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This laboratory exercise aims to identify harmful organic impurities in sand used for concrete. The procedure involves mixing sand with a sodium hydroxide solution, allowing it to stand, and then comparing the color of the supernatant liquid to a reference standard. If the supernatant is darker than the reference, further testing of the sand is required before approval for use in concrete.

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15 views1 page

PLATE7

This laboratory exercise aims to identify harmful organic impurities in sand used for concrete. The procedure involves mixing sand with a sodium hydroxide solution, allowing it to stand, and then comparing the color of the supernatant liquid to a reference standard. If the supernatant is darker than the reference, further testing of the sand is required before approval for use in concrete.

Uploaded by

nhbsjkl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LABORATORY EXERCISE # 7

ORGANIC IMPURITIES IN SANDS FOR CONCRETE


OBJECTIVE:
To determine the presence of injurious organic compounds in sand.

SIGNIFICANCE:
The test determines the organic impurities in natural sands that is injurious when used in
cement mortar and concrete. The purpose of the test is to furnish a warning that further
tests of the sand are necessary before they are approved for use.

APPARATUS:
Glass bottles – approximately use 350 ml graduated clear glass bottle with rubber, cork
or other stoppers not soluble in the specified reagents.
REAGENTS AND REFERENCE STANDARD COLOR SOLUTION
1. Sodium hydroxide solution (3%) – dissolve 3 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) in 97 parts of water.
2. Reference color standard solution – dissolve reagent grade potassium dichromate
(K2Cr2O7) in concentrated sulfuric acid (sp. GR. 1.84) at the rate 0.250 g per 100 ml of
acid. The solution must be freshly made for color comparison using gentle heat if
necessary to effect solution. PROCEDURE:
1. Fill a glass bottle to the approximately 130 ml level with the sample of the sand to be
tested. 2. Add 3% NaOH solution in water until the volume of the sand and liquid,
indicated after shaking is approximately 200 ml.
3. Stopper the bottle, shake vigorously, and then allow to stand for 24 hours.

DETERMINATION OF COLOR VALUE


Preferred procedure – At the end of the 24 hr standing period, fill a glass bottle to the 75
ml level with the fresh reference standard color solution, prepared not longer 2 h
previously. Then compare the color of the supernatant liquid above the test sample with
that of reference standard color solution and record whether it is lighter or darker or of
equal color to the comparison by holding the two bottles close together and looking
through them.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS:
If the color of the supernatant liquid is dark than that of the reference standard color
solution, the sand under test shall be considered to possibly contain injurious organic
compounds and further test should be made before approving the sand for use in
concrete.

Color Reference Chart

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