Physical and mechanical properties of lightweight concrete with the addition of crude palm oil production wastes

Abstract

The increased area of oil palm plantations in Indonesia followed by increased production and amount of palm oil waste. One of the waste products of palm oil produced from the process of purifying Crude Palm Oil (CPO) is Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE). This research will utilize SBE waste as sand substitution material in concrete manufacture. The addition of natural fiber from the Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) in the manufacture of concrete is expected to increase the mechanical strength of concrete that meets the SNI requirements. The process of making concrete begins by mixing all ingredients, stirring, moulding, compacting manual, and curing for 28 days. Concrete making is done by substituting SBE by 10%, 30%, and 50% based on sand weight, and fiber by 2%, 4%, and 6% based on sample volume. The results showed that the substitution of 28.98% SBE for sand weight, and 5.95% EFB based on Light Weight Concrete (LWC) volume, produced concrete with the best properties.