Research on trace elements leaching characteristics of concrete water tanks which constructed with alternative fuel used cement in its production process

Cement is a hydraulic binder which produced with natural resources and its sector defined energy intensive industry. Clinker, semi-finished product of cement, produces in high temperature with firing of raw materials as limestone, clay, iron ore and marl. Fossil fuels; coal, petroleum coke, natural gas, conventionally use in clinker production. Likewise, reasons which are increasing of energy costs, decreasing of dependence of foreign sources and minimizing of environmental hazards of wastes, a part of domestic and industrial waste can be used by cement industry as secondary fuels. Recent years in Turkey, number of cement plants that are using alternative fuels, increased with technological improvements and regarding investments. Cement industry contributed economic benefits for waste management policy of country. In the World, most of cement plants reached high substitution rates for secondary fuel usage. Especially in European countries, various studies are made for researches which are related with effects of high substitution rates on concrete. And many laboratory scale methodologies are improved for detecting leaching characteristics of cement. EPA Method 1315 was published by American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for determination of leaching characteristics of cement mortar. In this study, method used for trace elements leaching characteristics of concrete water tanks which constructed with alternative fuel used cement. Investigated data by analysis of trace elements are compared local and international drinking water standards.