Rice Husk Combustion Research Articles

Preparation and Properties of Rice Hull Ash as the catalysis supporter in the fluidized-bed reactor

This research focuses on the preparation and properties of rice hull ash(RHA). We prepared RHA from combustion of rice husk in the fluidized-bed reactor. The temperature field of the furnace was steady and bellow 850°C to keep SiO2 amorphous. XRD, BET and SEM were applied in the characterization tests to investigate the effect of flow rate(u), the higher primary-secondary wind ratio(i) and relative height of bed material. The optimal combustion condition for preparing RHA was discussed. RHA obtained from rice hull contains abundant amorphous SiO2 (>90%) and the characterization results of RHA show its potential to be a good catalyst supporter.

A replacement of traditional insulation refractory brick by a waste‐derived lightweight refractory castable

AbstractLightweight insulation refractories are essential for high‐temperature performance to reduce energy consumption. This study investigates a new insulation material, that is, solid waste rice husk ash (RHA) derived lightweight refractory castable, replacing traditional insulation refractory brick. The RHA is generated after the burning of rice husk as biomass fuel. The RHA is used as an aggregate and alkali‐extracted silica sol from RHA as a binder to fabricate the insulation castable. The nanosilica containing (~30 wt%) sol is employed to synthesize the refractory castable by varying the sol amount (2.5‐12.5 wt% silica from sol). The castable specimens are cast by a vibro‐caster and fired at 900‐1200°C in a muffle furnace. The physic‐mechanical and thermal conductivity (κ) of the castable is investigated. At 1100°C with 10 wt% dry sol retaining sample shows an excellent apparent porosity (~65%), low bulk density (~ 0.8 g/cm3), and κ (0.136 W/m k) with sustainable compressive strength (6 MPa). The acquired results are a good match with the literature (other wastes‐derived insulation materials) and industrial (silica insulation brick) obtained data. These promising outcomes may inspire the refractory industries for using RHA as an aggregate and RHA extracted sol as a binder for making insulation castable.

Particle Size and Microstructure Characterization of Uncontrolled Burning Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as Pozzolanic Material

RHA has been the subject of investigation for its pozzolanic activity that heavily linked to the controlled temperature burning process in order to achieve amorphous form of silica. This paper present the characterization of RHA that was taken directly from the boiler of rice mill with uncontrolled burning temperature. Particle size analysis revealed grinding process of RHA could significantly curb the diameter size and increased specific surface area. Microstructure analysis suggest that RHA is very porous and EDX test showed the chemical content of RHA. The prospect of using uncontrolled burnt RHA as part of construction material is feasible.

The Properties of White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA) Made of Rice Husk Ash Silica and Limestone Calcium Carbonate and the Effect of Silica Particles Addition

White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA) using a combination of precursors consisting entirely of SiO2, CaCO3, Al2O3, and Bi2O3 which are widely used as cement for tooth restoration has been prepared. SiO2 was extracted from rice husk ash containing about 85-95% of silica found in rice husk ash from complete combustion. On the other hand, rice husks, in general, are still regarded as agricultural waste resulting from the rice milling process. In the rice milling process, around 20-30% of rice is obtained, and around 14-20% of ash is produced from burning rice husks. CaCO3 can be synthesized from limestone and it contains about 95% calcium carbonate. In this research, the researcher made WMTA from rice husk silica and CaCO3 from limestone. This research was carried out in several stages of silica extraction from rice husk ash using the high-purity sol-gel method, then the synthesis of calcium carbonate with the carbonation method obtained precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). Preparation of WMTA by reacting silica sonicated + PCC + Al2O3 accompanied by stirring and heating 85 °C for 24 hours for homogenization, gelation, and maturation processes will be obtained by MTA’s gel. The MTA gel dried and calcined 1000 °C for 3 hours to obtain a white powder, the final product was added Bi2O3 of 18% produced high-quality WMTA. The results of making WMTA and modification silica of rice husk ash and PCC from limestone were characterized using XRD, FTIR showed characters that had similarities with WMTA ProRoot and had better diameter tensile strength test capabilities.

Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of methylene blue on rice husk ash straw Composites

In this paper, corn straw in Jilin area was used as the base material, and the corn straw was modified by the alkaline solution system formed by urea trisodium phosphate sodium tetraborate, then the residue of rice husk burning in power plant was added. The rice husk ash / straw composite material was made by spin coating evaporation process, and the adsorption performance of methylene blue in wastewater was explored, and the linear regression analysis was carried out by Origin software The kinetic equation was obtained by regression fitting. The experimental results showed that: when the ratio of rice husk ash and straw was 1:2, the adsorption performance of methylene blue in wastewater was the highest, the adsorption rate was 96.3%, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 578.0mg/g; at the same time, it was found that the kinetic model was in line with the pseudo second order adsorption kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process of methylene blue in wastewater by rice husk ash / straw composite was mainly chemical reaction.

Optimized Production of Syngas from Rice Hush Using Steam Explosion in Dual Fluidized Bed Gasifier

Converting rice husk into energy is a promising method of generating renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this research rice hush is considered as biomass fuel. The characteristics of rice husk gasification were investigated at an Equivalence Ratio (ER) of 0.25–0.38 and a gasifier temperature of 750-870°C in 20 tons per day (TPD) using steam explosion process in fluidized bed gasifier system. Different operation conditions, temperatures and loads, are investigated for their effects on the compositions, calorific properties, gasification efficiencies of syngas. The effects of the critical parameters, namely, Steam-to-Biomass Ratio (S/B), Particle size variation and gasification temperature on the quality of the product gas as well as the gasifier cold gas efficiency were analyzed. This is the new finding in the research. The optimal conditions of the gasification operation were an ER of 0.20 and gasifier temperature of 800°C. The low heating value of the gas product and cold gas efficiency were 1390kcal/Nm³ and 75%, respectively. After passing the generated gas through the gas cleaning units, it was confirmed that the tar in the product gas was removed with an efficiency of 98%. The cleaned product gas was used for the operation of 420kW, gas engine. Pressure loss often occurred at the bottom of the gasifier during the gasification operation; we found that the agglomerates generated by the gasification process caused it. To prevent the pressure loss caused by the agglomerates, the stable control of temperature inside the gasifier is needed and an ash removal device remove agglomerates should be installed to maintain stable long-term operation. This paper leads towards the production of Syngas and further on the electricity from the rice husk, an eminent biomass, copiously available all around the world. Especially in Pakistan, the rice is used abundantly so the raw material is easily available. The gas is produced using the gasification process in dual fluidized gasifier. It is a wonderful alternative to the natural gas with high calorific value. The sulfur contents are quite less compared to natural gas. It also have a good correlation with environment as flue gases emission is negligible relative to other source like coal, wood, plastic, waste etc. Another benefit of this process is the waste management and pollution control. The results are developed by using the detailed analysis of the process values of plants which is generating electricity by rice husk gasification. We learned, all results revealed that the dual fluidized bed gasification is more economical and efficient method compared to all other methods for commercial scale production of syngas. Results are analyzed which imply that the biomass is more gigantic source which replace the fossil fuels and leads towards the green energy in a more economical way. This paper provides an overview of previous works on combustion and gasification of rice husk in atmospheric fluiuidized bed reactors and summarizes the state of the art knowledge. As the high ash content, low bulk density, p characteristics and low ash melting point makes the other types of reactors like grate furnaces and downdraft gasifers either inefficient or unsuitable for rice husk conversion to energy, the fluiuidized bed reactor seems to be the promising choice. The overview shows that the reported results are from only small bench or lab scale units. Although a combustion efficiency of about 80% can normally be attained; the reported values in the literature, which are more than 95%, seem to be in higher order. Combustion intensity of about 530kg/h/m² is reported. It is also technically feasible to gasify rice husk in a fluidized bed reactor to yield combustible producer gas, even with sufficient heating value for application in internal combustion engines.

