The Use of Palm Kernel Shell and Ash for Concrete Production

This work reports the potential of using Palm Kernel
(PK) ash and shell as a partial substitute for Portland Cement (PC)
and coarse aggregate in the development of mortar and concrete. PK
ash and shell are agro-waste materials from palm oil mills, the
disposal of PK ash and shell is an environmental problem of concern.
The PK ash has pozzolanic properties that enables it as a partial
replacement for cement and also plays an important role in the
strength and durability of concrete, its use in concrete will alleviate
the increasing challenges of scarcity and high cost of cement. In order
to investigate the PC replacement potential of PK ash, three types of
PK ash were produced at varying temperature (350-750C) and they
were used to replace up to 50% PC. The PK shell was used to replace
up to 100% coarse aggregate in order to study its aggregate
replacement potential. The testing programme included material
characterisation, the determination of compressive strength, tensile
splitting strength and chemical durability in aggressive sulfatebearing
exposure conditions. The 90 day compressive results showed
a significant strength gain (up to 26.2 N/mm2). The Portland cement
and conventional coarse aggregate has significantly higher influence
in the strength gain compared to the equivalent PK ash and PK shell.
The chemical durability results demonstrated that after a prolonged
period of exposure, significant strength losses in all the concretes
were observed. This phenomenon is explained, due to lower change
in concrete morphology and inhibition of reaction species and the
final disruption of the aggregate cement paste matrix.

• J. E. Oti
• J. M. Kinuthia
• R. Robinson
• P. Davies

• Sustainability
• Concrete
• mortar
• Palm kernel shell
• compressive strength
• consistency.

[1] Alengaram J. U, Jumaat M.Z and Mahmud H., 2010. Comparison of
mechanical and bond properties of oil palm kernel shell concrete with
normal weight concrete. International Journal of the Physical Sciences
5(8), p. 1231-1239.
[2] Alengaram J. U, Jumaat M.Z and Mahmud H., 2008. Ductility
Behaviour of Reinforced Palm Kernel Shell Concrete Beams. European
Journal of Scientific Research 23(3), p.406-420
[3] Mannan M.A and Ganapathy C., 2002. Engineering properties of
concrete with oil palm shell as coarse aggregate. Construction and
Building Materials 16, p29-3
[4] Shafigh P, Jumaat M.Z, Mahmud H.B and Alengaram U.J., 2011. A new
method of producing high strength oil palm shell lightweight concrete.
Materials & Design 32(10), p. 4839–4843.
[5] BS EN 197-1:2011.Cement Part 1: Composition, specifications and
conformity criteria for common cements.
[6] PD 6682-1:2009. Aggregates – Part 1: Aggregates for concrete –
Guidance on the use of BS EN 12620
[7] BS EN 12620:2002 +A1:2008. Aggregates for concrete
[8] BS EN 933-1:1997. Tests for geometrical properties of aggregates Part
1: Determination of particle size distribution — Sieving method
[9] BS EN1097-6:2000. Tests for mechanical and physical properties of
aggregates — Part 6: Determination of particle density and water
absorption
[10] BS EN 933-3:1997. Tests for geometrical properties of aggregates - Part
3: Determination of particle shape - Flakiness index
[11] EN 933-4:2008. Tests for geometrical properties of aggregates Part 4:
Determination of particle shape — Shape index
[12] BS 812-112: 1990. Testing aggregates — Part 112: Methods for
determination of aggregate impact value (AIV)
[13] Oti J.E., Kinuthia J.M, Bai J, Delpak R and Snelson D.G., 2010.
Engineering properties of concrete made with slate waste. Construction
materials 163 (3), p.131-142.
[14] Oti J.E., Kinuthia J.M, and Bai J., 2010. Sustainable masonry mortar for
brick joint and plaster in the UK. Construction materials 163 (2), p87-96
[15] BS BS EN 206-1:2000. Concrete - Part 1: Specification, performance,
production and conformity
[16] BS EN 12350-1:2009. Testing fresh concrete Part 1: Sampling.
[17] BS EN 12390-1:2009.Testing hardened Concrete. Part 1: Shape,
dimensions and other requirements of specimens and moulds
[18] BS EN 12350-2:2009. Testing fresh concrete Part 2: Slump-test.
[19] BS EN 12350-4:2009. Testing fresh concrete Part 4: Degree of
compactability
[20] BS EN 1015-3:1990. Methods of test for mortar for masonry, Part 3:
Determination of consistence of fresh mortar by flow Table.
[21] BS EN 12390-2:2009.Testing hardened Concrete. Part 2: Making and
curing specimens for strength tests. [22] BS EN 12390-3:2009.Testing hardened Concrete. Part 3: Compressive
strength of test specimens.
[23] BS EN 12390-4:2009.Testing hardened Concrete. Part 4: Compressive
strength - Specification for testing machines.
[24] BS EN 12390-6:2009.Testing hardened Concrete. Part 6: Tensile
splitting strength of test specimens.
[25] BS EN 413-2: 2005 Masonry cement, Part 2: Test methods.
[26] Bai J., Wild S., Sabir B. B., 2003. Chloride ingress and strength loss in
concrete with different MK-PFA-PC binder compositions exposed to
synthetic seawater. Cement and Concrete Research, 33(3):353–62.
[27] Trindade JR, Visak ZP, Blesic M, Marrucho IM, Coutinho JAP,
Canongia Lopes JN and Rebelo LPN (2007) Salting-out effects in
aqueous ionic liquid solutions – cloud-point temperature shifts. Journal
of Physical Chemistry B published online 01/27/2007 page EST: 4.6
path.web.ua.pt.
[28] Bassuoni MT and Nehdi ML., 2009. Durability of self-consolidating
concrete to sulfate attack under combined cyclic environments and
flexural loading. Cement and Concrete Research 39(3): 206–226.
[29] Chatveera B and Lertwattanaruk P (2009) Evaluation of sulfate
resistance of cement mortars containing black rice husk ash. Journal of
Environmental Management 90(3): 1435–1441.
[30] O’Farrell M, Wild S and Sabir BB (1999) Resistance to chemical attack
of ground brick – PC mortar Part I. Sodium sulphate solution. Cement
and Concrete Research 29(11): 1781–1790.