Use of orange peel ash in concrete to reduce waste generation

SAJSET-01-2023-0017

Abstract

Orange fruits have been part of human diet for ages due to its nutritional and medicinal values. But consumption of orange fruits generates orange peel wastes that could bring about environmental pollution and hazardous to human health if not properly handled. The study aimed towards recycling of wastes and avoiding littering and waste-related environmental degradation thereby producing sustainable engineering material additives in concrete. This research was carried to explore the potential of using orange peel ash (OPA) as partial replacement of cement on the properties of fresh concrete. Orange peel was air-dried and burnt to Ash at a temperature of 400^oC in an Incinerator. It was applied in different percentages (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) to modify the properties of fresh concrete. Experiments were conducted on consistency, fineness of cement, soundness of cement, setting times and workability to determine the effect of varying percentage addition of OPA on the properties of fresh concrete. Setting time was found to decrease with increase in OPA addition but generally lower than that of cement paste (Control). Workability also decreases with increase in addition of OPA. Consistency increases with increase addition of OPC/OPA admixture and 20% was found to be the optimum. Consistency of OPA indicated that water requirement increases with increase in OPA addition. Orange peel ash is recommended for rendering and plastering as there is color changes and as a retarder suitable for the hot weather construction, while orange peel ash content of 20% and above is recommended for concrete work in very hot and dry weather condition that are prone to rapid dehydration condition. The research has shown that OPA can be used to modify the properties of fresh concrete. Administering OPA reduced waste disposal, environmental problems, produce new engineering material and reduced cost of cement production.