Utilization of Bio-Fuel Furnace Ash in Cementitious Materials

This study plans to investigate the potential of bio-mass fuel ash as suitable engineering materials formanufacturing concrete. Three possible sources of bio-mass have been selected, including (1) wood pellets,(2) waste wood, and (3) palm oil fuel shell and fiber. The aim is to develop appropriate processes for treatingbio-fuel boiler ash and use the product as pozzolanic material for partly replacing cement in making concrete.The study will start with investigating current status of bio-mass fuel uses for boilers in the industry.Representative ash samples produced from burning bio-fuel only and co-combustion of bio-fuel and coal willbe collected for basic characterization tests such as specific gravity, sieving, adsorption, pH, and chemicalcontents. Based on the basic characteristics of bio-fuel boiler ash, a treatment method for improving theproperties of boiler ash as pozzolanic materials for cement replacement will be developed. This will involvethe determination of screening processes, grinding, and temperature for ignition.After the boiler ash has been treated with high temperature and grinding, the material will be subjectedto evaluation tests including pozzolanic activity index and increase in shrinkage as a potential pozzolanicmaterial for replacing cement in concrete. The treated ash will be tested for workability, strength, anddurability to verify the validity of the treatment. Finally, microstructural evaluation, such as scanningelectronic microscope, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis, will be performed on treated ash mixed withcement, such that the pozzolanic properties of the ash can be confirmed.