) as the percentage of PPA increases. While it also increased by 9% at the later ages of (21 and 28 days). PPA can be used as a set retarding admixture since it was able to reduce the amount of bleeding water of the concrete and PPA can be used as set retarding admixture in concrete since it was able to reduce the setting time of the concrete to which it was added.