Development of User Friendly Geopolymer Mortar Using Wood Ash Lye as Alkaline Activator

Abstract:

Geopolymer concrete is an environmentally friendly substitute for traditional Portland cement-based concrete. In contrast to conventional concrete, which contributes to substantial carbon dioxide emissions through Portland cement production, geopolymer concrete utilizes aluminosilicate materials like fly ash, slag, or metakaolin as binders. This innovative approach aims to reduce the environmental impact of construction materials by offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional cement-based concrete. Unfortunately, the technology of geopolymer concrete was mainly confined to laboratory research in developing countries due to the high cost of chemical activators used in its production. The current study explored the prospects of using wood ash (WA) lye as an alkaline activator in geopolymers. A single raw aluminosilicate material, class C palm oil fuel ash (POFA), was activated with WA lye and sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) to produce a geopolymer mortar. Both fresh and hardened properties tests were conducted to assess the WA lye-activated geopolymer mortar at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The optimum liquid/binder (L/B) ratio and alkali activator ratio (AAR) of WA lye-activated geopolymer mortar were 0.5 and 3.0, respectively. The outcome of this research indicate that WA lye can effectively be utilised to produce geopolymers with desirable properties, thereby providing an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to NaOH.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 159)
• Pages: 19-25
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-ME0X5u
• Online since: January 2025
• Authors: Muhammad Nura Isa, Hanizam Awang*
• Keywords: Alkaline Activator, Geopolymer, Palm Oil Fuel Ash, Properties, Wood Ash Lye

References

[1] C.B. Cheah and M.H. Samsudin, "Optimization on the Hybridization Ratio of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and High Calcium Wood Ash (GGBS – HCWA) for the Fabrication of Geopolymer Mortar," Advanced Environmental Biology., vol. 9, no. 94, p.22–25, 2015, [Online]. Available: http://www.aensiweb.com/AEB/.

DOI: 10.1166/asl.2018.11569

[2] S. Y. Kwek, H. Awang, and C. B. Cheah, "Influence of liquid-to-solid and alkaline activator (Sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide) ratios on fresh and hardened properties of alkali-activated palm oil fuel ash geopolymer," Materials (Basel)., vol. 14, no. 15, 2021.

DOI: 10.3390/ma14154253

[3] A.M. Zeyad, M.A.M. Johari, B.A. Tayeh, and M. Olalekan, "Efficiency of treated and untreated palm oil fuel ash as a supplementary binder on engineering and fluid transport properties of high-strength concrete," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 125, p.1066–1079, 2016.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.08.065

[4] O. A. Abdulkareem, M. Ramli, and J. C. Matthews, "Production of geopolymer mortar system containing high calcium biomass wood ash as a partial substitution to fly ash : An early age evaluation," Composite Part B, vol. 174, no. December 2018, p.106941, 2019.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.106941

[5] H. M. Hamada et al., "Sustainable use of palm oil fuel ash as a supplementary cementitious material: A comprehensive review," Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 40, no. July 2020, 2021.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102286

[6] J. Davidovits, "Geopolymer cement," Institute Geopolymere, no. 0, p.1–11, 2013.

[7] M. Amran, S. Debbarma, and T. Ozbakkaloglu, "Fly ash-based eco-friendly geopolymer concrete : A critical review of the long-term durability properties," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 270, p.121857, 2021.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121857

[8] L. N. Assi, K. Carter, E. Deaver, and P. Ziehl, "Review of availability of source materials for geopolymer/sustainable concrete," Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 263, p.121477, 2020.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121477

[9] C. C. Ban, P. W. Ken, and M. Ramli, "Mechanical and Durability Performance of Novel Self-activating Geopolymer Mortars," Procedia Engineering, vol. 171, p.564–571, 2017.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.374

[10] M. A. Salih, N. Farzadnia, A. A. Abang Ali, and R. Demirboga, "Development of high strength alkali activated binder using palm oil fuel ash and GGBS at ambient temperature," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 93, p.289–300, 2015.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.05.119

[11] M. A. Salam, M. Safiuddin, and M. Z. Jumaat, "Durability indicators for sustainable self-consolidating high-strength concrete incorporating palm oil fuel ash," Sustainability., vol. 10, no. 7, 2018.

DOI: 10.3390/su10072345

[12] H. M. Hamada, G. A. Jokhio, F. M. Yahaya, A. M. Humada, and Y. Gul, "The present state of the use of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) in concrete," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 175, p.26–40, 2018.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.03.227

[13] BS EN 196-6:2010, "Methods of testing cement Part 6: Determination of fineness," British Standard, p.13, 1989.

[14] ASTM C618, "Standard Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use," Annu. Book ASTM Standard, no. C, p.3–6, 2010.

DOI: 10.1520/C0618

[15] ASTM C188-16, "Standard Test Method for Density of Hydraulic Cement," ASTM International, vol. 95, no. C, p.1–3, 2009.

[16] ASTM C127, "ASTM C 127-08: Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption of Fine Aggregate," ASTM International, p.2–7, 2008.

DOI: 10.1520/c0128

[17] ASTM C191, "Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle 1," ASTM International, vol. i, 2004.

[18] ASTM C1437, "Standard Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar," ASTM International, p.6–7, 2007.

[19] ASTM C230, "Standard Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement 1," ASTM International, p.4–9, 2010.

[20] ASTM C109M-02, "Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars," Annu. B. ASTM Standard, vol. 04, p.1–6, 2007.

[21] A. Sathonsaowaphak, P. Chindaprasirt, and K. Pimraksa, "Workability and strength of lignite bottom ash geopolymer mortar," Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 168, no. 1, p.44–50, 2009.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.01.120

[22] A. B. Malkawi, M. F. Nuruddin, A. Fauzi, H. Almattarneh, and B. S. Mohammed, "Effects of Alkaline Solution on Properties of the HCFA Geopolymer Mortars," in Procedia Engineering, 2016, vol. 148, p.710–717.

DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.581

[23] M. N. Isa and H. Awang, "Characteristics of palm oil fuel ash geopolymer mortar activated with wood ash lye cured at ambient temperature," J. Build. Eng., vol. 66, no. January, p.105851, 2023.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.105851

[24] M. A. Salih, A. A. Abang Ali, R. Demirboga, and M. Al Bakri, "Properties of fresh palm oil fuel ash based geopolymer material," Advanced Environmental Biolology, vol. 7, no. SPEC. ISSUE 12, p.3572–3579, 2013.

[25] M. Amer, A. Abdullah, A. Ali, and N. Farzadnia, "Characterization of mechanical and microstructural properties of palm oil fuel ash geopolymer cement paste," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 65, p.592–603, 2014.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.05.031

[26] ASTM C150, "Standard Specification for Portland Cement1," ASTM International, vol. i, 2012.

DOI: 10.1520/C0150

[27] S.W. Wijaya and D. Hardjito, "Factors Affecting the Setting Time of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer," Materials Science Forum, vol. 841, p.90–97, 2016, doi: 10.4028/ www.scientific.net/MSF.841.90.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.841.90

[28] C. L. Hwang and T. P. Huynh, "Effect of alkali-activator and rice husk ash content on strength development of fly ash and residual rice husk ash-based geopolymers," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 101, p.1–9, 2015.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.10.025

[29] S. O. Sore, A. Messan, E. Prud'Homme, G. Escadeillas, and F. Tsobnang, "Comparative Study on Geopolymer Binders Based on Two Alkaline Solutions (NaOH and KOH)," Journal of Minerals and Materials Charactarization and Engineering, vol. 08, no. 06, p.407–420, 2020.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2020.86026