Enhancing the Durability of Green Concrete through the Utilization of Nano-sized Palm Oil Fuel Ash and Nano-sized Eggshell Powder

Abstract

Concrete is often regarded as a material representing robustness and long-lasting properties in contemporary society. The manufacture and utilization of cement are responsible for environmental contamination. Green concrete, often known as GC, has been increasingly recognized as a key material in the global concrete industry. Palm Oil Ash (POA) is a significant Lightweight Aggregate (LA) used in GC. Palm Oil (PO) processing generates POA as a by-product, which is thrown out in open areas and landfills without treatment, leading to environmental degradation. The pozzolanic activity is enhanced by grinding POA to nanoparticles, known as NPOA. Egg Shells (ES) are a type of biowaste that originates from eateries. They are deposited in landfills, producing toxic gases and inflicting environmental harm. Nano-sized ES Powder (NESP) contains a significant quantity of calcium oxide, which is crucial for hydration in concrete formation. Also, POA can serve as a fractional replacement for cement in concrete. This paper offers a study that utilized NPOA to improve the subpar performance of LA for GC produced with POA aggregate. The study involved replacing a portion of the cement with NPOA at 5%, 10%, and 15% ratios. Additionally, NESP was used as an admixture at a ratio of 1.5% to produce green concrete in cubes and cylinders. The concrete samples (in the shape of cubes and cylinders) are exposed to a curing process for 7, 14, and 28 days, respectively. Afterward, these samples are examined to evaluate their performance and measure their strength. The Conventional concrete is produced using an M20 grade mix. It is then compared to GC, both with and without NPOA concrete, using cube and cylinder models.