Utilizing Agricultural Waste Materials for the Development of Sustainable Sound Absorption Materials

Abstract

Environmental pollution is escalating due to inadequate waste management, with the open burning of agricultural waste being a significant contributor. This process releases various harmful gases into the environment. This study introduces an innovative approach to creating sound absorption materials using agricultural by-products, specifically paddy straw and coconut coir, along with newspaper by-products. The research was conducted in two phases: first, the production of sound absorption panels with different densities and adhesive quantities, and second, the evaluation of these panels’ sound absorption capabilities through laboratory experiments. The impedance tube test was used to determine the sound absorption coefficient (SAC). The results showed effective sound absorption, especially at lower frequencies ranging from 125 Hz to 6300 Hz. Notably, paddy straw and coconut coir exhibited significant sound absorption values at 1,000 Hz (0.59 and 0.52, respectively). This study highlights the potential of paddy straw and coconut coir as sustainable, cost-effective materials for sound absorption panels. These natural materials demonstrate excellent sound-absorbing properties, making them suitable for various applications such as classrooms, sound recording rooms, auditoriums, and theaters at low to medium frequencies.