Feasibility analysis of dryer with rice husk energy for drying jackfruit Dodol in Lombok

Sun drying is popularly used in Lombok to dry food items including jackfruit Dodol because it is easy and cheap. This type of drying has a weakness, which is very weather dependent. When it is cloudy or rainy, the drying process will stop, which will affect the income level of the jackfruit Dodol business. To overcome this, it is done through the application of a dryer with rice husk energy. Rice husks can be an alternative energy in drying process because they are easy to obtain and cheap. To make rice husks as drying energy, it can be done through an energy conversion process using a heat exchanger that is placed in a furnace. Tests were carried out in the drying process to produce a dry product of 5 kg of jackfruit Dodol. The drying temperature is obtained from the result of the energy conversion process between burning rice husks in a furnace with environmental air flowing in the heat exchanger pipe. The resulting hot air flows into the drying chamber. This makes the product more hygienic and drying process can be all the time. The implication of the application of the rice husk energy dryer is to increase the jackfruit Dodol business income. This dryer provides a return on investment (ROI) rate of 304.48% with the break-even point (BEP) occurring at 0.2778 years or 3.3336 months. This means k <n (0.2778 years <7 years), so it can be stated that the investment in rice husk energy dryer for drying jackfruit Dodol is feasible.

Optimization of Substrate and Nutrient Solution Strength for Lettuce and Chinese Cabbage Seedling Production in the Semi-Arid Environment of Central Myanmar

The growing population of tropical countries has led to a new awareness of the importance of vegetables as a source of essential foods and nutrients. The success of vegetable cultivation depends to a large extent on high-quality seedlings. This work aimed at evaluating the effects of different substrates and different nutrient solution concentrations on the development of lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedlings in a semi-arid tropical area. Three independent experiments were conducted at the Soil and Water Research Station at Yezin Agriculture University, Myanmar (Myanmar, 19.83° N; 96.27° E). In all experiments a randomized block design was implemented with four treatments and three repetitions. In the first experiment the adaptability of lettuce seedling to two substrates (namely a Hulls Manure mix composed by 50% of mature cattle manure and 50% of carbonized rice husk and a soil based substrate constituted by 70% local soil, 20% burned rice husk, and 10% fresh cattle manure) and two nutrient solutions with different electrical conductivities (ECs) (W0.1, stored rainwater with EC = 0.13 dS m−1 and NS1.2, nutrient solution with EC = 1.20 dS m−1) were tested. In the second and third experiments, two species (lettuce and Chinese cabbage) were assessed for their response to nutrient solution concentrations. In both crops, 4 fertigation treatments (W0.1; NS0.6; NS1.2; and NS1.8) were supplied, by modulating the concentration of a compound mineral fertilizer (15:15:15) in the following ranges: W0.1: 0 g L−1, electrical conductivity (EC) 0.13 dS m−1, NS0.6: 0.3 g L−1, EC of 0.60 dS m−1; NS1.2: 0.6 g L−1, 1.2 dS m−1 EC, and NS1.8: 0.9 g L−1, 1.8 dS m−1 EC. Adopting different substrates and applying different nutrient solutions significantly affected growth (fresh weight and leaf morphology) and some physiological parameters (stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, and leaf chlorophyll content) of lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedling. From the first experiment, the combination of the soil based substrate and NS1.2 treatments allowed us to improve the seedlings’ growth. In the second experiment, highest growth of lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedlings was associated with NS1.2 and NS1.8, respectively. The presented results allow for the optimization of both growing media and nutrient solution management when lettuce and Chinese cabbage seedling are produced in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar.

Review paper: Performance of rice husk ash as a material for partial cement replacement in concrete

The construction industry had approached a critical limit which led to the increase of cement production. The production of cement would cause a broader environmental implication. Cement production is a major source of carbon dioxide emission. Carbon dioxide gas contributes about 63.33% of global warming since the production of one ton of cement would emit about one ton of carbon dioxide to the environment. To mitigate this issue, the research community has investigated the use of waste materials that possess similar chemical properties with cement content as a material for partial cement replacement. The use of rice husk ash has shown to be a contending candidate in the literature. Therefore, this paper attempts at reviewing the performance of rice husk ash as partial cement replacement. It could be observed from the literature that concrete with 5% up to 15% of rice husk ash showed an equivalent performance to ordinary concrete in compressive, flexural, and tensile strength. Thus, rice husk ash can be used as a material replacement in concrete and reduces pollution that originates from cement production and open burning of rice husk.

