BIOCHAR USAGE FOR IMPROVING CONCRETE MIX AS CEMENT REPLACEMENT

As a by-product of the pyrolysis process, biochar is used successfully in limited research as a soil modification and carbon sequesters. The use of biochar in the industry has been expanded by recent and successful literature work to promote sustainable development and help reduce adverse environmental effects from carbon emissions. This research aims to explore biochar as an additive in mortar and concrete in order to increase concrete's sustainability and compressive strength. In particular, the effects of the added biochar on the concrete strength are investigated. The physical, fresh and hardened concrete properties (water absorption, density, compressive strength, and slump) are examined using sample mortar mixes with 5%, 10% and 15% replacement of cement by weight contains rice husk biochar.