Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Today, we live in the world full of development and enthusiastic for still more

comfort and facilities. This leads to innovation and revolutions in each and every field, but

on contrary it has negative impact on environment as sources get depleted. One of this

natural resources are the materials used in the field of cement production.

Cement is an essential constituent of concrete. It plays the role of a binder, a

substance that sets and hardens and might bind alternative materials along. It is a highly

versatile building materials valued for its desirable properties especially for its high

compressive strength and durability. But the high cost of cement causes many researchers

to look for partial replacement from an alternative material that has pozzolanic properties

to be mixed on cement. Many replacement has been studied and is already in the market

but civil engineers always want to find an alternative and easy available materials that can

possibly reduce the expenses in the materials and can utilize agricultural waste.

By using locally available waste like corn husk and cassava peel as partial

substitution at place of cement, it may prove more economical than traditional concrete

and question of damping of such waste produced by different industries is also get solved.

This waste also creates air and land pollution by damping and also causes water pollution

so by using these materials on concrete we can save our atmosphere and land. Therefore,

the goal of this study is to produce economical and eco-friendly cement with all desired

properties and strength which one obtains by regular concrete ingredients.

Background of the study

Cement is widely used by human beings and considered as second largest material

after water used by human beings. Over the years, cement is becoming increasingly

expensive due to high cost used in their processes, production, and transportation. That’s

why many researchers study different raw materials that may have similar properties to

cement. Pozzolans were used to improve the properties of cement especially in terms of

compressive strength and durability. This reasons led the researchers to search for

alternative raw materials that can be use as partial replacement for cement. This study aims

to determine the effect of Corn Husk Ash and Cassava Peel Ash on the Compressive

Strength of concrete as Partial Replacement for Cement.

Corn husk are the outside green leaves on a cob of a corn, that we usually peel off

and discard. Corn is the second agricultural crop in the world. Before eating, the husk of a

corn is being thrown away for it is not edible but nowadays it has been used in cooking and

for cooking presentations. Nazir et al. (2012) reiterated that the ash of the corn husk is

believed to possess substantial amount of siliceous compounds making it a Pozzolanic

material.

While cassava peel is one of the agricultural wastes which is a by-product of

cassava processing, either for domestic consumption or industrial uses (Owolabi et al,

2015). Cassava is widely planted in tropical countries and Philippines is one of the

countries with abundant source of cassava. The most common used and consumed part of

cassava is its roots but the peel from its roots is removed before cooking. One study

described that cassava peel ash (CPA) has been found to be pozzolanic when it is calcined

at 7000 C for 90 minutes (Salau and Olonade, 2011).

 From recent studies, it is said that the production of Portland cement emitted carbon

dioxide more than 15 % globally. And through using partially alternative replacement

which are green materials, it helps to reduce the disadvantages of cement unlike the

production of conventional cement. Corn husk and cassava peel are both byproducts and

considered as agricultural waste but also both are ecofriendly materials and are available

locally. The use of industrial and agricultural wastes as pozzolan cementitious materials in

concrete production is economical and suitable in term of strength, workability and

durability. This research focus on the impact of using CHA and CPA as partial substitute

for cement on the compressive strength of concrete.

Objectives of the study

The primary objective of this research is to determine the Effect of Corn Husk Ash

(CHA) and Cassava Peel Ash (CPA) on the Compressive strength of Concrete as Partial

Replacement for Cement. The specific objectives of this research are as follows:

1. To determine the properties of CHA as partial replacement for cement.

2. To determine the properties of CPA as partial replacement for cement.

3. To determine the design mix using CHA and CPA as pozzolanic materials.

4. To determine the significant difference among the compressive strength of concrete

using varying amount of CHA and CPA.

5. To determine the significant relationship between the compressive strength of

concrete and varying amount of CHA and CPA.

6. To determine the amount of CHA and CPA with optimum compressive strength.
Statement of the problem

This study will determine the effect of CHA and CPA on the compressive strength of

concrete as partial replacement for cement. Specifically, it will answer the following

questions:

1. What are the physical properties of CHA as partial replacement for cement?

A. Specific gravity

B. Bulk density

C. Fineness

2. What are the physical properties of CPA as partial replacement for cement?

D. Specific gravity

E. Bulk density

F. Fineness

3. What are the computed design mix using varying amount of CHA and CPA as

pozzolanic material?

