Comparative Analysis of Coconut Husk Ash (CHA) with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to Determine the Pozzolanic Property of Coconut Husk Ash (CHA)

Comparative Analysis of Coconut Husk Ash (CHA) with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to Determine the Pozzolanic Property of Coconut Husk Ash (CHA)

¹Egbe F. O. & ²Oyekan G. L.

¹Department of Civil Engineering, Igbinedion University, Okada

²Department of Civil Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka,

Email: francisegbe@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to develop new kinds of pozzolana from recycled materials. The study investigated the suitability of Coconut Husk Ash (CHA) as a pozzolana. Series of tests were carried out to determine the pozzolanic properties of Coconut Husk Ash (CHA) as compared with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Tests conducted include: chemical analysis of CHA and OPC, particle size analysis of sand, specific gravity of CHA, OPC and sand, Bulk density of CHA, OPC and sand. To determine the pozzolanic nature of CHA, comparative chemical analysis was conducted on samples of CHA and OPC in the Chemistry Lab of the University of Lagos. Test results revealed that CHA when compared with OPC possesses slight amount of pozzolanic properties and showed some similarities in specific gravity and bulk density tests, hence may be used to partially replace OPC in sandcrete block production.  The study therefore submits that Coconut Husk Ash is slightly pozzolanic and may be used as partial replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in sandcrete block production.

Key words: Coconut Husk Ash (CHA), Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), sand.