Utilization of Rice Husk Ash in the Preparation of Graphene-Oxide-Based Mesoporous Nanocomposites with Excellent Adsorption Performance.

Rice husk is an agricultural biomass waste. Burning rice husks in an oxygenic atmosphere releases thermal energy and produces ash that is rich in silica. Rice husk ash (RHA) can be used as a sustainable source of silica for producing high-value-added products. In this study, mesostructural graphene oxide (GO)/SBA-15, a graphene-based hybrid material, was synthesized from RHA. The materials are inspected by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, Raman spectrometer, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, surface area analyzer, and X-ray diffraction analyzer. Studies have revealed that GO/SBA-15 possesses various oxygen functional groups that are helpful for dye adsorption. The material consisted of high pore volume of 0.901 cm3/g, wide pores of diameter 11.67 nm, and high surface area of 499 m2/g. Analysis of the methylene blue (MB) adsorption behavior of GO/SBA-15 composites revealed that their adsorption capacity depended on the gelation pH, GO content, adsorbent dosage, and initial dye (MB) concentration. The highest adsorption capacity of GO/SBA-15 was 632.9 mg/g. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of GO/SBA-15 were investigated. This study demonstrated the great advantage of treated RHA and the potential of this material for use in organic dye adsorption.

Penjernihan Air Payau Sungai Serdang dengan Limbah Sekam Padi Sebagai Bahan Dasar Zeolit dalam Menurunkan Kadar Logam Besi (Fe) Dan Mangan (Mn) di Kabupaten Tanjung Jabung Barat

Rice husk ash is a waste from burning rice husks which causes pollutants that can pollute the environment so it is necessary to use it to increase its economic value and reduce its negative impact on the environment, one of which is used as a basic material for making zeolite. This study aims to utilize rice husk ash waste as a basis for making zeolite which is used as an adsorbent to purify and reduce metal content in brackish water. This study is an experimental study. Where, this research was conducted using water samples in the Serdang Jaya area, Tanjung Jabung Barat Regency, Jambi. 10 liters of water samples were taken by a purification process using two purification methods, then the water filtering process was left for 30-60 minutes until the water looked clear. After the water is clear, the iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) levels are tested using atomic absorption spectrophotometry to see the decrease in metal levels in the water. Water purification is carried out using a procedure consisting of water, coral, activated charcoal, zeolite, sand and palm fiber. The results of FTIR analysis showed that the Al and Si functional groups were formed from zeolite of rice husk. The XRD analysis results showed the formation of compound structures, namely Aluminum Oxide and Sodium Silica. The results of AAS analysis of water purification showed a more effective decrease in turbidity levels and a decrease in iron (Fe) levels by 0.1672 mg / l and manganese (Mn) metal by <0.01 mg / l. Zeolites made from rice husk ash are zeolite A (Na2O.Al2O3.2SiO2.4,5H2O) and Zeolites from rice husk ash can be used in the purification process to reduce levels of Fe metal 96.71% and metal content of manganese (Mn) amound 98 , 23%.

Catalysing the Combustion of Rice Husk and Rice Straw Towards an Energy Optimized Synthesis of Metal Modified Biogenic Silica

The classical approach for the synthesis of catalysts based on biogenic silica from rice husk or rice straw involves a high temperature (600 °C) calcination step to remove the organic matrix from the silica backbone. The remaining silica can then be impregnated with a variety of active components in the form of Mn-, Fe- and Ce-precursors, followed by subsequent thermal treatment to form the corresponding metal oxides. In this work, we introduce a novel energy optimized route for the preparation of biogenic silica supported metal oxides. The proposed synthesis procedure aims towards the reduction of pyrolysis steps by infiltrating metal salts into the biomass lignocellulosic matrix. The modified rice husk or rice straw can then be calcined to directly yield the desired metal oxide supported on biogenic silica. To evaluate the described method, as model system manganese oxide modified rice husk silica was compared to a set of materials synthesized via classical calcination-impregnation by means of textural (N2-Sorption, SEM/EDX), structural (XRD), thermal (TG/DTA) and elemental (ICP-OES; XRF) analysis. Results indicate that the introduction of transition metals into biomass powder promotes the combustion of the organic matrix in terms of temperature requirements for its complete removal. In addition, catalytic tests of the materials obtained by the novel synthesis route clearly show similar or even improved performance as compared to catalysts prepared via impregnation method.

