THE PROBABILITY OF USING PULVERIZED MUSSEL SHELLS (Perna viridis)

AS COMPONENT IN HOLLOW BLOCKS MAKING

A Thesis in
Research 1
Presented to the Faculty of Industrial Technology Department
Cebu Technological University – Moalboal Campus
Moalboal, Cebu

In partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the degree
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology
Major in Drafting

James Arthur Raboy

Jhon Paul Flores
Robert Gualiza
Ardwin Memoracion
John Dave Quitorio
Erica Mae Rondrique

December 2021
 DEDICATION

To the workforces in the construction and masonry industry who devote their

time, efforts, and knowledge for the sake of improving infrastructures and civilization.

To the learning enhancement and education advancement of Cebu Technological

University – Moalboal Campus.

To the teachers, friends, and families of the researchers for giving the guidance,

support, and inspiration needed to conduct the study.

Most importantly, to the Almighty Father for the knowledge and wisdom

bestowed to the researchers as the lifeblood in making this study a success.

This research study is for you.

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers express their sincere gratitude to their Research 1 professor, Sir

Resti Tito Villarino, for the opportunity to conduct this study and for the patience and

encouragement he portrayed. Sir Resti Villarino is, indeed generous and inspiring as he

shares his expertise to us.

 ABSTRACT

This study generally aimed to utilize the feasibility and potential of using

pulverized mussel shells (Perna viridis) as composite materials in hollow block making.

A theoretical research design was employed to justify the effectiveness of developing

more resilient yet practical hollow blocks by mixing pulverized mussel shells with the

raw materials in the manufacturing process. Moreover, this research study also serves as

a functional substitute for the commercial and chemically manufactured hollow blocks

that are high-priced in the current market. The researchers gather various related

literature and studies, citing different factors and considerations. All the collected data

were theoretically framed and analyzed. The research study results revealed that mussel

shells contain 95%-99% calcium carbonate by weight with fracture toughness of ~3000

times greater than that of the crystals themselves. This application may help in fabricating

new set of raw materials of producing hollow blocks with enhanced structural properties

in terms of durability and compressive strength. This great innovation in construction

technology aims to introduce this project to the manufacturers of hollow blocks, the

construction industry, and local government units with abundant resources of mussel

shells. This study also presents another way of addressing the pollution wherein the green

mussel shells have contributed to the tons of solid wastes generated in the Asia-Pacific

Region. Recycling mussel shells and using them to create another innovative material fits

the puzzle. Even more, this product could save our ecology from extreme quarrying of

sand and at the same time decrease the production cost of these materials due to the

presence of hollow blocks with mussel shells in the market.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Human civilization continues to progress in culture, technology, and innovation.

Brilliant discoveries continue to make life comfortable and more convenient through

latest inventions offering the best suitable services. In parallel to advancement and

modernization, the researchers intend to uncover studies that will do just that, a research

project concerning an essential material used in almost all infrastructures and building

materials: hollow blocks.

Hollow blocks are rectangular bricks mostly used in the construction of multi-

storied buildings, factories, and residential infrastructures. It is also known as concrete

blocks, cement blocks, and foundation blocks commonly used in compound walls. These

blocks are made from a mixture of cement, sand, and stone chips. Its presence reduces

cement in masonry work and reduces the cost of construction.

According to Varshney (2016) [1], “The first Concrete block as a replacement for

stone and wood in the building was used in the United States. The first concrete block

house built up in 1837 on Staten Island in New York. Harmon S. Palmer designed first

hollow concrete block in 1890. Palmer presented the design of hollow block in 1900 after

10 years of experimental research. Palmer’s blocks were 8-inch (20.3 cm) x 10-inch (25.4

cm) x 30-inch(76.2 cm) and they were heavy in weight. The early hollow blocks were
cast by hand and average output was about 10 blocks per hour. Now concrete blocks are

manufacturing by automated process that can make up to 2000 blocks per hour.” (p. 1)

Numerous environmentalists, researchers, and students conducted experiments

and research studies focusing on the matter of what component is more convenient to

improve the quality of the hollow blocks. Various related literature and studies, citing

different factors and considerations were collected, theoretically framed, and analyzed.

