Investigating the Effect of Heavy Metals in Water Used for Concrete Production: A Case Study of Kabale.
This project aimed to examine how heavy metals that as copper, iron, and lead in water used for concrete production affect concrete Engineering properties, specifically focusing on the 20MPa concrete class. The study investigated the compressive strength, water absorption, and workability of cubes m...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Kabale University
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/2737 |
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| Summary: | This project aimed to examine how heavy metals that as copper, iron, and lead in water used for concrete production affect concrete Engineering properties, specifically focusing on the 20MPa concrete class. The study investigated the compressive strength, water absorption, and workability of cubes made with water containing various concentrations of heavy metals that are of copper, Lea,d, and iron, comparing them to cubes made with distilled water and cured under portable water at room temperature. OPC was used in the production of concrete cube specimens. Natural sand and clean crushed aggregates with a maximum size of 20mm were used as fine and coarse aggregates respectively. The water samples used were collected from Regina Water Springs Rutooma Central division and taken by Mbarara National Water and Sewage Corporation for testing.
150mm X 150mm X 150mm concrete cube samples were prepared with the three water samples. A mix ratio of 1:2:4 was used for the experimental study. Concrete workability was tested in accordance with (ASTM C143 & EN 12350-2) and the slump lengths were noted for the concrete made with water containing varying heavy metal concentrations and that made with distilled water samples respectively. In accordance with (BS 1881: Part: 108 1983) Compressive strength values for each specimen for each water sample were determined by means of a universal compression test machine and all specimens for water samples were tested at 14 and 28 days and the results were obtained. The graphs of compressive strength against heavy metal concentration were plotted and they clearly showed that compressive strength reduced as the heavy metal concentration increased. Water absorption was determined in accordance with (BS 1881: Part: 108 1983), the water absorbed by cubes of each water sample on the 28th day when completely soaked in water for 24 hours. indicated that the existence of heavy metal in water used in concrete works increases cubes’ rate of water absorption. Therefore, the use of water containing heavy metals such as copper, iron, and lead as mixed water, affects the concrete properties as the concrete workability reduces, water absorption increases, and the compressive strength reduces for 14 and 28 days respectively. From this research study, maximum tolerable heavy metal concentrations were determined that is iron 0.2mg/L, Lead 0.005mg/L, copper 0.45mg/L. |
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