Synthesis and Characterization of Phosphoric Silica Catalyst from Bamboo Leaves for Production of Triacetin

In this research, the bamboo leaf shows promise as an alternative raw material for silica production. This study investigated the performance of heterogeneous catalyst prepared from silica derived bamboo leaf ash after that impregnated with phosphoric acid at ratio various. The catalyst was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET) and Barrett, Joyner and Halenda (BJH) method and triacetin product analyzed by GC-MS. The optimum condition phosphoric silica catalyst was obtained at phosphoric silica molar ratio of 1:2 and employed in the acetylation of glycerol, respectively. As result, 24 % selectivity for triacetin was obtained in the presence of catalytic amount 5%, molar ratio 1:9 at 100 °C for 4 hours. Bamboo leaf derived phosphoric silica calcined showed high potential to be used as an easy to prepare and high-performance solid catalyst for industrial scale.

Geotechnical and microstructural properties of cement-treated laterites stabilized with rice husk ash and bamboo leaf ash

This study investigated the geotechnical and microstructural properties of cement-treated laterites stabilized with rice husk ash and bamboo leaf ash. In going about the tests, the soil sample was subjected to compaction, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and preliminary tests; such as specific gravity, particle size distribution and Atterbergs limits to determine its index properties. Thereafter, the soil sample was mixed with cement at varying proportions of 0–12% at 2% intervals and also, separately mixed with bamboo leaf ash (BLA) and rice husk ash (RHA) in proportions of 0–16% at 2% intervals. The mixes at each stage were subjected to compaction, Atterberg limits and CBR tests. The highest values were 66.7% and 54.8% for unsoaked and soaked CBR at 6% cement+8% BLA and 78.5% and 63.8% for unsoaked and soaked CBR at 8% cement+8% RHA. Samples at these optimal CBR values were subjected into Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) tests. Results showed that new compounds were formed and there were changes in the microstructural arrangements. It can therefore be concluded that pozzolanic and cement hydration reactions actually took place in the course of stabilization.

Experimental Investigation on Effect of Partial Replacement of Cement with Bamboo Leaf Ash on Concrete Property

Ethiopia’s construction industry is aggressively expanding than ever before. Cement is the most essential and expensive material in this regard. Cement takes 10%–15% by volume of concrete. Nowadays, the construction industry is challenged by the scarcity of cement and price escalation of the cement market. However, scholars try to replace cement with pozzolanic material. Besides this, they investigated that bamboo leaf ash possesses pozzolanic properties. Ethiopia has about 850,000 hectares of lowland bamboo, so it is good to utilize bamboo leaf ash as a replacement material for cement. In this study, the capability of lowland Ethiopian bamboo leaf ash as a partial substitute for cement in C-25 concrete production with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% replacement of OPC by BLA with 0.49 percent water-to-cement ratio was investigated. This study examines the chemical properties of BLA, physical properties of cement paste, workability, compressive strength, water absorption, density, and sulfate attack of concrete. The chemical composition of bamboo leaf ash was examined, the summation of SiO2, AlO3, and FeO3 is 76.35%, and the ash was classified class N pozzolan. The normal consistency percentage of water increases as the BLA replacement amount increases, and both initial and final setting time ranges increase as the BLA replacement amount increases. The compressive strength of concrete for 5% and 10% BLA achieves the target mean strength (33.5 MPa) on the 28th day, and on the 56th day, 5% and 10% replacements increase the concrete strength by 1.84% and 0.12%, respectively. The water absorption and sulfate attack have significant improvement of the BLA-blended concrete on 5% and 10% BLA content. According to the findings, bamboo leaf ash potentially substitutes cement up to 10%. The outcome of the study will balance the cement price escalation and increase housing affordability without compromise in quality.

Assessment and Evaluation of Blended Cement Using Bamboo Leaf Ash BLASH Against Corrosion

Concrete provides a high degree of protection against corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement. Owing to the harsh environmental conditions and the presence of aggressive elements from the marine environment, deteriorating corrosion affects the durability of reinforced concrete structures. This study evaluated the effectiveness of bamboo leaf ash BLASH as a supplementary cementing material or admixture with Portland cement to improve the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Specimens of 0, 10, 15, and 20% BLASH mixtures were prepared using 16, 20, and 25 mm steel reinforcements. A total of 100 cylindrical specimens were cast and used in this study. The specimens were accelerated by corrosion using impressed current techniques and a galvanostatic method in a simulated environment. The results show that specimens with a BLASH content of 10% exhibited superior performance and exhibited longer corrosion initiation and propagation times. It has a higher resistance to acid penetration and lower corrosion rates. The crack parameters of the specimen with BLASH admixtures, such as the crack width and crack frequency, were negligible. The use of BLASH as an admixture strengthens its durability and improves its residual strength and serviceability. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091707 Full Text: PDF

Quantitative Comparison of Binary Mix of Agro-Industrial Pozzolanic Additions for Elaborating Ternary Cements: Kinetic Parameters

In this research work, the quantitative characterization of a binary blend comprised of two pozzolans (sugar cane straw (SCSA)–sugar cane bagasse ashes (SCBA), bamboo leaf ash (BLAsh)–SCBA and paper sludge (PS)–fly ash (FA)) taking into account the calculated values of the kinetic parameters of the reaction in the pozzolan/calcium hydroxide system is shown. The paper shows the most significant and important results obtained by the authors in the quantitative assessment (calculation of kinetic parameters) of the pozzolanic reaction of different mixtures of pozzolanic materials that are residues from agriculture or industrial processes. This allows a direct and rigorous comparison of the pozzolanic activity of the binary combinations of materials. The values of the kinetic parameters (reaction rate constant or activation free energy) constitute a very precise quantitative index of the pozzolanic activity of the binary combinations of materials, which is very useful for its employment in the elaboration of ternary cements. This paper shows that the binary blends 1SCBA60Blash40, 1SCBA50Blash50, 1SCBA70Blash30 have a very high pozzolanic reactivity followed by PSLSFA, 2SCBA50SCSA50, PSISFA and SCWI.