ARTICLE IN PRESS

SPENT BLEACHING EARTH AS VALUE-ADDED MATERIAL TO MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION APPLICATIONS: A REVIEW

FARDIN HASIBUAN1*; MOHD KAMEL WAN IBRAHIM1 and NUGROHO PRATOMO ARIYANTO2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2024.0028
Received: 2 October 2023   Accepted: 19 February 2024   Published Online: 26 April 2024
ABSTRACT

Crude palm oil (CPO) serves as a significant export commodity for Indonesia, contributing positively tothe country’s economic growth and generating income for communities. Nonetheless, the production ofCPO results in an environmental drawback in the form of refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palm oil,which poses environmental concerns. One pivotal material used in the purification process to transform thereddish-orange CPO into a lighter yellow hue is known as bleaching earth. As a consequence, a substantialamount of waste, referred to as spent bleaching earth (SBE), is generated and recovered to prevent harm tothe environment. Remarkably, research has revealed that SBE exhibits pozzolanic properties, rendering itsuitable for incorporation into construction materials. The primary objective of this study is to emphasize theadvantages of integrating SBE into the construction material manufacturing process. Mixtures containingeco-process pozzolan (EPP), the product derived from SBE, have exhibited superior strength characteristicswhen compared to mixtures using ordinary portland cement (OPC). Furthermore, concrete incorporatingpozzolan mixtures has displayed increased strength values when subjected to high temperatures,outperforming concrete made exclusively with OPC. However, further investigation is required to ascertainthe thermal resistance capabilities of EPP as a component in mortar or concrete.

KEYWORDS:


1 Program of Mechanical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering,
Universiti Malaysia Sabah,
88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

2 Mechanical Engineering Department,
Politeknik Negeri Batam, Batam, Indonesia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: fardin.hasibuan123456@gmail.com