Pigment Recovered from Iron Rich Mine Water for use in Colored Concrete

 Abstract — Acid mine water contains high concentrations of Fe 3+ which can be recovered as Fe(OH) 3 , and processed to pigments. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of pigments, recovered from treatment of iron rich mine water, for their suitability in producing colored concrete, with that of commercially available pigments on the South African market. It was found that: (i) more colour was produced with an increase in pigment concentration, (ii) increased compressive strength with an increase in pigment concentration, (iii) reduction in slump and spread with an increase in pigment concentration (iv). Mine water pigment performed similarly to commercial pigment in the case of concrete compressive strength and spread but poorer in the case of slump.