Effect of a high content in activated carbon waste on low clinker cement microstructure and properties

•Blended cements with 20%–50% additions are standard-compliant.•The binder containing 50% AC qualifies as a low heat cement.•Drying shrinkage is more intense in high AC content cements.•Adding 20%–50% AC to cement lowers its mechanical strength.•Computed tomography shows that the addition raises the intermediate macropore (0.001–0.09 mm3) volume.