Development of Geopolymer Concrete Using Blended Rice Husk Ash and Palm Frond Ash

Abstract

The increasing need for eco-friendly and sustainable construction materials has forced researchers to seek alternative binders that may reduce the dependence on ordinary concrete. In this study, geopolymer concrete was prepared using rice husk ash (RHA) and palm frond ash (PFA) as alternative eco-friendly construction materials from agricultural wastes. Five mixtures with varying RHA and PFA ratios ranging from 0 to 100% were prepared using sodium hydroxide and sodium aluminate solutions as alkaline activators. The properties of fresh and hardened concrete were investigated using slump, compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, dry density, and water absorption tests. The results revealed that a mixture containing equal amounts of RHA and PFA produced better properties than the others, including higher mechanical strengths and lower water absorption values. Moreover, it produced a denser microstructure than the other mixtures. In this study, the combined use of RHA and PFA in geopolymer concrete was demonstrated to be a promising and sustainable construction material.