The impact of curing compounds on the leaching from concrete

When concrete structures are constructed in water they can potentially have a detrimental effect on the surrounding environment by causing the pH in the water to rise. This rise in pH can harm both animal and plant life. One method of trying to control this leaching is to apply a curing compound to the concrete prior to exposure to water. This paper presents the results of a research project that investigated four different generic curing compounds to determine their effect of rate of leaching and the peak pH produced. Tests were conducted in slow flowing water, analogous to systems where impacts have been observed. A range of curing compounds, together with a control specimen, was investigated. The results showed that while all the curing compounds demonstrated a reduction in leaching only one compound actually reduced the peak pH to a level below which any impact on the flora and fauna may occur