Geopolymer-Based Mortar Utilizing Palm Oil Fuel Ash and Rice Husk Ash as Full Cement Replacement for Green Building Materials
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/science.v3i4.871Keywords:
Geopolymer Mortar, Palm Oil Fuel Ash, Rice Husk Ash, Cement ReplacementAbstract
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) production contributes approximately 7–8% of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, motivating the development of low-carbon binders from agro-industrial waste. This study investigates the mechanical, physical, and microstructural properties of geopolymer mortar using palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and rice husk ash (RHA) as complete OPC replacements. Five POFA-to-RHA mass ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) were activated using 12 M sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions. Specimens were cured under ambient laboratory conditions and tested at 7, 14, 28, and 56 days. The 50:50 POFA-RHA blend achieved the highest 28-day compressive strength among geopolymer mixtures, reaching 37.9 MPa, equivalent to 92% of the OPC control strength of 41.2 MPa. It also exhibited a bulk density of 1930 kg/m³ and water absorption of 8.3%. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated alkali-activated gel formation through a Si–O–T band shift from approximately 1080 to 1000 cm⁻¹ and a broad amorphous hump. With Si/Al and Ca/Si ratios of approximately 25 and 0.07, respectively, the binder is classified as a silica-rich alkali-activated hybrid system. Overall, the 50:50 blend offers a promising approach to sustainable cement replacement and low-carbon construction materials in Indonesia.
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