CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Tile grout plays a crucial role in construction, particularly in ensuring the durability

and aesthetic appeal of tiled surfaces. Traditional grout formulations rely heavily on

limestone, a common and widely used material in civil engineering due to its availability

and favorable properties such as strength and workability. However, the continuous

extraction of limestone poses environmental concerns, including habitat destruction and

increased carbon emissions from quarrying and processing. In response to these challenges,

the civil engineering sector is exploring more sustainable alternatives to reduce the

environmental footprint of construction materials. This research seeks to contribute to these

efforts by evaluating oyster shells as a potential substitute for limestone in tile grout, which

could offer an eco-friendly solution while maintaining the functional properties required in

construction applications.

Oyster shells, a byproduct of the seafood industry, are produced in large quantities

and often discarded as waste, contributing to environmental pollution. In coastal regions,

particularly those with thriving aquaculture industries, the disposal of oyster shells presents

a growing challenge. According to the data supplied by Philippine Statistics Authority, in

2020, the Philippines generated over 53,000 metric tons of oysters, valued at approximately

P1 billion. Bulacan led the production with over 53,000 metric tons, followed by Capiz

with 8,000 metric tons and Negros Occidental producing 1,400 metric tons. However,

oyster shells are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), the same mineral that

constitutes limestone. This makes them a promising candidate for use in construction

materials. Studies have shown that when processed, oyster shells exhibit properties similar

to those of limestone, making them suitable for applications such as concrete and mortar

production. Their high calcium carbonate content, typically ranging from 90% to 95%,

offers the same binding properties that are critical in grout formulations. Repurposing this

waste product not only provides a sustainable solution to oyster shell disposal but also

contributes to the conservation of natural limestone reserves.

particularly for cement, concrete, and grout production. It is prized for its strength,

durability, and availability. However, the environmental impact of limestone extraction is

significant. Quarrying disturbs natural landscapes, destroys ecosystems, and generates dust

and noise pollution. Furthermore, the processing of limestone releases substantial amounts

of carbon dioxide, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Given the growing demand

for environmentally sustainable construction practices, there is increasing pressure to find

alternatives to virgin limestone that do not compromise the material's performance

characteristics in structural applications.

The exploration of oyster shells as a limestone replacement in grout formulations is driven

by their similar chemical composition and the potential for sustainable resource use. Recent

studies have shown that oyster shells, when crushed and processed, can achieve

comparable compressive strength and durability in construction applications. Furthermore,

the environmental benefits of using oyster shells are significant: they offer a renewable and

low-carbon alternative to limestone, helping to mitigate the negative impacts of limestone

quarrying and reduce the burden on landfills. Additionally, the energy required to process

oyster shells is lower compared to limestone, further contributing to reduced carbon

emissions. This study seeks to build on existing research by evaluating the specific

performance of oyster shells in tile grout, analyzing their strength, workability, and long-

term durability. By assessing these properties, the research aims to determine whether

oyster shells can serve as a viable, sustainable alternative in civil engineering applications.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

The general problem of the study is how many calcined oyster shells to be

sustainable to replace the limestone in grout mixture.

Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following specific problem

1. What are the properties of oyster shells to replace the limestone in grout mixture?
 2. What are the effects of oyster shells in mechanical properties of tile grout in

compressive strength?

3. What proportion of calcined oyster shell to replace limestone in grout?

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The General objective of this study is to replace the limestone using calcined Oyster

Shell in grout mixture, which will retain the strength of grout, and also the impact on the

environment using limestone, the study outlined the following specific objectives:

1. Determine the effectiveness of using calcined oyster shells added to grout mixture.

2. Investigate the mechanical & chemical properties of calcined oyster shell to classify

its potential as replacement in limestone.

3. To analyze the amount of calcined oyster shells added to the grout mixture.

HYPOTHESES:

The replacement of limestone using calcined oyster shells will terminate the use of

limestone.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

This study entitled “Sustainable Tile Grout: Evaluating Oyster Shell as

Replacement to Limestone” aims to be instrumental to the following:

For the civil engineers, this study may help them to reduce their reliance of using

the traditional limestone on tile grout. This may give them another option to consider as a

substitute or replacement for the limestone on tile grout.

For the construction industry, this study may introduce the usage of oyster shell

as another source of lime for the production of other construction materials. This may be

the way to reveal the benefits of oyster shells, making the grout more effective in

construction application.
 For the seafood industry, this can create a new revenue stream for them, potentially

enhancing profitability and driving economic growth. They may also supply oyster shell

waste to construction industry for them to solve their disposal problem.

For the community, this study promotes utilizing of sustainable waste materials

and helps address waste management issues, particularly in coastal areas where large

amounts of shells are discarded. Also, this can help to keep communities cleaner and

reduces landfill use and pollution.

For the researchers, they can expand on these findings to investigate additional

applications of oyster shells in various construction or manufacturing processes thereby

increasing the potential uses of waste materials across different industries. This can be

utilized by future researchers as a supplement and guide for replication.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION:

The overall purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of oyster shells as a

replacement for limestone in tile grout.

There will be three various mixing ratios to be used for this study to test what will

be the proper ratio of oyster shell that suits to the study. The oyster shell which will be

utilized for this are only from the seafood restaurants and delimits only to its shell without

any debris from other materials or substances.

This study will also assess the mechanical properties of grout when oyster shells

are used as a replacement for limestone. Additionally, it will compare the chemical

composition of oyster shells and limestone to identify any similarities between the two

materials.

This study will be focusing on the effectiveness of using oyster shells as a

replacement for limestone in tile grout.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:
 Calcination - process that transforms a substance into its oxide or eliminates

volatile materials, usually by heating the materials to high temperatures in the presence of

air or oxygen (wagh, 2016). In this study, it is the process that will turned the oyster shells

into powder similar to ashes to obtain calcium oxide.

Chemical property - refer to the properties of a substance that influence how it

interacts with other substances (Helmenstine, 2024). In this study, it is a factor needed to

analyze to know how the oyster shells react on the mixture as replacement to limestone.

Compressibility - is a measure of how much a material can be compressed under

pressure and it quantifies the change in volume of a substance when an external force is

applied (Attard, 2002). It is a factor need to measure by a certain equipment.

Mechanical properties - refer to the characteristics of materials that describe how

they behave under different types of mechanical stress or forces (Saleh, 2022). In this study,

it is a factor that needed to test to see the effectiveness of oyster shell in grout.

Water penetration - refers to the process by which water moves through a material

or soil (Lano, 2013). It is a factor needed to be evaluate in this study for the effectiveness

of tile grout.

Silica sand - It is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth and is often

characterized by its purity, which is typically above 95% quartz content (Kakar, 2018). In

this study, it is the specific type of sand will be utilizing on the production grout.