Effects of Agricultural waste ash additives on Lankavri and Kpantinapu clays for Possible Industrial Applications
Idu H. K.
Thliza C. B.
Ozoekwem R. O.
Idenyi N. E.
Ugwu E. I.
Abstract
The effects of agricultural waste ash additives on Lankavri and Kpantinapu clays for possible industrial applications were investigated. Virgin clays were excavated as mined from fromLankavri Town in Yorro Local Government Area and Kpantinapu Town in Jalingo Local Government Area both in Taraba State, Nigeria and processed to about 98 % purity using standard laboratory procedures. The coconut shells (CS), cow bones (CB) and rice husks (RH) were sourced locally within the Jalingo metropolis and calcined into amorphous ash by pyrolytic decomposition. The clays were blended at a 50: 50 weights % ratio and the ashes were each separately mixed and compounded with the clay blend at 90: 10, 80:20 and 70:30 weight percentage ratios. These compounded samples were then subjected to firing at different temperatures of 900oC, 1000oC, 1100oC and 1200oC and subsequently characterised for linear shrinkage, bulk density, apparent porosity and water absorption coefficient. Six selected admixtures of 10 % CS, 10 % CB, 10 % RH, 20 % CS, 20 % CB and 20 % RH together with the blended control of Lankavri and Kpantinapu were subjected to SEM analysis. The results obtained showed that the agricultural waste ashes did not significantly affect the physicochemical properties of the blended Lankavri and Kpantinapu clays much. However, the 10 % admixture of each ash presented values very close to those of the control, with the 10 % CS showing the best results. It is therefore concluded that for purposes of recycling for environmental safety and control, not more than 10 % CS should be added to a blend of Lankavri and Kpantinapu clays when deployed for industrial use for refractory production.
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