Effect of chemically treated leather shaving addition on characteristics and microstructure of OPC mortars

Abstract

The growing concern with environmental issues in tanneries and the search for a technological solution to their wastes are evaluated in this study. The leather shaving was chemically treated aiming the immobilization of the chromium ion on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) matrix. Cementitious mortars were obtained by adding different proportions of waste treated solutions (5 and 10% compared to the cement mass) and after 28 days, the samples were evaluated in relation to their physical properties, axial compressive strength and, for the most promising compositions, microstructural characterization analyses tests were realized. Results showed that the alternatives used for the pretreatment were effective for the leather shaving dissolution; but the results analysis describes little change in pH values when the treated waste is added in three different media. The best axial compressive strength after 28 days age were obtained by addition of diluted phosphoric acid solution at low concentration, although this addition minimize the Portlandite formation and favor the calcium phosphate formation.