Development of Lightweight Building Materials Using a Sustainable Chemistry Approach - The Multifunctional Effects of Garlic Husk Ash on Foam Concrete

Sep 29, 2026

This study investigates garlic husk ash (GHA) as a biomass-derived pozzolanic material for partial cement replacement in foam concrete. GHA was added at 0–30 wt%, and its influence on mechanical strength, durability, thermal conductivity, and microstructure was evaluated. GHA increased initial and final set times by up to 56% and 52% while reducing workability as water demand rose. Although early compressive strength decreased, later-age strength improved due to pozzolanic activity. At 90 days, GHA30 reached 12.80 MPa, and thermal conductivity dropped 18% to 0.199 W/m·K. After 50 freeze–thaw cycles, GHA25 and GHA30 retained up to 87% strength, with SEM confirming denser C–S–H formation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

This article is licensed under CC-BY 4.0 [http://pubs.acs.org/journal/acsodf](http://pubs.acs.org/journal/acsodf) Article Development of Lightweight Building Materials Using a Sustainable Chemistry Approach: The Multifunctional Effects of Garlic Husk Ash on Foam Concrete Mehmet Uur Yılmazolu, Halil Ouzhan Kara, Kenan Toklu, ffet Gamze M̈utevelli zkan, Ihsan T̈urkel, Mahmut Bilgehan, Adem Ahıskalı, Ouzhan Yavuz Bayraktar, and Gökhan Kaplan * Cite This: ACS Omega 2025, 10, 58619−58646 Read Online | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ACCESS | Metrics & More | | Article Recommendations | ABSTRACT: In this study, the application of garlic husk ash (GHA) as a new form of biomass-related pozzolanic material that could be used as a partial replacement of cement in the production of foam concrete was examined. GHAs added to cement were equal to 0−30 wt %. The impact of GHA on various properties tested (i.e., mechanical strength, durability, thermal conductivity, and microstructure) demonstrated that GHA is a silica, low-calcium material. Adding GHA increased the initial and final set times by up to 56 and 52%, respectively. As water demand increased, workability declined. Despite the decrease in early age compressive strength, later-age strength improved due to pozzolanic activity. At 90 days, the GHA30 mix’s compressive strength reached 12.80 MPa, slightly exceeding that of the control mix. Insulation properties improved as thermal conductivity decreased by 18% to 0.199 W/m·K. After 50 freeze−thaw cycles, the GHA25 and GHA30 mixes maintained up to 87% of their compressive strength, demonstrating exceptional freeze−thaw resistance. In high-GHA specimens, SEM analysis confirmed the development of a denser microstructure with increased C−S−H gel. The outcomes indicate that GHA, as an abundant biomass byproduct, enhances the long-term durability of lightweight concrete while minimizing the environmental footprint associated with cement utilization. This research promotes the integration of agricultural biomass residues into construction materials to improve circular economy principles and foster the development of sustainable, energy-efficient infrastructures. 1. INTRODUCTION One of the great quests of this century is the search for sustainable means in engineering practice based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations and advised by us. 1,2 From the UN’s recommended Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to incorporate the circular economy into waste management, massive urbanization and population growth in metropolitan areas have created a conundrum of cleaner production and consumption to address insurmountable urbanization problems, such as waste generation.3 This massive increase in waste production is a significant obstacle to sustainable development, as is the increased CO2 production in recent years. This is why new approaches to waste management, such as the circular economy, which considers each material’s life cycle, are increasingly being adopted in different sectors, such as construction.1 There is a global recognition that the policy of producing, using, and discarding is unsustainable and has negative environmental, economic, and public health impacts. In recognition of these concerns, governments worldwide are looking for scientific solutions to recycle all waste materials to develop a closed-loop circular economy where today’s waste is tomorrow’s raw material.4,5 It is consistently reported that the construction sector uses almost 40% of total energy production and that cement production alone accounts for 8% of total global CO2 production.6 In this sector, the inexorable demand for building materials and binders has driven ongoing research into the most efficient means of producing a more sustainable binder, particularly by exploring new systems that make greater use of waste materials. In this context, blended cements7,8 and Supplementary Cementitious M

FAQs

How was garlic husk ash used in the foam concrete mixes?

Garlic husk ash (GHA) was applied as a biomass-related pozzolanic material to partially replace cement at 0–30 wt% in foam concrete.

What effects did adding GHA have on setting time and workability?

Adding GHA increased both initial and final set times, up to 56% and 52%, respectively. Workability declined as water demand increased.

How did GHA influence durability under freeze-thaw conditions and thermal performance?

After 50 freeze–thaw cycles, GHA25 and GHA30 retained up to 87% of compressive strength, showing strong freeze–thaw resistance. Thermal conductivity decreased by 18% to 0.199 W/m·K, improving insulation properties.

Sep 29, 2026

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