Investigating the possibility of using date kernel ash as supplementary cementitious material in sustainable concrete

Abstract

The cultivation of dates from palm trees is an important economic activity in Iraq. Date production forms a significant part of the country's agricultural sector, contributing to both local consumption and export markets. The date industry supports many livelihoods and businesses in Iraq. The total number of fertile palm trees in Iraq is over 22 million. In the production of pitted dates, date molasses, date paste and date confectionery, a significant amount of date pits are usually discarded as waste. This study reports chemical analysis investigations conducted to evaluate the potential use of waste date kernel ash (DKA) compared with other pozzolanic material which is fly ash (FA) from bricks factory, tow samples obtained as a partial cement replacement in concrete, the first sample by the calcination of date pits at 500 °C for 4 hours then cooling and continue calcination at 600 °C for 2 hours, and the second sample by calcination at 500 °C for 4 hours. The results of (XRF) tests showed that DKA has low silica oxide and does not qualify as a pozzolanic material compared with a high silica oxide of FA.