The research study results revealed that mussel shells contain 95%-99% calcium

carbonate by weight with fracture toughness of ~3000 times greater than that of the

crystals themselves. This application may help in fabricating new set of raw materials of

producing hollow blocks with enhanced structural properties in terms of durability and

compressive strength.

Papadimitriou (2020) studied that [2] “The current trend in concrete engineering

is shifting towards the sustainability aspect due to the depletion of natural concrete –

making materials as well as the environmental impact arising from the utilization of these

materials. Hence, there is an increased need of applying sustainable practices in concrete

production using recycled waste materials as substitutes for conventional materials in

concrete.”

In a study done by Young, A. et al., (1982) [7] “Natural populations of oysters

and mussels have long been gathered for food by coastal communities in the Philippines,

and bivalve farming began in early 1900. The first farms were no more than a series of
bamboo poles inserted in the muddy bottom of Manila Bay in Bacoor Cavite. In May

1934, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) established a pilot oyster

farm in Binakayan, Cavite Province, Luzon, and a lucrative industry soon grew up. By

1950, about 200 ha of private farms existed in Bacoor Bay, but, in the late 1950s, mussels

appeared on the farms and threatened the industry. The response of BFAR was to initiate

farms for mussels, and the results prompted the establishment of a mussel industry that

proved to be at least as lucrative as the oyster industry.”

Mussel Shells waste can be recycled as an alternative concrete component. Many

wastes will thus be generated, answering waste management problems in local

communities. The recycling of mussel wastes in addition to hollow block mix will

contribute to the preservation of the environment by reducing the quantity of mussel shell

waste.

The utilization of pulverized mussel shells in concrete could restrain the problem

of excessive consumption of conventional materials and at the same time decrease the

amount of generated waste shells in the Asia-Pacific region. The probability of using

mussel shells as component in manufacturing hollow blocks was studied, and the results

show a great significance here in the Philippines, where increasing amounts of mussel

shells are disposed under no regulation.

Theoretical Background

Natural resources of the world drastically dwindle due to the increasing demand

of natural aggregate for the construction industry. This has also degenerated the

environment and has given impetus to studies and research for sustainable development

by using different waste products in the construction industry. Lightweight aggregates

from industrial waste such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, bed ash has

led to sustainable materials but due to the lack of production techniques, many of the

developed and under-developed countries have not been able to use them to their

advantage. If the weight of the structure is decreased by using lightweight aggregate in

concrete, it favorably assists both the structural stability and economic viability, which

has been convincingly proved in developed countries. [3] (Prusty and Patro, 2014)

According to Reddy et al., (2014), [4] the consumption of the primary aggregate

was 110 million tonnes in the U.K. during 1960 and reached nearly 275 million tonnes in

the year 2006. Similarly, 2 billion ton-nes of aggregate are produced each year in the

United States and it is expected to increase to more than 2.5 billion tonnes by the year

2020.

It has been predicted that the demand for concrete is expected to grow to

approximately 18 billion tons a year by 2050. Such heavy demands draw attention and

preservation of natural aggregates, which are a matter of grave concern. Since aggregates

contribute about 60–80% of the volume of the concrete, effective and efficient use of
agricultural waste contributes to energy saving, conservation of natural resources and

reduction of the cost of construction materials. Agricultural wastes in the form of

aggregate for concrete production can be considered as one of the environmental benefits

and has shown better thermal property with the proven recognition by most of the

sustainability rating systems. [5] (Shafigh et al., 2014)

Giving emphasis on the above citations, the researchers decided to look for a

partially or fully coarse mixture replacement material in an alternative hollow blocks

production. Mussel shells for a fact, embodies a good quality of concrete due to their

durable property, but still, it requires a mixture of more cement paste to make it feasible.

Due to an excessive availability of mussel shells, it can be potentially used as a

component in hollow blocks making, thus opening a new horizon in construction and

masonry industry. In addition, it can serve as an alternative to solving the problem of

preservation of natural coarse aggregate and disposal problems.

The construction industry requires great number of raw/virgin materials from

natural resources. In the past recent years, extreme efforts were initiated to introduce in

concrete mixing activities the by-products and wastes from various industrial,

agricultural, and other relative sources. Looking through at the fishery industry, seashell

wastes like mussel shells are available in certain regions in the Philippines and is usually

dumped in huge quantities without any reuse and proper waste regulation.
 Papadimitriou et al. [2] investigated on mussel shells and its feasibility as an

aggregate replacement concrete. In their project study, the waste mussel shells were dried

and crushed into different aggregates ranging from coarse particulates to powder.

