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The Use of Coconut Husks, Eggshells, and Floral Foam as Additives in

Making Absorbent Concrete

A Research Paper
Presented to the Faculty of
AGUSAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Butuan City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subject

Research Capstone

Abarquez, Cristine A.
Albit, Juleane
Gonzalez,Jessica Y.
Castillo, Kessy
Curato, Paula Mae
Macasero, Alyka
Estrada, Japheth Lloyd
Jason, Keesha Crystal D.
Ramao, Mary Joan L.
Torralba, Samantha
Torre, Chyna Jazyle L.

October 2020
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Background of the Study

In two main ways, the building industry is revolutionizing. One way is to

develop building methods, such as using digital construction equipment. The

other is the development of building materials of high value, such as the

implementation of high-strength concrete. Concrete is today's commonly used

number one structural material in the world, high cement prices, used as a

binder, have led to a search for an alternative in the production of mortar,

sandcrete blocks, lancrete bricks, and concrete.

It is not necessary to overemphasize the general importance of concrete in

nearly all structural engineering activities and building works. Due to the low

tensile strength of concrete, rapid crack propagation, brittle mode of failure, and

increased overload are typical in concrete structures. Although the most

common approach developed to minimize such problems is conventional steel-

reinforced concrete, it is very costly in terms of its costs and sustainability issues.

Because of the massive investment of capital to run the steel industry, many

manufacturers in developing countries are trying to cut corners by reducing steel

quality, thereby reducing strength. It had has contributed to many problems,

including the collapse of houses, followed by devastating economic and human

losses.

Many researchers and engineers have been challenged by the increasing

concern about resource depletion and global pollution to look for and create new

materials that depend on renewable resources. It involves the use in building

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construction of by-products and waste materials. For the production of

lightweight concrete, many of these by-products are used as aggregate (Vishwas

and Sanjay, 2013).

Coconut husk (fiber) being the most ductile among all natural fibres (Majid Ali

et al.,2012) has the potential to be used as a reinforcement material in concrete.

It is biodegradable so the impact on environment will be minimal. This is also a

way to dispose off the fibers which are derived as waste materials from coir

based manufacturing units to produce high strength materials .They are also

non-abrasive in nature ,cheap and easily available. While the eggshells are

known to have good strength characteristics when mixed with concrete.

Eggshells are agricultural waste materials generated from chick hatcheries,

bakeries, fast-food restaurant among others which can litter the environment and

consequently constituting environmental problems or pollution which would

require proper handling. In the ever increasing efforts to convert waste to wealth,

the efficacy of converting eggshell to beneficial use becomes an idea worth

embracing.

Floral foam, on the other hand, is packaged as a dry material, providing a

lightweight material that can be stored for prolonged periods before to use. It is

composed of phenols, formaldehyde polymers, surfactants, and wetting agents.

Due to simple technology, it is a promising material in the modern building

industry, and a wide variety of properties can be achieved. In wet and cold

weather, durability plays an essential role. The production of more durable floral
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foam makes it possible to improve the life cycle of the material and to allow

natural resources to be used rationally.

Concrete is widely used throughout the world for the construction of most

buildings, bridges, etc. Hence, it has labeled as the foundation of the growth of a

nation's infrastructure. Nowadays, in concrete production, different waste

materials are being studied and used as raw materials. The objective of this

study is to demonstrate that recycled materials can be used in concrete products

to replace some of the conventional mixture components and create more

sustainable building materials such as coconut husk (fiber), eggshell (ash), and

floral foam. It concluded in previous studies that eggshell powders increased the

strength of the soil and can be appropriate stabilizing materials.

Research Objectives:

This study intends to plan an absorbent concrete to make use of Coconut

Husk, Eggshells, and Floral Foam as Additives. It also expects to test whether

the variables are compatible with each other, to investigate the right mix amount

of the variables for making cement in concrete. Besides, to test the durability of

the variable above material in concrete by determining its compressive strength

and water resistance.

Statement of the Problem:

Based on the foregoing major research problem, the specific problems are

as follows:
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1. Does The Use of Coconut Husks, Eggshells, and Floral Foam as Additives

in Making Absorbent Concrete can help the environmental problem?

2. Does using Coconut Husks, Eggshells, and Floral Foam as Additives in

Making Absorbent Concrete has a strong foundation?

