Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Microwave energy radiated biochar bonded-cement-clay bricks

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This experimental study presents the findings on the prospects of using microwave radiation in the curing of novel clay bricks bonded with biochar and cement. The impact of the microwave energy on strength development using varied sample clay brick sizes was also considered. Linear shrinkage and compressive strength were determined while mineralogical composition, specific surface area and pore volume analysis were also performed. The optimum content of 1.5:1.5 of biochar:cement resulted least linear shrinkage. Compressive strength values increased by 9, 38 and 35% based on the sample sizes as the biochar and cement contents increased from 1 to 2%. Microwave energy was largely responsible for evaporation–condensation effects on larger sample sizes. The microwave-cured char-based clay bricks developed adequate strength that is within the range of specified standards and could offer a faster and less energy-intensive way of producing improved bricks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. UN, I. (2020). Global status report for buildings and construction (2019). Avail-able at https://www.gbpn.org/china/newsroom/2019-global-status-report-buildings-and-construction. Access date 29 Aug 2022

  2. Albayyaa H, Hagare D, Saha S (2021) Energy conservation assessment of traditional and modern houses in Sydney. Build Res Inform 49(6):613–623

    Google Scholar 

  3. Andrew RM (2018) Global CO2 emissions from cement production. Earth Syst Sci Data 10(1):195–217

    Google Scholar 

  4. Di Filippo J, Karpman J, DeShazo JR (2019) The impacts of policies to reduce CO2 emissions within the concrete supply chain. Cem Concr Compos 101:67–82

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rehan R, Nehdi M (2005) Carbon dioxide emissions and climate change: policy implications for the cement industry. Environ Sci Policy 8(2):105–114

    Google Scholar 

  6. Al-Fakih A, Mohammed BS, Liew MS, Nikbakht E (2019) Incorporation of waste materials in the manufacture of masonry bricks: an update review. J Build Eng 21:37–54

    Google Scholar 

  7. Akinyemi BA, Adesina A (2020) Recent advancements in the use of biochar for cementitious applications: A review. J Build Eng. 32:101705

    Google Scholar 

  8. Osman AI, Fawzy S, Farghali M, El-Azazy M, Elgarahy AM, Fahim RA, Rooney DW (2022) Biochar for agronomy, animal farming, anaerobic digestion, composting, water treatment, soil remediation, construction, energy storage, and carbon sequestration: a review. Environ Chem Lett 20(4):2385–2485

    Google Scholar 

  9. Man KY, Chow KL, Man YB, Mo WY, Wong MH (2021) Use of biochar as feed supplements for animal farming. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 51(2):187–217

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gupta S, Kua HW (2017) Factors determining the potential of biochar as a carbon capturing and sequestering construction material: critical review. J Mater Civ Eng 29(9):04017086

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schmidt HP, Wilson K (2012) 55 uses of biochar. Ithaka J 1(May):286–289

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ibrahim I, Tsubota T, Hassan MA, Andou Y (2021) Surface functionalization of biochar from oil palm empty fruit bunch through hydrothermal process. Processes 9(1):149

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mota-Panizio R, Carmo-Calado L, Assis AC, Matos V, Hermoso-Orzáez MJ, Romano P, Brito P (2023) Properties and uses of biochars incorporated into mortars. Environments 10(3):47

    Google Scholar 

  14. Liu W, Li K, Xu S (2022) Utilizing bamboo biochar in cement mortar as a bio-modifier to improve the compressive strength and crack-resistance fracture ability. Constr Build Mater 327:126917

    Google Scholar 

  15. Qin Y, Pang X, Tan K, Bao T (2021) Evaluation of pervious concrete performance with pulverized biochar as cement replacement. Cement Concr Compos 119:104022

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sirico A, Bernardi P, Sciancalepore C, Vecchi F, Malcevschi A, Belletti B, Milanese D (2021) Biochar from wood waste as additive for structural concrete. Constr Build Mater 303:124500

