Rice Husk Ash Research Articles

Investigation of Strength Concrete Materials Using Pozzolanic Additives

In the study, pozzolanic materials serve as replacements for additives, namely Palm Shell Ash (PSA), Coal Fly Ash (CFA), and Rice Husk Ash (RHA). The purpose of the study is to determine the optimum proportion of additives used in high-performance concrete. The addition of 15% PSA resulted in a strength of 69.227 MPa over a test period of 56 days, while the addition of 15% CFA yielded a strength of 69.369 MPa, and the addition of 5% RHA resulted in a strength of 59.984 MPa. The maximum concrete strength is achieved by adding 15% PSA. Correlation analysis between stress-strain indicates that aggregates exhibit higher strength compared to cement paste, mortar, and concrete, highlighting the relationship between the aggregate, cement paste, mortar components, and concrete as a composite material. Aggregate strength values found to be the highest among concrete, cement paste, and mortar, indicating that cement paste contributes the least to the strength of concrete, followed by mortar as concrete reinforcement. The results suggest that aggregates remain the primary strength component supporting concrete. The finding indicates that the relationship between the basic substances in this study aligns closely with existing theory. Moreover, it suggests that all concrete materials with pozzolan variants can classified as high-quality concrete. The optimum percentage is obtained by adding 15% palm shell ash, resulting in the highest compressive strength compared to counterparts and test objects with other types of pozzolan additions. The relationships between the constituents of concrete demonstrate that aggregates continue to be important contributors to concrete strength, with the cement paste contributing the least. Concrete strength values fall between those of aggregates and those of cement and mortar pastes.

Assessing the compressive strength of eco-friendly concrete made with rice husk ash: A hybrid artificial intelligence-aided technique

Providing an eco-friendly replacement for cement in cementitious materials mitigates not only its consumption but also the environmental effects such as extraction of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from its production. In light of this, the utilization of rice husk as a by-product of rice fields in the form of rice husk ash (RHA) as a partial substitute for cement, in addition to solving the problem of its disposal due to its silica content and high pozzolanic reaction, has been considered in the construction of sustainable concretes. This study seeks to move from the traditional laboratory-based methods for the examination of compressive strength (fc′) of concretes containing RHA towards artificial intelligence-based techniques by developing a novel hybrid model by integrating biogeography-based optimization (BBO) technique with artificial neural network (ANN). Besides, the performance of the hybrid ANN-BBO model was assessed with the single ANN model. To this end, the models were developed on an extensive dataset including 1276 data records collected from the literature. The efficiency of the models was evaluated by performance criteria and error histogram, and also cross-validation was utilized to avoid overfitting problems and generalize the models. Results demonstrated that the hybrid ANN-BBO model outperformed the single ANN model with high accuracy and minimum error values. Error histograms revealed that over 90 % of errors in the ANN-BBO model occurred in the range (−4 MPa, 4 MPa], while this range for the ANN model fell within (−6 MPa, 6 MPa]. Analyzing the influence of input parameters showed that more than 70 % of the contribution rate in the fc′ of RHA concrete belonged to four influential parameters of specimen age, cement, rice husk ash, and water, respectively. Eventually, to validate the proposed ANN-BBO model, a comparison was made with recent studies, in which the performance criteria revealed that the proposed model based on a more extensive dataset outperformed the models in previous studies.

Stabilization of waste foundry sand with alkali-activated binder: Mechanical behavior, microstructure and leaching

This study evaluates the stabilization of waste foundry sand (WFS) using an alkali-activated binder (AAB) produced from rice husk ash, hydrated eggshell lime, and sodium hydroxide. Mechanical properties, leaching behavior, and microstructure were assessed. The material’s durability was investigated, and the impact of wetting-drying cycles on mechanical strength and metal leaching was analyzed. The stabilized WFS fulfilled the requirements for unconfined compressive strength (qu) and accumulated loss of mass (ALM), making it suitable for use in pavement layers. Wetting-drying cycles did not significantly affect strength, and leached metal concentrations remained below toxic limits.

