Journal Article

Influence of Cement Type on the Performance and Durability of Cement Paste and Concrete with Wastewater

Theodosiou, Theodoros, Karanafti, Aikaterina, Valentin, Jan, Ferriz-Papi, Juan Antonio, Anastasiou, Eleftherios K., Tsardaka, Eirini-Chrysanthi

2026

Overview

Recycling wastewater from washing concrete trucks in concrete production addresses both economic and sustainability needs. In the present article, wastewater from washing concrete trucks was added to cement pastes made with two different types of cement for comparison. OPC type CEM I 42.5 was compared to pozzolanic cement type CEM IV/B (P-W) 32.5 in terms of hydration behavior and compressive strength development. The hydration of ordinary Portland cement (CEM I 42.5) was accelerated, while the hydration of pozzolanic cement (CEM IV 32.5) showed a relatively lower total normalized heat. Cement pastes were produced from both cement types, and compressive strength, thermal analysis, and setting time tests were performed for their characterization. The early-age kinetics and compressive strength development of CEM I 42.5 pastes indicate that hydration with wastewater leads to a slight increase in compressive strength. Test concrete prepared with pozzolanic cement (CEM IV 32.5) exhibited increased capillary voids, which contributed to less favorable mechanical and durability performance. Compared to the reference concrete, compressive strength was reduced by 7% at 28 days. Wastewater utilization increased the initial absorption rate by approximately 20%, but the calculated chloride content at the exposed concrete surface decreased after the addition of wastewater compared to the control mix. The carbonation depth of concrete with wastewater increased by 1–2 mm, with an uneven penetration zone, but the compressive strength after carbonation increased. Overall, the type of cement used appears to significantly influence the performance of concrete prepared with wastewater. For wastewater collected from sedimentation tanks, replacing fresh water at a 100% rate and using it with pozzolanic cement to produce concrete, it seems that the mechanical properties and durability are only slightly affected.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
• Subject: Alkalinity / Analysis / Carbonation / Cement / Cement paste / Compressive strength / Concrete / Concrete mixing / Drinking water / Durability / Fresh water / Hydration / Mechanical properties / Phenolphthalein / Portland cements / Pozzolanic cements / Sedimentation & deposition / Sedimentation tanks / Telford, Thomas / Thermal analysis / Truck industry / Trucks / Washing / Wastewater