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gupta S, Kashani A (2021) Utilization of biochar from unwashed peanut shell in cementitious building materials–Effect on early age properties and environmental benefits. Fuel Process Technol 218:106841

    Google Scholar 

  18. Dlamini MN (2014) Clay and concrete brick. In: Green Building Handbook, South Africa: Volume 6: The Essential Guide, pp 113–127

  19. Cheng J, Shao Z, Xu T, Liang D, Wei W (2022) The advantages of microwave in using engineering spoil to sinter bricks. J Build Eng 57:104940

    Google Scholar 

  20. Yuan Y, Shao Z, Qiao R, Fei X, Wu D (2021) Quantifying damage evolution within olivine basalt based on crack propagation behavior under microwave irradiation. Int J Dam Mech 30(10):1617–1641

    Google Scholar 

  21. Turner IW, Jolly PC (1991) Combined microwave and convective drying of a porous material. Drying Technol 9(5):1209–1269

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bagaber SA, Sudin I (2016) Assessment influence of microwave heating on a physical properties of dried clay bricks compared with conventional methods. In: The National Conference for Postgraduate Research 2016. Universiti Malaysia Pahang Pahang, Malaysia

  23. Vorhauer N, Tretau A, Bück A, Prat M (2019) Microwave drying of wet clay with intermittent heating. Drying Technol 37(5):664–678

    Google Scholar 

  24. Briest L, Wagner R, Tretau A, Tsotsas E, Vorhauer-Huget N (2022) Microwave-assisted drying of clay roof tiles. Drying Technol 40(9):1804–1818

    Google Scholar 

  25. Zhenzhurist I (2020) Prospects and features of microwave sintering in the technology of building ceramics. Mater Sci Eng 890:012088

    Google Scholar 

  26. Domínguez A, Menéndez JA, Inguanzo M, Pis JJ (2005) Investigations into the characteristics of oils produced from microwave pyrolysis of sewage sludge. Fuel Process Technol 86(9):1007–1020

    Google Scholar 

  27. Akinyemi BA, Mami O, Adewumi JR (2022) Utilisation of treated rice straw waste fibre as reinforcement in gypsum–cement unfired clay bricks. Innov Infrast Solut 7(5):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  28. Shuaib-Babata YL, Ibrahim HK, Ajao KS, Elakhame ZU, Aremu NI, Odeniyi OM (2019) Assessment of physico-mechanical properties of clay deposits in Asa local government area of Kwara State Nigeria for industrial applications. J Sci Eng Prod. 1:96–122

    Google Scholar 

  29. Amin M, Supriyatna YI, Hendronursito Y, Birawidha DC, Karokaro P (2019) Addition of feldspart minerals as a substitution material on ceramics clay manufacture. Mater Sci Eng 478:012038

    Google Scholar 

  30. Akinyemi AB, Omoniyi ET, Onuzulike G (2020) Effect of microwave assisted alkali pretreatment and other pretreatment methods on some properties of bamboo fibre reinforced cement composites. Constr Build Mater 245:118405

    Google Scholar 

  31. Akinyemi BA, Bamidele A, Joel E (2019) Response of coir fibre reinforced cement composites to water repellent chemical additive and microwave accelerated curing. Cellulose 26(8):4987–4999

    Google Scholar 

  32. El-yahyaoui A, Manssouri I, Sahbi H (2023) Effect of Juncus Acutus fibers waste on the technological properties of unfired clay bricks as a construction material. Materials Today: Proceedings

  33. BS EN 772–1 (2011) Methods of test for masonry units—Part 1: determination of compressive strength. BSI

  34. Obia A, Mulder J, Martinsen V, Cornelissen G, Børresen T (2016) In situ effects of biochar on aggregation, water retention and porosity in light-textured tropical soils. Soil Tillage Res 155:35–44

    Google Scholar 

  35. Muthukrishnan S, Gupta S, Kua HW (2019) Application of rice husk biochar and thermally treated low silica rice husk ash to improve physical properties of cement mortar. Theoret Appl Fract Mech 104:102376

