EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF STUBBLE WASTE BIOCHAR AS SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

This study explores the potential of rice stubble derived biochar as a sustainable alternative to cement in construction materials. The study focuses on research findings, with an emphasis on determining the effect of rice stubble biochar on crucial mortar properties. Three mortar mixes were formulated to determine the optimal biochar content and provide a basis for comparison. These mixes consisted of a control group, a mix with 5% biochar content, and another with 7.5% biochar content. The primary aim was to assess the impact of rice stubble biochar on the essential mortar characteristics, such as workability, water absorption, and strength properties. The findings indicate that incorporating biochar into mortar formulations leads to a decrease in workability. Mortars containing biochar exhibited higher water absorption compared to the control mix. The mortar mixes incorporating biochar exhibited superior compressive strength at both 7-day and 28-day mark compared to the control mix. The highest strength increases of 19% and 7% were recorded for RS7.5SP0.9 mix at 7-day and 28-day mark. However, no biochar-containing mix displayed higher flexural strength than the control mixes at both the 7-day and 28-day testing intervals. The study's outcomes emphasize the potential of biochar to improve certain mechanical properties of mortar, particularly its compressive strength over extended curing periods. These findings encourage further exploration into optimal biochar proportions and its compatibility with other construction materials, contributing to the advancement of environmentally conscious construction practices.