On the Prediction of Outer Ash Deposition Rates During Oxy-Fuel Combustion of Rice Husk, Coal and Their Blends at 70% Inlet O <sub>2</sub>

On the Prediction of Outer Ash Deposition Rates During Oxy-Fuel Combustion of Rice Husk, Coal and Their Blends at 70% Inlet O <sub>2</sub>

Mortars produced with an environmentally sustainable rice HUSK silica: Rheological properties

This paper presents an experimental study on the rheological behavior of commercial mortars with a high percentage of Rice Husk Silica (RHS). RHS was used to replace 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% by mass of Portland cement. The use of the waste material from burning rice husk in the mixtures contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable environment. The rheological behavior of fresh mixtures was investigated along with the time (15, 60, 120 e 180 min) by flow table test, modified Vicat and squeeze flow tests. In this research, an extension version of squeeze flow test was proposed, in which the samples are submitted to load and unload test (tensile test). The flow table results obtained showed that the workability of the mortars decreases as the RHS content increases. About 4% of the workability loss is related to the granular structure of mortars, and 96% about the porous structure of the RHS. In the Modified Vicat test, lower cone penetrations were observed as the RHS content increased, indicating the increase in the viscosities of mortars. Through the squeeze flow test, it was observed an increase in the mortar stiffness with the increase in RHS content and the increase in time. The maximum tensile load obtained in the unload squeeze flow test was higher as the replacement of Portland cement by RHS increased. Therefore, the mortars with higher RHS content are possibly able to retain more water, which may increase the adhesion with the substrate in the hardened state. In sum, the study shows that it is possible to produce eco-friendly mortar with a high quantity of RHS by increasing the time for application.

Evaluation of BTEX adsorption in industrial effluent through the percolation method using rice husk ash as adsorbent material

The aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) are highly volatile and toxic to human health and the environment. Adsorption is a physical-chemical process widely used in effluent treatment in which a material called adsorbate has the capacity to retain components dispersed in an aqueous medium on its surface. Studies of waste recovery demonstrate potentialities and more noble uses than the final disposal. In this sense, the ashes generated from the combustion of rice husk can be used as a by-product with various applications; in the case of this work, as adsorbent material, due to its amorphism and its high surface area. This study aimed to evaluate the adsorption of the aromatic components of a petrochemical effluent (formation water) with the use of two types of rice husk ash generated from two different grate combustion processes in a filtration system under positive pressure. The ashes were segregated and characterized according to their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural properties. The adsorption procedure by percolation consisted of 1L of petrochemical effluent for 45 g of adsorbent material. The samples of raw effluent were analyzed by gas chromatography. The results proved that the percentage of removal of BTEX composts in the segregated ash I did not potentialize the effect of the adsorption, being higher in the raw ash, with values of 90.2; 94.9; 83.3 and 100 %, while in ash II the effect of the segregation influenced the adsorption process only for the benzene and toluene, with removal values that went from 55.08 to 69.14 % and 69.23 to 75 %, respectively, in both of the ashes studied. The results obtained were inferior to those recommended by the legislation. Thus, the different combustion temperatures of the husk influenced in the characteristics, adsorption capacity, and BTEX removal efficiency by the adsorbate. Therefore, the positive filtration system can be used as a final polishing step in the treatment of petrochemical effluents, replacing conventional systems that use activated carbon.

Strength characteristics of micronized silica concrete with polyester fibres

Concrete is one of the materials in the construction industry for which the usage has diversified all over the globe. Cement manufacturing releases harmful gases like CO2 during its production. So, to create a sustainable environment and save natural resources, alternate construction materials can be effectively used without sacrificing the required quality. The present work is taken up to determine the effect of polyester fibres on the strength characteristics of concrete with micronized silica (MS). MS is obtained by controlled burning of rice husk which is a by-product in rice mill industries. Cement was partially replaced by MS in different proportions of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by weight of cement in the conventional concrete. To rectify the problem arrived by using MS, i.e., high level of water absorption, a good water reducer (superplasticizer) was used. Polyester fibres were added to the micronized silica concrete mix which gave the optimum strength in the proportion of 0%, 0.1% and 0.2% by weight of cement. Compressive, split-tensile and flexural strength were determined, and the results indicated that the strengths of concrete along with MS were increased upto a limit, and thereafter it reduces and fibres further enhance the strength. The ideal mix was obtained at MS content of 10%and fibre addition of 0.2% for the concrete.