3. Does The Use of Coconut Husks, Eggshells, and Floral Foam as Additives

in Making Absorbent Concrete has a good durability?

Null Hypothesis:

There is no significant difference in measuring a strong foundation & good

durability in using of coconut husks, eggshells, and floral foam as an additives in

making absorbent concrete.

Theoretical Framework:

According to Victor Matangulu Shrestha, S Anandh, S Sindhu Nachiar ( IOP

Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 80, 2017), concrete is a

heterogeneous combination comprise of cement as the principle fixing with an

alternate blend of fine and coarse aggregate. The massive utilization of ordinary

cement has a deficiency in its key ingredients, regular sand, and coarse

aggregates, because of expanded industrialization and globalization. To beat the

lack of material, a substitute material with comparative mechanical properties

and structure must be considered, as substitution of ordinary cement.

According to Maninder Kaur and Manpreet Kaur ( International journal of

applied engineering research 7 (11), 05-08, 2012), the coconut shell is a material
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that can fill in for the aggregates. The shell of the coconut is generally utilized as

trimming and as a wellspring of actuated carbon. In line with this, Ahmad

Ridwan, AD Limantara, B Subiyanto, E Gardjito, D Rahardjo, A Santoso, B

Heryanto, HL Sudarmanto, H Murti, AG Sari, SW Mudjanarko ( IOP Conference

Series: Earth and Environmental Science 277 (1), 012002, 2019) stated that the

use of coconut shell waste for the solid blended material, will decrease the

expense and produce a naturally well-disposed street block for pavement, which

likewise rapidly ingests runoff into the soil so, the pavement is tougher.

Another, according to Ashfaque Ahmed Jhatial, Wan Inn Goh, Noridah

Mohamad, Samiullah Sohu, Muhammad Tahir Lakhiar ( Civil Engineering

Journal 4 (8), 1977-1984, 2018) eggshells when pounded into Eggshells Powder

(ESP) are wealthy in calcium oxide and can give the necessary calcium hydride

essential in making cement. Also, Sufian Kamaruddin, Wan Inn Goh, Ashfaque

Ahmed Jhatial, Muhammad Tahir Lakhiar (International Journal of Engineering &

Technology 7 (4.30), 350-354, 2018 ) stated that because of the qualities

regulated by eggshells, these waste materials can be used in the production as

concrete replacement, lessening the utilization of concrete which is one of the

significant production of Carbon Dioxide ( CO2) gas.

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Conceptual Framework:

Scope and Limitation:

The scope of the study in terms of collection of materials, preparation of

materials, and experiment accurately is limited only in the area of Butuan City.

This study is confined to make an additive concrete utilizing coconut husk,

eggshells, and floral foam. The researcher intends to realize how to make an

additive concrete using coconut husk, eggshells, and floral foam, expect to

recognize what would we be able to get in the coconut husk, in eggshells, and

floral foam in making an additive concrete.

Significance of the Study:

The result of the research is significant as it will provide/contribute added

information to the following:

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Local Government - the result of this study will provide sufficient knowledge and

ideas to use the nature-friendly alternative in making absorbent concrete.

Community - the outcome of this research will help the people in the community,

especially to those who are having problems with their unsteady concrete in their

respective homes and also for having eco-friendly, recyclable concrete.

Students - the result of this research will be the eye-opener to initiate more and

more experimentation on how to make nature-friendly absorbent concrete.

Definition of Terms:

COCONUT HUSK

 Conceptual Definition:

Coconut palm fronds and the husks of the coconut fruits are extensively

used as sources for fibers, which are used for a variety of applications (Reddy

and Yang, 2015).

 Operational Definition:

As used in the study, the known properties of the coconut husk help improve

resistance to explosive spalling in case of fire, improve impact resistance,

improve structural strength, improve mix cohesion, reduction of steel

reinforcement requirements, and improved ductility.

EGGSHELL

 Conceptual Definition:

The thin, hard outer layer of an egg, especially a hen's egg. (Oxford

Dictionary)
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 Operational Definition:

As used in the study, eggshells are known to have good strength

characteristics when mixed with concrete. The use of eggshell ash in concrete

production reduced the cost of raw material and contributes to the construction

industry.

