Experimental Research on Sugarcane Bagasse Ash as a Sustainable Supplementary Cementitious Material

The increasing environmental concerns associated with cement production have led to the exploration of sustainable alternative materials in construction. Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA), an agricultural waste obtained from sugar industries, has emerged as a promising supplementary cementitious material (SCM) due to its high silica content and pozzolanic characteristics. This research investigates the utilization of SCBA as a partial replacement of cement in mortar mixes with proportions 1:4, 1:5, and 1:6. SCBA was incorporated at different replacement levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. Experimental evaluation was carried out through compressive strength tests at curing ages of 7, 14, and 28 days. The results indicate that SCBA improves strength up to an optimum replacement level (around 5–10%) due to pozzolanic reactions, while higher percentages reduce strength due to dilution of cement content. The study also highlights improvements in sustainability by reducing CO₂ emissions, promoting waste utilization, and conserving natural resources. Thus, SCBA can be effectively used as an eco-friendly and cost-effective material in mortar for sustainable construction.