Use of periwinkle shell by-products in Portland cement-based materials: an overview

Abstract

Periwinkle shellfishes are widely distributed in the wetlands of the Niger Delta. Periwinkle shells are often heaped in open fields and landfills which cause environmental problems such as pollution and breeding of disease-carrying organisms. In order to manage periwinkle shell by-products, preserve natural resources and save construction costs, attempts have been made to use periwinkle shell aggregate (PSAGG) and periwinkle shell ash (PSASH) as recycled materials in cement-based products. This paper reviews the influence of PSAGG and PSASH on the properties of Portland cement-based materials. Periwinkle shell has similar calcium carbonate content with limestone aggregate. Using PSAGG as a partial coarse aggregate at up to 50% replacement level can produce normal-weight concrete which possesses over 60% of the control strength. Utilising PSASH as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) will have beneficial functions in cement-based construction where low heat of evolution is needed and early strength is not a major consideration. Further investigations are required including in-depth research on the cost analysis and durability of cement-based products containing periwinkle shell by-products.