DEVELOPMENT OF NON-BEARING HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCK FROM THE BIOMASS POWER PLANT ASH

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were 1) to study the optimal ratio of ash from combustion in biomass power plants to replace the cement proportion and replace the proportion of sand in concrete blocks, 2) to analyze the physical properties, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of the concrete blocks produced, 3) to analyze the cost of producing concrete blocks containing biomass ash compared to commercially sold concrete blocks. The ratios of 0, 20, 40, and 60% were examined by replacing cement and sand, respectively.  The samples of mortar were molded with molds of 5x5x5 cm in size with curing age of 28 days. The results showed that the optimal mix rate for using biomass ash instead of cement was 40%, with a flow test of 114.17%, a unit weight of 222 g, a water absorption of 16.21%, a density of 2.19 g/cm³, a thermal conductivity of 0.436 W/m∙K, and a compressive strength of 2.53 MPa. The optimal mixing rate for biomass ash instead of sand was 40%, with a flow test of 112.72%, a unit weight of 236 g, a water absorption of 16.87%, a density of 2.29 g/cm³, a thermal conductivity of 0.427 W/m∙K, and a compressive strength of 2.61 MPa. The non-weight hollow concrete blocks had properties that could be used in the construction industry. The material cost producing non-weight hollow concrete blocks by mixing biomass ash instead of cement and replacing sand were 1.02 Baht and 1.14 Baht respectively. The benefits of replacing waste biomass ash in both cement and sand were the use of waste materials in order to create added values and it was an environmentally friendly disposal method by reducing cement and sand.