Specimens were prepared by using various types of cements (CEM I 52.5N, CEM

IV/B (P-W) 32.5N and CEM II/A-M (W-L) 42.5R) and mussel shells of different size.

Their 28-day compressive strength and elastic modulus was evaluated and compared with

the one of specimens made with compatible calcareous sand or gravel. Waste mussel

shells material showed characteristics, like limestone, that enable them to be an inert

material due to the high calcium oxide content. However, proper treatment such as

heating at high temperature and crushing to achieve appropriate fineness are desirable for

a better-quality material. It was shown that waste mussel shells could be utilized as a

partial aggregate for adequate workability and strength of concrete for non-structural

purposes. [2] (Papadimitriou et al. 2014)

The test results also demonstrated that the aggregate fraction plays an important

role in the strength development of mussel concretes. The most impressive observation

was that mussel concretes (code named M1, M4 and M7) made with the coarser gravel

aggregate (4.76 – 12.7 mm fraction) showed strength values lower than the one of

reference concretes with much less cement content, for all types of cement. An

explanation for this result is the one proposed by Garcia et al. (2017), who stated that

the flat and flaky shape of the mussel aggregates, especially the one of the mussel

gravel, act as a barrier to the bleeding water which increases the water to cement ratio
in the downward face of the shell, resulting in a weaker bond between the two phases

(cement paste-aggregate), and hence, in a worst concrete strength. This hypothesis of

aggregate size effect on concrete strength is corroborated by the experimental results

obtained for the finer fraction (sand mussel concretes M3 and M6), which exhibited the

lower decrements in compressive strength and elastic modulus when cement types of

CEM I 52.5 N and CEM II/A-M (W-L) 42.5 R were used. [2] (Papadimitriou et al. 2014)

The experimental tests performed by Papadimitriou et al., (2014) on different

mussel concrete showed that their strength was lower than the natural aggregate

concretes. Their durability and strength are dependent on its amount in the mixture and

the cement type. Their conducted study shows that am adequate fraction of mussel shells

when mixed with a complex cement type containing pozzolan and ground limestone

could produce a concrete with industrial properties comparable to the commercialized

one. Despite the reduction in the workability and strength, based on the studies

performed, it is suggested that mussel shells waste could still be utilized as a partial

aggregate at a replacement level of up to 20% for adequate workability and strength of

concrete.

Another research study was conducted by a group of students which [8] aims to

develop stronger and tougher hollow blocks by using various shells. In their project

study, “The hollow block is mainly composed of shells and clay, wherein clay has been

indispensable in architecture, infrastructure and is an insulator to weather. The

researchers added cement to the mixture making the product more compact. Hollow
blocks from various shells and the commercial hollow blocks were set into trials to

compare each strength and ability to withstand weather. Both were stomped by different

people weighing 40kg, 50kg, and 80kg; and were poured with hot water (100 OC) and cold

water (16OC). After the trials, the researchers found out that commercial hollow block

was easily squashed into pieces unlike the study’s hollow block which is weaker in the

hollow part. (Cantano et al., n. d.)

The student researchers proved that the hollow blocks with a mixture of 40% clay

and 60% sand seashells, from various shells, are stronger compared to the commercial

hollow blocks. The commercial hollow blocks were easily cracked into pieces unlike the

one with a mixture of different seashells. [8] “The results of the experiment show that the

hollow block is stronger when there are more crushed shells added. The mud clay and

cement react to produce alternative hollow blocks and much more when they are

combined. There is a difference in strength from the highest quantity of crushed shells in

each mixture of mud clay and cement”. (Cantano et al., n. d.)

Another series of experiments was also conducted by Manao, A. (n.d.) [6] to

study the effect of using mussel shells on the compressive strength and percentage of

water absorption of the bricks. The bricks were tested at the construction materials testing

center and it proved that the bricks could hold enough strength and can absorb much

water.
 According to ASTM c1088 standard specification for thin veneer brick units

made from clay or shale, the compressive strength of the thin veneer bricks is not

necessary because its strength cannot be measured accurately due its thickness. But we

can conclude that the bricks with 100% mussel shell (sample 2) can have more

compressive strength than combining the mussel shell to the sand (sample 3) and bricks

with no mussel shell at all (sample 4). Therefore, using 100% and 50% mussel shell can

increase the compressive strength by 65.29% and 57.56% respectively. [6] (Manao, A.

n.d.)

