Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ABSTRACT: Chemical analysis of some Portland cement commonly used in Nigeria was carried out. All the
cement studies were found to be good for concrete work especially where no special property is required. The
concentration levels of heavy metals in all the cement samples were above the tolerance limit and therefore
need to be regulated.
Keywords: Portland cement, Heavy Metals, X-ray Analysis, Pollution, Sokoto
182
Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (June, 2012), 20(2): 182-184
Table 1: Percent composition of major constituent of the cement samples by XRF method.
Parameter Ashaka Burham Dangote Sokoto Wapco
CaO 62.85 ± 0.05 56.17 ± 1.01 64.86 +0.04 64.53 ± 0.02 65.22 ± 0.01
SiO2 22.33 ± 0.02 19.07 ± 0.88 19.96 ± 0.05 20.64 ± 0.14 20.04 ± 0.07
Al2O3 5.87 ± 0.05 5.30 ± 0.45 6.05 ± 0.02 5.40 ± 0.04 5.22 ± 0.05
Fe2O3 3.32 ± 0.01 3.15 ± 0.60 2.99 ± 0.01 3.99 ± 0.01 3.53 ± 0.02
MgO 0.71 ± 0.02 0.74 ± 0.12 1.26 ± 0.01 2.35 ±0.01 3.03 ±0.03
SO3 2.17 ± 0.01 1.14 ± 0.06 1.99 ±0.01 1.77 ±0.04 1.62 ± 0.01
P2O3 0.22 ± 0.01 0.26 ± 0.01 0.24 ±0.02 0.52 ±0.01 0.32 ± 0.01
K2O 1.04 ± 0.02 1.10 ± 0.03 1.09 ± 0.01 0.26 ±0.01 0.26 ± 0.01
Free CaO 1.59 ± 0.05 1.77 ± 0.07 2.15 ± 0.04 2.33 ± 0.04 1.02 ± 0.01
LOI 8.91 3.33 7.48 5.80 4.57
Dangote cement had the highest Al2O3 content which parameters responsible for cement colouration which
will lead to high content of C3A (Table 2) that explain why Sokoto Cement is darker grey than all
contribute to early strength development, while the cements. High free lime content results in
WAPCO cement had the least Al2O3 content. Thus expansion due to formation of Ca(OH)2, Sokoto
more setting decelerating additives are needed for cement is therefore unsound due to the higher
Dangote in a long period of cementing job. Ashaka content of free CaO.
shows the highest LOI value which is as a result of
carbonation and impurity of free lime and free In the hydration of the cement powder, it is C3A that
magnesia due to exposure to atmosphere. Ashaka causes the sudden hardening of the cement paste.
also had the highest value of SO3 and Burham the Hence it is usually retarded by addition of gypsum.
least SO3 content which also favours formation of High amount of C3A is undesirable. The C3S and C2S
C3S mineral compound which is responsible for initial hydrate to form the calcium silicate hydrate that
set and early strength? The lower the SO3 value the brings about the adhesive and the cohesive strengths
better (Taylor, 1990). of the cement structure (Ahmed et al., 2009).
Sokoto cement shows the highest percentage of
Fe2O3 as free CaO. The Fe2O3 is one of the
183
Ibrahim et al.: Assessment of Pollution Potentialities of some Portland Cement
The calcium aluminoferrite (C4AF) does not have Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
significant role in the hydration of cement. However 3(7): 184-194
along with C3A, it serves as a reservoir for the Ahmed. U.J., Birnin–Yauri, U.A. and Dangoggo, S.M.
removal of some deleterious ions like Cl- and (2009). Studies on Leachability of Chromium
SO 2-4 that cause the rusting of steel reinforced From Ordinary Portland Cement. Biological and
concrete (Taylor, 1990). Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics,
6(2): 89-91.
The concentration of toxic heavy metals in the Bagudo, B.U., Birnin-Yauri, U. A. and Faruk, U.Z
cement samples as shown in Table 3, exceeded the (2009). Determination of Hazardous Metal in
maximum allowable concentration limit (Co 0.01, Mn Locally-made Aluminium Utensils. Nigerian
050, Ni 0.02, Cr 0.05 and Cd 0.003 ppm) stipulated Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 10: 45-
by World Health Organisation (WHO, 1990), and US 52.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1974). Basset, J., Denny, R.C., Jeffery, G.H. and Mendham,
J. (1997). Vogel’s Text Book of Quantitative
Table 2: Mineral Composition of Cement Samples Inorganic Analysis including Elementary
(%) Instrumental Analysis 4th Edition Longman
Publishing Co. Inc. London. PP 35 – 40.
Sample C3S C2S C3A C4AF Sum
CCNN (2010). Cement Company of Northern Nigeria,
Ashaka 35.70 37.07 10.00 10.09 93.49
Laboratory Manual. PP. 1 – 9.
Burham 42.91 29.94 12.51 11.08 96.44
Frias, M.I. and Sanchez, R. (1995). Determination
Dangote 56.64 12.98 11.00 9.07 91.69
and Quantification of Total Chromium and
Sokoto 54.39 18.14 7.57 12.13 92.23
Water Soluble Chromium Content in
WAPCO 68.12 6.08 7.89 10.72 92.91
Commercial Cement. Cement and Concrete
Research, 25 (2): 432 – 439.
Table 3: Heavy metals Content in Cement Samples Lau, O. and Nina, I.N. (2001). Determination of Free
(ppm) Lime in Clinker by Iodometric Method Journal of
Samples Co Mn Ni Cr Cd Chemical Education, 78(2): 1671.
Ashaka 11.31 12.77 4.22 0.69 2.30 Oleru, U.G. (1984). Pulmonary Function and
Burham 10.94 8.04 3.65 0.97 2.80 Symptoms of Nigerian Workers Exposed to
Dangote 11.78 12.32 6.98 1.27 3.05 Cement Dust. Environmental Research, 33: 379
Sokoto 12.60 6.67 7.93 2.64 2.52 – 385.
WAPCO 10.76 7.82 4.22 0.55 2.37 Peter, S.Y., Thomason, E. and Krombout, H. (2009).
Personnel Exposure to Inhalate Cement Dust
CONCLUSION Among Construction Workers. Journal
The result of the analysis indicates that the cement Environmental Monitoring, 11(1): 174 – 180.
samples under study are generally good for concrete Taylor, H.F.W. (1990). “Cement Chemistry” Academic
work especially where no other special properties are Press, London, Pp10-69.
required. Burham seems to be the best one having Taylor, I. (2009). Cement Operation Course. Inter.
the lowest SO3 and free lime content and highest Services Pty. Ltd Geelong North Victoria,
percentage of C3A. More so, the heavy metal content Australia Publishers Pg 1 – 15.
recorded for Burham is also added advantage. US Environment Protection Agency (USFEPA)
Generally, the heavy metal content in all the samples (1974). Manual of methods for chemical
is above the stipulated tolerance. analysis of water and waste, USFEPA
Washington DC, pp. 72-78.
REFERENCES World Health Organisation (WHO) (1990).
Achi, M.M., Uzairu, A., Gimba C.E. and Okunola, O.J. International Standard for drinking water, 2nd
(2011). Chemical Fractionation of Heavy Metals edition, Geneva, pp. 28-31.
in Soils Around the Vicinity of Automobile
Workshops in Kaduna Metropolis. Journal of
184