Exploring Snail Shell as an Alternative Material for Mortar Preparation

The economic and environmental challenges associated with cement manufacturing have become major concerns for the construction industry. Therefore, developing sustainable approaches for cement-based materials is essential. This study investigated the partial replacement of ordinary Portland cement with blended snail shell powder in mortar preparation at replacement levels of 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight. The mortar specimens were evaluated after 28 days of curing through water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength tests. The results indicated that the 10% snail shell replacement demonstrated the most satisfactory performance as a supplementary cementitious material, showing water absorption of 17.03%, compressive strength of 25.27 MPa, and flexural strength of 7.06 MPa. Furthermore, the snail shell blended mortar was characterized using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses to examine its microstructure and mineralogical properties. The findings also support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). In addition, cost analysis revealed that the incorporation of snail shell powder significantly reduced material costs at higher replacement levels. Overall, waste snail shell powder can be considered a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative for partial cement replacement, contributing to reduced environmental impact and improved resource efficiency in the construction sector.