Can We Grow Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) Root in Hydroponic System with Simple Growing Media?

Unlike conventional agriculture, urban hydroponics are widely on a small yard scale. Hydroponics is a term used for farming without using soil as a growth medium. Plants can be planted in pots or other containers using water and other porous materials as growing media. Cheap, easily obtainable, and efficient growing media types are needed for urban communities to cultivate vegetable crops, especially shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.). Shallots have an important meaning, both in terms of high economic value and their nutritional content. It is unknown if the shallots are cultivated in a hydroponic system and how the performance of its roots and the suitable simple growing media for growing shallots in hydroponic will be enhanced. Therefore, this research was conducted to study the performance of shallot roots in several alternative hydroponic media and obtain growing media that can provide the best growth on the performance of shallot roots in the hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted in 3 months at the Glass House and Integrated laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Mulawarman University, Indonesia. This research was arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications. The factor is the growing media (m) which consists of 4 levels, namely: m1 = sand (± 80-100 mesh); m2 = burnt rice husk; m3 = egg cartons; and m4 = wood shavings (± 90-120 mesh). Data retrieval by observing the following parameters: Leaf length (cm), Number of leaves (strands), Number of plant bulbs (bulbs), bulbs wet weight (grams), bulbs dry weight (grams), Longest root length (cm), and Total root length (m). This research showed that the burnt rice husk and wood shavings growing media influence the growth and performance of the shallots' roots (Allium ascalonicum L.) plants and can be used as the simple growing media in urban hydroponic as Household scale cultivation. On the other hand, the growing media from sand and egg cartons are not recommended for growing shallots in the hydroponic system.

Investigative Study for Low Particulate Matter Emission in Rice Husk Combustion

Investigative Study for Low Particulate Matter Emission in Rice Husk Combustion

Behavior of strawberry production with growth models: a multivariate approach

Strawberry is an economically and socially important crop in several regions worldwide. Thus, studies that provide information on topics in strawberry growth are important and must be constantly updated. The aims of this study were to fit a logistic growth model to describe strawberry fruit production and to estimate the partial derivatives of the fitted model in order to estimate and interpret the critical points, in addition to using multivariate analyses. To do this, data on 16 treatments [combinations of two cultivars (Albion and Camarosa), two origins (national and imported), and four mixed organic substrates (70% crushed sugar cane residue + 30% organic compost, 70% crushed sugar cane residue + 30% commercial substrate, 70% burnt rice husk + 30% organic compost, and 70% burnt rice husk + 30% commercial substrate)] conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates were used. A logistic model was fitted to the accumulated fruit production stratified by treatment and replication. Partial derivatives related to the accumulated thermal sum were estimated in order to quantify the critical points of the model. Subsequently, a principal component analysis was performed. The results show that the use of growth models substantially increases the inferences that can be made about crop growth, and the multivariate analysis summarizes this information, simplifying its interpretation. Approaches such as those carried out in this study are still rarely used, but, compared to simpler models, they increase the amount of inferences that can be made and provide greater elucidation of the results.

Thermal performance of Rice Husk Ash mixed mortar in concrete and masonry buildings

Rice Husk (RH) is an agricultural waste which is produced in huge amounts from the milling process of paddy rice. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) is a by-product material obtained from the combustion of rice husk. The amorphous silica-rich RHA (84-90 wt%) has a wide range of applications. This research focused on the possibility of utilizing RHA in the process of developing a mortar with low thermal conductivity to enhance the thermal comfort in concrete and masonry buildings. The thermal conductivity of mortar was determined by Lee’s Disc method, and the results were compared to the data for conventional mortar as well as commercial thermal insulation materials. The results indicate a significant reduction in thermal conductivity in the mortar developed with RHA