APPLICATION OF RICE HUSK ASH OBTAINED FROM AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NONSTRUCTURAL CONCRETE BLOCKS

Abstract

This research was to develop an application for an agro-industrial residue as it is the ash of rice (CCA) resulting from the process of controlled combustion of the husk of rice husks, this burning process is carried out in La Esmeralda rice located in Jamundí (Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia). The resulting ash from the combustion process of the rice husks presented a percentage of amorphous silica of 29.38%. This waste was incorporated into mixtures of concrete in order to study its effect as pozzolan in partial replacement of type I portland cement and as fine aggregate, in the manufacture of non- structural blocks and solid blocks. The results showed that the cement ratio: 1:6 and the addition of 20% of CCA acting as filler and pozzolan is the optimal composition for the use of this agro-industrial waste in an application as non-structural blocks. Also found that mixing two-step process improves the quality of the product, increasing the mechanical properties of the mixtures made to 28 days of curing.