Effect of using agricultural wastes in cement blocks production

Document Type : Original Article

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Department of Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The disposal of agricultural wastes is a serious environmental problem. Use of agricultural wastes in the production of cement block may reduce the global environmental pollution. This study analyzes the feasibility of using agricultural waste like cotton stalks and corn stems as a partial volumetric replacement in the manufacture of cement blocks. For each residue, the replacement percentages of 5, 10, 15 and 20% (V/V) were evaluated (separately), in addition to a formulation without the use of agricultural residues. The mixture used was 1: 6 (cement: sand). The experiments have been conducted to determine some physical properties as bulk density and water absorption percentage (%) and some mechanical properties as compressive strength for the produced cement blocks. Test results show that cement blocks with agricultural waste were satisfied the strength requirement according to the standard. Cement blocks with cotton stalks and corn stems shows reasonable strength properties. Corn stems showed a greater potential for its use as reinforcement in cement blocks than cotton stalks. The formulation using 15% corn stems offered the best results in compressive strength in vertical direction (2.98 MPa) at low bulk density (1930 kg/m3). The water absorption was higher in cement blocks made from agricultural wastes than the cement blocks made without agriculture wastes, but it was in normal range.

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