FLORAL FOAM

 Conceptual Definition:

Floral foam is a commonly used substrate in floral arrangements, which may

increase (Regan and Dole, 2010) or decrease vase life compared to stems

placed directly in a preservative solution (Neumaier et al., 1999).

 Operational Definition:

As used in the study, the foam is treated with detergents to give it the unique

ability to soak up water. The thickness of floral foam implies that it holds

enormous amounts of water.

CEMENT

 Conceptual Definition:

Cement is a powdery substance made with calcined lime and clay as the

main ingredients. (Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 2018,

Article ID 4158682, 11 pages, 2018.)

 Operational Definition:

As used in the study, cement is the substance used for construction and the

result when coconut husk, eggshell, and floral foam go together.

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Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related literature and studies after a thorough and

in-depth search done by the researchers. These will also present the symbols of

the theoretical framework to fully understand the research and lastly the

definition of terms for better comprehension of the study.

Coconut Husks

Rapid crack propagation, brittle mode of failure, and increase overload are

ordinary on concrete structures due to the low tensile strength of concrete (A.N

Ede and J.O Agbede, 2015). Coconut fibers or husks are extracted from the

outer shell of a coconut. Its scientific name and the plant family of coconut fibers

are “Cocos Nucifera” and “Arecaceae”(Palm). For these drawbacks, the

development of contemporary concrete technologies such as eco-friendly and

affordable coconut fibers reinforce concrete needs more investigation. There are

two types of coconut fibers, white fibers that are obtained from immature

coconuts and brown fibers obtained from mature coconuts. Coconut Fibres

amongst all-natural fibers are the most ductile coconut fibers have the capacity

of taking strain 4-6 times more than that of natural fibers (Okere C.E, 2015). 

EGGSHELL

Eggshell is known as a smooth surface that is desirable compared to rough

eggshells fracture more easily. There are many factor influences in quality of

eggshell, which is nutrient adequacy, flock health problem, environmental

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condition, and breeding. Apart from that, the controlling rate of egg weight also

contributes to a good quality of eggshell, and it is not dependent on the thick

eggshell mean firm. Sometimes, a thinner eggshell is firm than a thicker

eggshell. This fact is due to the shape and organization of organic and inorganic

components of the shell (Gary et al., 2004).

Okonkwo et al. (2012) conclude that the increase in the eggshell ash content

will increase the strength of properties of the cement stabilized matrix up about

35% averagely. That shows the usage of eggshell ash as an additive will

increase the concentration of the concrete. On the other hand, according to

Mtalib et al. (2009) said that the addition of eggshell ash to the Ordinary Portland

Cement decreases the setting time of the cement. So they presume that the

eggshells ash as a quickening agent in concrete due to the higher substance of

the quicker pace of setting. But it is different from the effect of eggshell on the

soil. Amu et al. (2005) investigated that the eggshell powder could be a great

replacement in industrial lime because they have similarities in chemical

composition. The eggshell can be stabilizing the potential of lime on expansive

clay soil. Stabilization is aiming at improving the properties of soil, including

increasing the soil density, increase in cohesion, frictional resistance, and

reduction of plasticity index such as lime, cement, and fly ash. So they conclude

that eggshell powder can be a supplement in lime stabilization.

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CEMENT

Portland cement is the most ordinary cement used in the world, and it is

often used in concrete and mortar, respectively. The mixed proportion of

aggregates, sand, water, cement form the concrete which, is used in the

construction development of buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. The

hydration process o pc results in hardening and increases strength gain when

mixed with water. The quality of concrete produced depends on the quality of the

raw materials used, such as cement, aggregate, and water, the mixture, ways,

and means of transport its compactions. If the raw materials used are of low

quality, then the resulting concrete will have low standards and will result in

concrete, not firm and does not meet their specification.

COARSES AGGREGATE

According to Nawy (2008), aggregates are granular materials such as sand

and crushed stones. Most aggregates have specific gravities in the range of 2.6

to 2.7. The role of aggregate is to provide much better dimensional stability and

wear resistance. Without aggregate, large castings of neat cement paste would

essentially self-destruct upon drying. Coarse aggregates are particles greater

than 4.75 mm but generally range between 9.5 mm to 37.5 mm in diameter.

