Beneficiation of the huge waste quantities of barley and rice husks as well as coal fly ashes as additives for Portland cement

This study aims at benefit from barely husk ash (BHA), rice husk ash (RHA), and coal fly ash (CFA) as a replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) to eliminate the problems associated with cement industry involving energy consuming and air pollution. Three series of cement mixes were prepared from OPC with different contents (0–30 wt.%) of each additive. Different cementing and mechanical properties of the prepared mixes were tested according to the international standard specifications. It was concluded that OPC blended with 15–20 wt.% of BHA, RHA, or CFA show outstanding cementing properties.

Graphical abstractImproved blended cement through BHA, RHA and CFA additions.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide