The Properties of Blended Cement Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash

Abstract

Burning of the palm oil fibres and palm oil shells at the palm oil plantation mill has generated abundant amount of palm oil fuel ash (POFA). Recycling and reuse of POFA through thermal activation to produce a new Portland POFA cement (PPC) is one alternative that can be proposed to reduce the environmental problems due to improper POFA disposal. This paper reports on the chemical and physical properties, and the pozzolanic reactivity of POFA heated at 700°C for 1 hour, which interground and blended together with the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in order to produce the PPC cement at 20, 40, and 50% of POFA replacement level. To investigate the physical and chemical properties of the PPC, the specific gravity, soundness, density, and LOI tests were conducted. The flowability and compressive strength were also determined to identify its effect on the pozzolanic reactivity. The results showed that the PPC has high compressive strength due to its high pozzolanic reaction. The flowability is higher than the OPC, signifying that PPC has low water requirement. The compressive strength and pozzolanic reactivity increased with increasing of TGP content (up to 50%). The findings showed that there is a possibility of using POFA in producing blended POFA cement which is environmental green product for use in the concrete construction.