They can either be from primary, secondary, or recycled sources. Aggregate

makes up about 75% of the volume of concrete, so their properties have a

comprehensive influence on the properties of the concrete (Alexander et al.,

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2005). Hence, the selection of aggregate is significant to the concrete mixture as

well as it will affect the workability in the concrete.

FINE AGGREGATE

The fine aggregate has a better positive effect on the properties of fresh

concrete and hardened in high-performance concrete. Thus, the fine aggregate

is playing a significant role in the concrete mixture (Chang et al., 2001).

WATER

Water is an essential element to produce excellent and quality concrete. Bad

quality of water could cause corrosion to the steel reinforcement. Thus it is

significant to ensure that water used for concrete production should be free from

harmful substances like oil, acid, alkali, salt, sugar, slit, and organic matter. In

general, rule, if the water is drinkable, it is considered suitable for concrete

production. Neville (2005) suggested that the water used for concrete should be

clean, free from organic material, and having a pH ranging from 6 to 8.

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METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The study will use a Correlational Design since it will show us the

relationship between the properties of coconut husk, eggshell, and floral foam

from the former ingredients used in making absorbent cement. A correlational

research design measures a relationship between two variables without the

researcher controlling either of them. It seeks to establish whether either a

positive correlation, a negative correlation, or a zero correlation exists. In the

same direction, all variables modify. According to Arikunto (2007), the correlation

method is used in this research since it is intended to investigate the correlation

between the variables. Since this study has a relationship between those three

variables, thus the correlational design is the most appropriate design to be

used.

Statistical Treatment

The researchers will utilize statistical calculation in analyzing information

accumulated. This is to use Coconut Husks, Eggshells, and Floral Foam as

Additives in Making Absorbent Concrete. The statistical used to be used in the

analysis will be One-factor ANOVA of F-Test two factors. A one-factor ANOVA is

a type of statistical test that compares the variation in the mean group to a

sample while only one variable or factor is taken into account. It is a hypothesis

based test which aims to determine various hypothesis on our mutually exclusive

data (Mackenzie, 2018). The level of significance is 5%.

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PROCEDURE

Eggshell Collection

Hence, reuse eggshell as an added substance in concrete is a better

answer for lessening the fundamental issue. The tests were done to four extents,

which are 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. These eggshells must be crushed into a fine

powder. The target of the examination is to decide the execution of eggshell

powder in terms of its quality. The trials were utilized to research the eggshell is

the droop test, compressive quality test, flexural test, and water entrance test

separately.

From the outcomes, eggshell powder in 5% added substance in concrete

has a decent compressive quality, which is 28.87.N/mm 2 contrasted and the

other extent. Moreover, it additionally improved in flexural quality in all added

substance extents. The outcomes show eggshell powder has the best exhibition

in the water entrance test, which is 11.5 mm inside and out. The discoveries

proposed that the reasonableness of eggshell powder with various extents is

relevant in the fundamental arrangement of the structures (Hut, M. 2014).

Coconut Husk Collection

Coconut husks were gathered from the shop, and it was gotten after the oil

extraction in the plant from the external outskirts of the coconut organic product.

The shells were then washed appropriately and air-dried for five days under

surrounding temperature and later reviewed as per the ASTM C330 (2009).
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Filaments were cleaved with sharp scissors keeping up a length from 15 to 35

mm. Hacked filaments were stove dried at 80°C for 5h and utilized desiccators

for cooling. Cleaved strands were utilized to decide the length, measurement,

thickness, regular mugginess, water retention limit, and thickness of filaments.

Floral Foam Collection

The extent was characterized dependent on the consequences of earlier

investigations. A consistent speed mechanical stirrer was utilized to produce

foam at a thickness of 100 kg/m3. To start with, the foam was blended in a

programmed planetary sort blender with water, concrete, and the added

substance until the combination was utterly uniform, and it was then refreshed

for 3 min at the speed of 140 RPM. Consecutively, the ferment was created and

added to the homogeneous blend and blended for 3 min at a consistent speed of

285 RPM until the solid turned out to be completely homogeneous. The

combination was promptly kept in barrel-shaped and parallelepiped molds (300 ×

100 × 30 mm) that should have been utilized for the warm conductivity tests

(Thomas, 2019).
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