Based on the studies performed, the brick with mussel shells mixture could be

used as walling, flooring, and in constructing patios, paving works, or as blinding

concrete. Pulverized mussel shells when used as an additive in making hollow blocks can

be used both as a cement substitute and as a filler material for the formulation of non-

structural concrete. This newly formulated mixture can be applied in structures with low

strength concrete requirement. Indeed, this type of hollow blocks or concrete blocks can

be used as strengthening and infill material for confined beams. Another conceivable

application of this mixture is the rehabilitation of deteriorated columns to prolong their

service life.
Theoretical Framework

FISHERY/AQUACULTURE WASTE MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION

SECTOR
CULTURED MUSSELS SECTOR INDUSTRY
COMMERCIALLY
RECYCLED
AVAILABLE
MATERIALS
WASTE
NATURALY VALORIZATION
HARVESTED CEMENT
MUSSELS

CEMENT
PRODUCTION
MUSSEL SHELLS
WASTE
HIGH DEMAND

BIOREFINERY ENVIRONEMNTAL
ISSUES

SUBSTITUTION OF
CEMENT CONCRETE
BLOCKS

MUSSEL SHELL HOLLOW BLOCKS

Statement of the Problem

The researchers aimed to determine the feasibility of using pulverized mussel

shells in making hollow blocks. Specifically, this study is made to answer the following

problems:

1. What would be the best feasible mussel shells mixture in making the hollow

blocks:

a. Mussel Shells with sand?

b. Mussel Shells with clay?

2. What would be the percentage of the best feasible mixture?

3. Is there a significance difference between hollow blocks made from mussel

shells and the commercial ones that has been used for years?

Hypothesis of the Study

There is no significant difference in the feasibility of using pulverized mussel shells as

additive with the commercial hollow blocks.

 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGIES

Research Method

Research Design

Data Gathering Procedure

Study Instrument

Aside from related literatures, books, and other written materials, the researchers

used a survey questionnaire for the study which in Google form. Google forms provide a

fast way to create online survey, and the responses are collected in an online spreadsheet.

The survey questions will be answered from almost any web browser – including mobile

smartphone and tablet browsers using their email addresses. Their responses will be

automatically recorded. The researchers can access the survey questionnaire through the

given link: https://forms.gle/UzKNJxsnEpBi5c7M7

 REFERENCES

[1] International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology. (2016). A review study

on different properties of hollow concrete blocks (IJERT ISSN: 2278-0181.,

Special Issue 2016., Vol 4., Issue 03). Department of Civil Engineering, Roorkee

Institute of Technology.

https://www.ijert.org/research/a-review-study-on-different-properties-of-hollow-

concrete-blocks-IJERTCONV4IS03032.pdf

[2] Papadimitriou, C. A., Anagnostopoulos, K., Anagnostopoulos, S., Mitsoudi, S.

(2020). The use of waste mussel shells as an aggregate replacement in concrete.

International Hellenic University, School of Engineering, Department of

Environmental Engineering.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

344042196_The_use_of_waste_mussel_shells_as_an_aggregate_replacement_in_

concrete

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Ltd.
[4] Reddy, B. D., Jyothy, S. A., Shaik, F. (2014). Experimental analysis of the use of

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[5] Shafigh, P., Mahmud, H. B., Jumaat, M. Z., Zargar, M. (2013). Agricultural wastes as

aggregate in concrete mixtures – a review. Construction and building materials

2014 (Vol 53, pp. 110-117). Elsevier Ltd.

[6] Manao, A. (n.d.). Mussel shells as bricks.

https://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/Mussel-Shells-As-Bricks/397742

[7] Young, A., & Serna, E. (1982). Country report: Philippines. In F. B. Davy & M.

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workshop held in Singapore, 16-19 February 1982 (pp. 55–68). Ottawa:

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https://www.academia.edu/31118167/Hollow_Blocks_Out_from_Various_Shells