Ecofriendly concrete production with binary blends of rice husk ash and micro-silica: mechanical strength, durability, and ECM

Ecofriendly concrete production with binary blends of rice husk ash and micro-silica: mechanical strength, durability, and ECM

Effect of low carbon marble dust powder, silica fume, and rice husk ash as tertiary cementitious material on the mechanical properties and embodied carbon of concrete

The recent decade has seen a surge in study towards cost-effective, ecologically benign, as well as socially advantageous cement replacements. Alternatives include industrial and agricultural waste, which can be recycled, repurposed, as well as renewed. However, using these wastes as supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) saves energy as well as reduces cement use, which helps reduce CO2 emission. Therefore, this research investigation is to use the silica fume (SF), rice husk ash (RHA), as well as marble dust powder (MDP) individually as SCM and combine as tertiary cementitious materials (TCM) for determining the fresh (workability), hardened (dry density, splitting tensile and compressive strength) and durability (carbonation depth, and water absorption) properties of concrete. In this regard, 345 concrete samples were made with 1:1.5:3 mix ratio and cured for 28 days. The outcome has been demonstrated that the workability, dry density, water absorption and carbonation depth of concrete is getting reduced with growing the SF, RHA and MDP as SCM and TCM in concrete. Besides, the compressive and split tensile strength are increased by 10.44% and 9.544% respectively at 9% of SF, RHA and MDP as TCM for 28 days. Besides, the embodied carbon of concrete is decreasing while amount of SF, RHA and MDP as SCM and TCM is increasing. It has been observed that the use of 9% TCM is offering good results for construction sector and reduce the consumption of cement in concrete which helps to decrease the carbon emission in the environment.

Enhancing the durability of sustainable concrete: a study on ternary blended agro-waste ash incorporating rice husk ash and sugarcane bagasse ash

Enhancing the durability of sustainable concrete: a study on ternary blended agro-waste ash incorporating rice husk ash and sugarcane bagasse ash

Peat Stabilization by Using Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) Mixed with Rice Husk Ash (RHA)

Peat generally consists of high organic and water contentthatcauses the strength of peat soil to be very weak to bear any load. The strength of the soil can be increased by using binders like cement in peat soil stabilizationtechniques, but excessive cement use can pollute the ecosystem. This study aimed to determine the ideal proportion of rice husk ash (RHA) to be utilized in place of cement. A test of the basic characteristics of peat soil is carried out in order to identify the nature of peat soil. The strength of treated and untreated peat soil was determined through an unconfined compression test (UCS). By replacement at 15%, the result shows the replacement of 15% RHA in Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) demonstrates the maximum strength with the value of 531 kN/m² and 580 kN/m² for 7 and 28 curing days respectively. The microstructure image shows the difference in total porosity between the untreated and treated samples through the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) test. A chemical test via Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) shows that the strength of samples improveswhen the amount of carbon reduces and calcium content increases. The findings illustrate that the utilization of discarded agricultural waste can be used as an additive in reducing the consumption of cement to increase the strength of peat based on soil stabilization techniques.

Producing sustainable binding materials using marble waste blended with fly ash and rice husk ash for building materials

Abstract This study explores the possibilities of a new binding material, i.e., marble cement (MC) made from recycled marble. It will assess how well it performs when mixed with ash from rice husks and fly ash. This research analyzes flexural strength of marble cement mortar (FR-MCM), a mortar that incorporates MC, fly ash, and rice husk ash. A set of machine learning models capable of predicting CS and FS (flexural and compressive strengths) were developed. Gene expression programming (GEP) and multi-expression programming (MEP) are crucial in creating these types of models. Statistics, Taylor’s diagrams, R 2 values, and comparisons of experimental and theoretical results were used to evaluate the models. Stress testing also showed how different input features affected the model’s outputs. The accuracy of all GEP models was shown to fall within the acceptable range (R 2 = 0.952 for CS and R 2 = 0.920 for FS), and all MEP prediction models were determined to be exceptionally accurate (R 2 = 0.970 for CS and R 2 = 0.935 for FS). The statistical testing for error validation also verified that MEP models were more accurate than GEP models. According to sensitivity analysis, curing age and rice husk ash exerted the most significant influence on the prediction of CS and FS, followed by fly ash and MC.

