Utilization of recycle paper mill residue and rice husk ash in production of light weight bricks

Resource recovery and utilization of industrial by-product materials for making construction material has gained significant attention across the world. In this research study, recycle paper mill residue (RPMR) and rice husk ash (RHA) are utilized to improve the properties of bricks. This research study evaluated the feasibility of utilizing RPMR and RHA for making construction bricks. A homogeneous mixture of RPMR–RHA–cement was prepared with varying amount of RHA (10–20% by weight) and RPMR (70–80% by weight) and tested in accordance with the IS codes. Characterization of RPMR and RHA was performed using XRF, TG-DTA, XRD and SEM techniques. The SEM monographs show that RPMR has a porous and fibrous structure. The TG-DTA characterization demonstrated that RPMR can withstand temperatures up to 280 °C. The results indicate that RPMR-bricks prepared from RPMR–RHA–cement combination are light weight and meet compressive strength requirements of IS 1077-1992. This novel construction material serves objectives of resource recovery through prudent solid waste management.