    Google Scholar 

  36. Yang S, Wi S, Lee J, Lee H, Kim S (2019) Biochar-red clay composites for energy efficiency as eco-friendly building materials: Thermal and mechanical performance. J Hazard Mater 373:844–855

    Google Scholar 

  37. Gupta S, Kua HW, Koh HJ (2018) Application of biochar from food and wood waste as green admixture for cement mortar. Sci Total Environ 619:419–435

    Google Scholar 

  38. Choi WC, Yun HD, Lee JY (2012) Mechanical properties of mortar containing bio-char from pyrolysis. J Korea inst struct maint inspect 16(3):67–74

    Google Scholar 

  39. Restuccia L, Ferro GA (2016) Nano-Particles from Food Waste: A 'Green'Feature for Traditional Building Materials. In: 9th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Berkeley, United States

  40. Wei W, Shao Z, Zhang Y, Qiao R, Gao J (2019) Fundamentals and applications of microwave energy in rock and concrete processing–a review. Appl Therm Eng 157:113751

    Google Scholar 

  41. Del Viso JR, Carmona JR, Ruiz G (2008) Shape and size effects on the compressive strength of high-strength concrete. Cem Concr Res 38(3):386–395

    Google Scholar 

  42. Fládr J, Bílý P (2018) Specimen size effect on compressive and flexural strength of high-strength fibre-reinforced concrete containing coarse aggregate. Compos B Eng 138:77–86

    Google Scholar 

  43. Tokyay M, Özdemir M (1997) Specimen shape and size effect on the compressive strength of higher strength concrete. Cem Concr Res 27(8):1281–1289

    Google Scholar 

  44. Piccolo F, Andreola F, Barbieri L, Lancellotti I (2021) Synthesis and characterization of biochar-based geopolymer materials. Appl Sci 11(22):10945

    Google Scholar 

  45. Chen T, Zhao L, Gao X, Li L, Qin L (2022) Modification of carbonation-cured cement mortar using biochar and its environmental evaluation. Cement Concr Compos 134:104764

    Google Scholar 

  46. GuhaRay A, Guoxiong M, Sarkar A, Bordoloi S, Garg A, Pattanayak S (2019) Geotechnical and chemical characterization of expansive clayey soil amended by biochar derived from invasive weed species Prosopis juliflora. Innov Infrast Sol 4(1):1–10

    Google Scholar 

  47. Kishar EA, Ahmed DA, Mohammed MR, Noury R (2013) Effect of calcium chloride on the hydration characteristics of ground clay bricks cement pastes. Beni-Suef univer J Basic Appl Sci 2(1):20–30

    Google Scholar 

  48. Keiluweit M, Nico PS, Johnson MG, Kleber M (2010) Dynamic molecular structure of plant biomass-derived black carbon (biochar). Environ Sci Technol 44(4):1247–1253

    Google Scholar 

  49. Leng L, Xiong Q, Yang L, Li H, Zhou Y, Zhang W, Huang H (2021) An overview on engineering the surface area and porosity of biochar. Sci Total Environ 763:144204

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors have not disclosed any funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Structures and Bio-Based Building Materials Unit, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun Campus, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria

    Banjo A. Akinyemi

  2. Sustainability Engineering Unit, School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia

    Dharmappa Hagare

  3. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Alege Oluwadamilare

Authors
  1. Banjo A. Akinyemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dharmappa Hagare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alege Oluwadamilare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

A.B carried out the research, A collated the data, wrote the draft, analyzed it, finalized the manuscript and edited before submission. C provided editorial guidance

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Banjo A. Akinyemi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Akinyemi, B.A., Hagare, D. & Oluwadamilare, A. Microwave energy radiated biochar bonded-cement-clay bricks. J Build Rehabil 8, 94 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-023-00338-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-023-00338-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation