EFFECT OF SUPERPLASTICIZER ON MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE MADE WITH CIGARETTE BUTTS

Cigarette butts are among the most extensively littered wastes in the world. About 1.3 billion smokers worldwide produce trillions of cigarette butts every year. Discarded cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the environment, polluting water and soil. The aim of this research is to confine cigarette butts within concrete to eliminate its hazardous effects on the environment. However, the inclusion of cigarette butts in concrete may lead to poor mechanical properties and durability. A high-range water-reducing admixture (superplasticizer) has been used in concrete to compensate for the strength and durability loss. Cylindrical concrete specimens containing different percentages of cigarette butts (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) by weight of cement were prepared with and without a superplasticizer. The prepared specimens were tested to assess the mechanical performance of the concrete. It was observed that 10% inclusion of cigarette butts may be performed without significantly compromising the mechanical performance, and superplasticizer may be added to concrete to slightly enhance the mechanical properties.