Exploring the Pozzolanic Potential of Blend of Palm Kernel Nut Ash (PKNA) With Cement Towards a Sustainable Construction

Abstract

One of the main consequence of a nonsustainable world is global warming caused by the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere that deplete the earth's protective layer from extreme sun radiation. Urbanization and industrialization bring about high construction rate to accommodate growing global demand for concrete production. Concrete production contributes about 5% of the world's carbon dioxide (C02) emission and the bulk of these emissions are in cement production. Cement is not an eco-friendly material and the sharp decrease in its use is needed to improve sustainable construction. Another issue discouraging its use is the rising cost making housing unaffordable even to the middle class. One of the ways of achieving this is by the use of pozzolanic and blended cements to reduce the quantity of cements required to meet the global concrete demand. This study examines the Pozzolanic Potentials of Palm Kernel Nut Ash (PKNA) as a blend with cement in Nigeria. Nigeria is currently the third world leading producer of palm which bears the nut and also accounts for over half of the palm produced in Africa. Palm kernel nut becomes an agro-waste when the oil is extracted. This study shows that PKNA can comfortably replace cement by 10% and even produce a more durable binder than when cement is wholly used. The utilization of PKNA in blended cement production will reduce the need for cement and prevent the ecological hazard resulting from the disposal of the waste palm nuts.