Developing sustainable burnt clay bricks incorporating agro-industrial waste

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The study addresses environmental pollution and waste disposal issues resulting from rapid industrialization by investigating the use of agro-industrial waste materials to improve the quality of burnt clay bricks. The research evaluated the effects of incorporating fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), rice husk ash (RHA), and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) in proportions ranging from 2% to 8% into brick earth. Results showed that in the Hyderabad zone, the compressive strength increased by 28%, 31%, 16%, and 8% with the addition of 4% FA, 4% SF, 2% RHA, and 2% SBA, respectively. However, in the Kandhkot locality, compressive strength enhancements were noted at 24%, 36%, 23%, and 27%, respectively, with consistent raw material ratios. For long-term durability, water absorption and efflorescence tests were conducted, which showed a reduction because of the addition of these waste materials. In both locations, the brick dimensions remained within the allowed range. In conclusion, the results suggest that the construction sector has the potential to enhance the properties of bricks by employing these agro-industrial waste materials and promoting sustainable methods for controlling environmental factors.