ABSTRACT

The issue of exposure of concrete to urine environment containing creatinine as one of its compositions cannot be eradicated easily as people have to urinate in public where toilet is made from concrete as the construction material. This causes reduction in density, compressive strength, decolorization, low abrasive resistance that results to crack propagation, structural failure and collapse ofthe structure. This resultsto making research in studying the effects ofthe compositions of urine on the density, compressive strength of concrete and modified concrete with Nickel II Sulphate as chemical activator, which a way ofimproving its application in construction. Concrete cubes with dimension of 150mm X 150mm with nominal mix ratio of 1:2:4, w/c ratio of 0.55 were moulded. The concretes were made as normal concrete without chemical activator and the modified ones with Nickel II Sulpahte Hexahydrate as the chemical activator in dosage of 1%, 3% and 6% by weight of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) used. In the creatinine environment, the value of compressive strength under Nickel II Sulphate as activator is 60.0MPa, while the control with 0% or no addition of chemical activator is 46.71MPa, a value lower than the activated concrete. Hence, the optimal level of addition of Nickel II Sulphate hexahydrate as chemical activator in improving the compressive strength up till 28th day is 3% in creatinine environment. The optimum level shows better compressive strength than the control concrete samples (0% addition of Nickel II Sulphate hexahydrate). The Nickel II Sulphate hexahydrate as chemical activator helps in activating and improving the compressive strength of concrete in creatinine environment. It is recommended that other compositions ofurine needsto be investigated, in order to know their effects on the appearance and deterioration degree on normal, high performance and modified concrete. Keywords: Concrete, Creatinine, Urine, Density, Compressive strength, Nickel II Sulphate hexahydrate