article · Discover Applied Sciences
Incorporating industrial and agricultural by-products into concrete production offers a viable route to improving sustainability across the construction industry. This review evaluates the role of supplementary cementitious materials, including fly ash, silica fume, blast furnace slag, and rice husk ash, in boosting the strength, durability, and workability of concrete. To increase the reactivity and effectiveness of these raw waste materials, various physical and chemical pre-treatment methods can be applied prior to mixing. However, realising their full potential requires addressing critical gaps in current technical understanding. Further investigation is needed concerning long-term performance, optimal mix proportions, the mitigation of alkali-silica reactions, quality control standards, environmental footprints, and overall economic viability.
The construction sector consumes vast resources and contributes heavily to emissions. Repurposing industrial and agricultural waste into concrete mixtures provides a practical solution to reduce environmental impact. Understanding how to treat and mix these by-products ensures that alternative materials can match or exceed traditional concrete standards while keeping waste out of landfills.
This work informs concrete producers, construction firms, and materials suppliers seeking to replace conventional cement with lower-carbon by-products. The review highlights that while the basic use of materials like fly ash and slag is established, the application of enhanced pre-treatment methods and the resolution of long-term durability issues remain at an early-to-applied research stage prior to standardised, widespread industrial adoption.
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The potential for improving sustainability in the building sector has led to a great deal of interest in using industrial and agricultural wastes in concrete in recent years. This study gives an overview of the use of industrial and agricultural wastes as supplemental cementitious materials in the manufacturing of concrete, emphasizing ways to improve the performance of these materials. The potential of various industrial and agricultural wastes, such as silica fume, fly ash, rice husk ash, and blast furnace slag, to enhance the workability, durability, and strength of concrete is being investigated. Pre-treatment techniques including chemical and physical treatments are talked about as ways to improve these waste materials' reactivity and efficacy in concrete mixes. Additionally, gaps in knowledge related to optimal utilization, long-term performance, alkali-silica reaction mitigation, quality control, environmental impact, and economic viability are identified, highlighting the need for further research in these areas. Overall, the use of industrial and agricultural wastes in concrete offers encouraging prospects for sustainable building methods, and research is still being done to overcome major obstacles and expand understanding in this area.
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DOI: 10.1007/s42452-025-06586-1
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