Fly Ash and Rice Husk Ash Utilization to Enlarge Clay Brick Dimension

Burnt clay bricks, mostly used as non-structural wall unit materials in Indonesia, contain only clay in Bengkulu Province. A large amount of clay is used during clay brick production as a shrinkage effect of burning, while clay is a limited natural resource. Available non-plastic materials that can withstand combustion contraction are required to reduce the use of clay. Ash materials like fly ash and rice husk ash are non-plastic materials. The purposes of this research are to reduce clay usage, enlarge dimensions, and improve brick performance at the same time by adding coal fly ash (FA) and rice husk ash (RHA). This research is an experimental study of FA clay brick (FCB) and a combination of 50% FA and 50% RHA clay brick (FRCB). The ash was added to the mixture at weights of 10%, 20%, and 30% of clay. The factory-specified production method was used to create bricks. After the materials and water meltdown process to produce plastic material, bricks were molded, dried, and burned. Green and burnt brick measurements and weights were gathered. The Brick Indonesian Standard Code (SNI 15-2094-2000) was used while determining the bricks' compression strength and absorption. The mean values of the quantitative data were used after being analyzed through coefficient of variation values less than 10%. The result shows that the compressive strengths and absorption of 10% and 20% of the ash content of FCB meet the Indonesian code. Both brick volumes expand as the ash content increases. FRCB volume weight is 11%, 7.8%, and 8.1% lighter than FCB for 10%, 20%, and 30% ash content, respectively. Both brick varieties meet the ASTM code for nonload-bearing concrete masonry units. The use of FA and a mixture of FA and RHA enhances shrinkage, increases brick dimensions, and simultaneously lowers brick weight. Using lighter and larger bricks for the walls helps to recycle waste, reduce the mass of the building, and reduce the use of clay resources. Application 10% and 20% fly ash is recommended for increasing the size of clay bricks in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia.

Rice husk-derived photothermal materials for membrane distillation

This study aimed to develop innovative photothermal materials derived from agricultural by-products (rice husk), with a primary focus on assessing the potential of both rice husk ash (RHA) and rice husk char (RHC) powders as effective photothermal for localised heating. A comparative analysis of their feasibility for membrane integration and photothermal performance was conducted through comprehensive physical, chemical, and optical characterisations. The RHC powder demonstrated superior qualities for utilisation in comparison with RHA. This superiority is attributed to several key factors: a notably high production yield (40.3 %), a smaller particle size of z-average (0.65 μm), a significantly larger effective BET surface area (301.78 m2 g−1), smaller pore size (2.78 nm) and an elevated total pore volume (0.21 cm³.g−1). Dominated by a significant carbon content of 38.5 %, RHC powder showcased minimal light reflection (<5 %) and excellent light absorption across the entire spectrum, while RHA exhibited reflectance of more than 40 %, with light absorption occurring solely in the UV region. Moreover, RHC powder displaced superior light-to-thermal conversion, evident in a 20.9 °C temperature rise (83.6 %) from a 90-min exposure to a 0.4 kW m−2 full spectrum light source. The findings of this study firmly established RHC powder as the preferred alternative option for sustainable photothermal materials, given its physical properties compatible with membrane integration and exceptional photothermal conversion ability.

Concrete properties with recycled coarse aggregate and rice husk ash: factorial design study

Methods of design of experiment have been implemented for the evaluation of the impact of the inclusion of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and rice husk ash (RHA) on strength and other chosen parameters of concrete. A specific general factorial design method, two-way analysis of variance (Anova), has been used for the current exploration considering two key factors – that is, percentage of RCA (0% and 100%) and percentage of RHA (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 35%). This approach has been used to assess the effect of these materials on various concrete properties, including 3, 7, 28 and 90 days compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, water absorption, volume of voids and density. The outcomes of the analysis have been presented in the form of Anova table, individual, main effect, contour and interaction plots. The results of the analysis show that the levels of RCA and RHA had a significant effect on the properties of concrete.

Cold-sintered laterite-based geopolymers: Densification, microstructure and micromechanics

The consolidation of natural iron-rich aluminosilicates is enhanced using geopolymerisation, external pressure, and temperature in a ultra-low energy sintering context. Optimized formulations of laterite and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) are used to investigate the effects of the external pressure and temperature on the porosity, phases composition development, micromechanics and microstructure. FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM 0, Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM), and the Archimedes Porosimetry method were used to characterize the cold sintered products of geopolymerization of the iron-rich aluminosilicate binders and composites. Results showed that ultra-low energy sintering process allows the reduction of ∼ 99 % of capillary porosity thank to the physico-chemical bonding and the formation of enhanced nanosized ferrisilicates. The indentation modulus > 50 GPa, the hardness modulus of 3,18 GPa and the fracture toughness > 1 MPa m0.5 are in agreement with the compact microstructure, high bulk density (> 2.00 g.cm−3), and low water Absorption. The interlocking of globular units of H-N-(A, Fe)-S with nanosized ferrisilicates leads to high performance ceramics that cannot be achieved with conventional sintering process. Therefore, the cold sintering process demonstrated here is promising for the manufacturing of sustainable matrices using natural iron-rich aluminosilicates.

