Porosity Analysis of Mortars Incorporating Glass Powder and Coffee Grounds Using X-Ray Tomography

The environmental burden of cement production and unmanaged waste such as glass and coffee grounds presents a dual challenge. This study evaluates the effect of partially substituting cement with glass powder (5?25%) and coffee grounds (2?5%) on the porosity and water absorption of mortar. Using X-ray computed tomography and DragonFly 3D software, the internal pore structures were analyzed non-destructively. Results show that glass powder significantly reduces porosity and water absorption, suggesting improved microstructural integrity. Conversely, the inclusion of coffee grounds leads to increased porosity and water uptake, likely due to their organic and porous nature. The findings support the potential of glass powder as a sustainable additive in mortar while calling for further research into optimizing the use of coffee grounds.