A. 0% replacement level

B. 5% replacement level

a. 2.5% CHA, 2.5% CPA, 95% Cement

b. 3% CHA, 2% CPA, 95% Cement

c. 3.5% CHA, 1.5% CPA, 95% Cement

C. 10% replacement level

a. 5% CHA, 5% CPA, 90% Cement

b. 6% CHA, 4% CPA, 90% Cement

c. 7% CHA, 3% CPA, 90% Cement

 D. 15% replacement level

a. 7.5% CHA, 7.5% CPA, 85% Cement

b. 9% CHA, 6% CPA, 85% Cement

c. 10.5% CHA, 4.5% CPA, 85% Cement

E. 20% replacement level

a. 10% CHA, 10% CPA, 80% Cement

b. 12% CHA, 8% CPA, 80% Cement

c. 14% CHA, 6% CPA, 80% Cement

4. What are the significant difference among the compressive strength of concrete

using varying amount of CHA and CPA stated in no. 3?

5. What is the significant relationship between the compressive strength of concrete

and varying amount of CHA and CPA stated in no. 3?

6. What is the amount of CPA and CHA stated in no. 3 with optimum compressive

strength?

Statement of Hypothesis

Ha. There is a significant difference among the compressive strength of concrete using

varying amount of CHA and CPA.

Ho. There is no significant difference among the compressive strength of concrete using

varying amount of CHA and CPA.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study may be beneficial to the following:

Community. The utilization of Corn Husk Ash and Cassava Peel Ash can replace a

relatively amount of raw materials used in conventional cement and thus, help to reduce

the cost of cement. At the same time, it reduces landfills.

Civil Engineers /Construction Contractors. Partial replacement of cement using Corn

Husk Ash and Cassava Peel Ash may produce an economical concrete with all desired

properties and strength which one obtains by regular concrete ingredients.

Students. This study may serve as a guide and reference for the students undertaking

similar studies.

Future Researchers. The result of this study will be a useful reference for the

researchers who would plan to make any related study precisely to Partial Replacement for

Cement.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The main focus of this study is to determine the relationship among the compressive

strength of the concrete blocks with partial replacement of CPA and CHA and its

significant difference to the compressive strength of ordinary concrete. Only ordinary

Portland Cement will be partially replaced by CHA and CPA. This study is limited in

reducing the demand for cement as per its high cost and the effect of its production in the

atmosphere. The research will only determine the physical properties of both ashes after it
was calcined because other properties are not necessary and some studies already reported

them. The mix design will be computed according to the varying amounts of partial

replacement on cement. The concrete blocks will be subjected to compressive testing

according to ASTM standards.

 Endnotes

Nazir , M., Abeyruwan, H., & Mauroof, M. (2012). Waste ash pozzolans:

reactivity and suitability for use in concrete

Owolabi, T., Popoola, O., & Wasiu, J. (2015). The Study Of Compressive Strength On

Concrete With Partial Replacement Of Cement With Cassava Peel Ash . 1.

Salau, M., & Olonade, K. (2011). Pozzolanic Potentials of Cassava Peel Ash.

Journal of Engineering Research, 10-21.

Related Studies
 Chemical properties of corn husk ash. Kevern and Wang study the pozzolanicity of

corn husk ashes as supplementary cementitious material in concrete where they

investigated two types of corn husks, the regular corn ashes and high-silica corn. Using

PHILIPS PW2404 Xray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), they found out that both

materials contain the same chemical compositions, and they both contain high levels of

SiO2 (35.6% - 38.3%) and K2O (24.0% - 27.6%) ( Kevern & Wang, 2010). At the same

time, they cited that it was best for corn ashes to produce at temperatures below 700 ºC to

maximize the content of amorphous silica (Kevern & Wang, cited at Chopra et al, 2010)

and simple burn procedures typically occur between 500 ºC and 600 ºC (Kevern & Wang,

cited at Nazir et al, 2010).

Physical properties of corn husk ash. Also, Kevern and Wang found out that regular

corn husk ash has specific gravity of 2.31 using a helium pycnometer based on ASTM

D5550 and the surface area was 561 m2/kg using Blaine test ( Kevern & Wang, 2010).

Compressive strength property.