Sustainable cementitious materials: A comprehensive review on rice husk biochar-Portland cement blends
The net-zero emission goal has driven the global construction industry to look for alternative ways to decarbonize Portland cement (PC) production. One sustainable approach is using biochar from agricultural waste as a partial blend for Portland cement. Rice husk is considered an abundant agrarian w...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221450952500885X |
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| Summary: | The net-zero emission goal has driven the global construction industry to look for alternative ways to decarbonize Portland cement (PC) production. One sustainable approach is using biochar from agricultural waste as a partial blend for Portland cement. Rice husk is considered an abundant agrarian waste in agricultural countries. Rice husk biochar (RHB), a product of burning rice husk wastes in an oxygen-free environment, is a potential material for cement blending due to its porous nature and high surface area necessary for cement hydration and curing. However, its application in the cement industry is still in its early stages due to its effect on concrete strength. While numerous studies have explored the environmental and mechanical impacts of incorporating rice husk biochar into cement, there is currently no systematic analytical review that compiles and evaluates these findings. This review addresses this gap by synthesizing a wide range of empirical studies to assess the mechanical performance, hydration mechanisms, microstructural properties, and environmental benefits of RHB-cement composites. Findings reveal that up to 25 % RHB can be blended with PC without compromising functional strength. This addition can decrease the global warming potential of traditional PC by up to 88 %. When properly optimized for particle size and pyrolysis conditions, RHB-blended composites offer improved performance and long-term stability. Blending RHB with PC not only valorizes agricultural waste but also promotes circular economy practices. This review concludes that RHB-cement is a viable and sustainable material, offering a significant step toward reducing the environmental footprint of the construction industry. |
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| ISSN: | 2214-5095 |