Utilizing Agricultural Waste as an Environmentally Friendly Cement Composite

Abstract

Utilizing coconut coir fiber can offer an alternative method of adding value to agricultural wastes and help to conserve the environment with green products. The aim of this research was to investigate the potential use of coconut coir fiber as an eco-friendly material for cement composites. The properties of these cement composites mixed with varying proportions of paper waste were compared to ordinary white Portland cement. In addition, the surface structure and chemical characteristics of the samples were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that the cement composites consisted mainly of the elements carbon (C), oxygen (O), and calcium (Ca) in the range of 34-44%, 42-49%, and 11-19% by weight, respectively. The density of OPC, 0%, 50%, 100% of coconut coir fiber cement composite at 28 days curing time were found 1.85±0.03 g/cm 3 ,1.72±0.02 g/cm 3 , 1.66±0.05 g/cm 3 , 1.56±0.02 g/cm 3 , respectively. Moreover, the compressive and flexural strength of the cement composites decreased with an increase in the coconut coir fiber volume fraction.