Consequential life cycle assessment of bamboo leaf ash generation: A Brazilian context

The potential of biomass growth, such as from bamboo leaves, as a source of electricity provides an optimistic scenario for the sustainable development of new green building materials. To validate robust life cycle inventory (LCI) data for incoming high-quality silica sources for cementitious materials, a consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) on the bamboo leaves ash (BLA) with a prospective approach was conducted. The LCI data was collected in Southeastern Brazil with a prospective maturity in biomass electricity system. The data was gathered by analyzing the various stages involved in the production of BLA, including bamboo cultivation, leaf collection, cogeneration, raw BLA beneficiation, and its impact on cement and electricity marginal production systems. According to the multifunctionality solution, the environmental impacts results of CLCA were discussed using a sensibility analysis with two attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA) scenarios as allocation and “zero environmental load” (considering BLA as residue). The scenarios demonstrate the potential for sustainable use of BLA, especially for its impact on climate change, including the biogenic carbon category. Also, consequences such as avoiding BLA landfilling and increasing the potential for bamboo agricultural holdings to become energy independent was included in the study conclusion. While these results are positive, the prospect of maturing electricity production requires the development of other high-quality materials, such as sugarcane bagasse ash, sugarcane leaf ash and rice husk ash. However, the positives consequences did not overcome the negative impacts from the transportation of BLA into its system boundaries, once the highway transport model is the manly in the Brazilian context. Hence, this study provides important and reproducible pathways for developing LCI data on other biomass ashes, assisting future studies on green building materials.

Characterization of historic mortars and the effect of rice husk ash (RHA) on quicklime

Historic mortars are minerologically characterized for many reasons pertaining to traditional building conservation. In order to determine the binding material of the historic masonary building, this material must be sufficiently separated from the aggregate. In this study, the Cas mortar (Traditional gypsum-based construction mortar in Siirt, Türkiye) used in traditional Cas houses was characterised and compared with composite lime mortars prepared by substituting quicklime with 10 %, 15 % and 20 % rice husk ash (RHA). The mechanical properties of Cas mortar are much higher than those of lime mortars. However, when 20 % RHA was substituted for lime, it was found to significantly change the properties of the mortars, increasing the compressive and flexural strength by 68 % and 58 % respectively and improving the specific heat and many other properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses showed that the 63 μm sieved powder analysis was more accurate in determining the chemical characterisation of the historic mortars.

Life cycle assessment of rice residue as the lightweight biocomposites for structural ceiling: A critical review

The research focuses on the sustainable utilization of rice residue for lightweight biocomposites, emphasizing the importance of pre-treatment methods like NaOH interventions on cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in rice residue. The balance in pre-treatment timing is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of these components. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) stands out for its low heavy metal content and high refractoriness, making it versatile for various applications. Rice straw (RS), another component of rice residue, offers abundant cellulose and low lignin, making it suitable for biocomposite matrices. The study delves into extracting cellulose and CNCs from RS for eco-friendly packaging, targeted drug delivery, and high-quality composites. It also explores how advanced farming practices can reduce waste and enhance crop yields.

Exploring sustainable solutions for soil stabilization through explainable Gaussian process-assisted multi-objective optimization

The adoption of sustainable solutions in soil stabilization has piqued the interest of the scientific community due to the potential reduction in carbon footprint. In this regard, the research community has started looking for the alternate sustainable solutions to limit the quantity of conventionally used ecologically unfriendly soil stabilizers like lime and cement by utilizing the agricultural and industrial by-products. The production of conventional soil stabilizers (lime and cement) is extremely energy-intensive and contributes tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. In general, evaluating suitability of these additives requires in-lab investigation of soil samples with varying additive concentrations and curing periods, making this approach both resource and time-intensive. Hence, this article proposes a computational framework for accelerated characterization of soil-stabilization by using the coupled experimental-Gaussian process (GP) based machine learning (ML) model. The dataset utilized for constructing the GP models consists of input features such as the stabilizer content (lime and rice husk ash (RHA)), coir fiber content, and curing period (measured in days). The target responses are the strength measures of the stabilized soil, such as unconfined compressive strength (UCS), split tensile strength (STS), and California bearing ratio (CBR). The proposed computational framework is deployed to perform multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA)-based optimization to achieve maximum engineering performance from stabilized soil. The presented study demonstrated that with the optimal dosage of rice husk ash (agricultural by-product), and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) treated coir fiber, the requirement for lime dosage may be significantly reduced while maintaining the engineering performance of the soil. The presented computational framework can be extended to any construction practices for ensuring the strategic selection of the control variables for optimizing the desired performance.

Insight into adsorption-desorption of methylene blue in water using zeolite NaY: Kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic approaches

It is critical to find an efficient method to separate methylene blue (MB) in wastewater before discharging them into environment. Adsorption using zeolites is the most commonly used one. To determine adsorption mechanism providing useful data to enhance adsorption capacity and practicability of scale-up, kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic adsorption were evaluated and discussed intensely. Zeolite NaY was synthesized from rice husk ash with a one-stage process. Effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, temperature, solvents and recyclic stability on MB adsorption and desorption were investigated in detail via alternating variable method. Optimal conditions for adsorption were at pH 8, 1 h, 50 mgMB/L, 303K. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms showed that the process fitted to pseudo-second-order, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm, indicating a spontaneous, exothermic and physical adsorption process with multilayer adsorption. Desorption process showed that EtOH:H2O (1:1) solvent at 323K was optimal for releasing MB and its thermodynamic studies revealed that this process was favorable with rising temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated as 49 mg/g and the adsorbent could maintain its adsorption performance after six cycles. Generally, this study provided a comprehensive approach of an efficient, cost-effective, and recyclable NaY for MB removal from water.

Consistency and compatibility study on clayey soil blended with rice husk ash and fly ash

Consistency and compatibility study on clayey soil blended with rice husk ash and fly ash

Effect of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and slake-lime as partial replacement of cement in the production of concrete

This study examines the utilization of rice husk ash (RHA) and slaked lime as substitutes for a portion of the cement in manufacturing concrete. The RHA was acquired from a nearby source, subjected to calcination at temperatures ranging from 500 to 700 °C, and then passed through a sieve to obtain particles with a size of 150 microns. Concrete mixes were made using Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), fine and coarse aggregates, and water, with different amounts of RHA and slaked lime. The concrete mix design adhered to established standards, with a mix ratio of 1:1.5:3 (cement: fine aggregate: coarse aggregate). The experiment was designed using response surface methods, with RHA, slaked lime, and cement as factors, each having five levels. Concrete cubes were formed using 100 mm steel moulds and then submerged in water to assess their workability. The compressive strength was measured using universal testing equipment after 7, 28, and 90 days of cure. The flexural strength of concrete beams was assessed after 7 and 28 days. Samples were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) examination after 28 days. The compressive and flexural strengths increased as the curing period progressed, with the 10% RHA substitution showing the maximum strength. The SEM analysis showed that RHA10 exhibited the maximum concentration of silicon, which corresponds to the recommended 10% replacement level of OPC and meets the concrete specifications specified by ASTM M20 grade. Utilising RHA decreases expenses and minimises the amount of concrete that is discarded. The most effective replacement for OPC was 10% RHA, which produced long-lasting and strong concrete.

Synthesis of geopolymer mortar from biomass ashes and forecasting its compressive strength behaviour

The global warming dilemma raised an exigency toward sustainability in the construction industry and compelled scientists to hunt for alternative binders in construction materials. The, geopolymerization as a spectacular technology has arisen as a looming solution to this dilemma. This work assesses the features of geopolymer mortar developed with both industrial and agricultural wastes at ambient temperature curing. The geopolymer mix proportion was evolved in this study using main precursor material as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) or rice husk ash (RHA). Workability and mechanical properties, including compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of different mortar mixes with various percentages of RHA and SCBA for 365 days, were evaluated. Geopolymer mortar with 10 % SCBA and 5 % RHA achieved improvements of 25 % and 13.91 % in compressive strength, 10.6 % and 3.5 % in flexural strength, and 35 % and 16.8 % in split tensile strength, respectively. Good geopolymer gel formation is clearly evident from the SEM images of SCBA mortar. The main polymeric bonds Si–O–Al and Si-O-Si are also identified using FTIR. To assess the efficacious use of biomass ashes, resistance to chemical attack using H2SO4, HCl, Na2SiO3, and NaCl solutions for 365 days was studied. It was revealed that SCBA incorporated geopolymer mortar specimens achieved good resistance compared with RHA geopolymer mortar. The relation between the ambient temperature cured geopolymer specimen compressive strength at 28 days and 365 days chemical solution curried geopolymer specimen compressive strength find out using python and obtained R2 values more than 95 %. Also, this research proposed various machine learning techniques such as long short-term memory, support vector regression, random forest regression, XGBOOST, and AdaBOOST algorithms for the prediction of compressive strength of geopolymer using 724 mixture proportions with diverse curing temperatures and varying ages. The XGBOOST algorithm achieved the highest R² value of 0.92, demonstrating its effectiveness for the strength prediction.