Development of Lightweight and Thermal Insulation Concrete Based on Agro-industrial Waste

Growing economic development has highlighted the problem of high energy use in buildings. Improving building thermal insulation is a key approach to tackling this issue. In parallel, the use of waste products from agriculture and industry for insulation purposes has gained significant attention. Generality of mussel farming is dedicated to canning. This industry produces over a million tons of shell waste annually, which is primarily disposed of in landfills or dumped into the ocean, causing significant environmental damage. This research aims to demonstrate the potential of mussel shells as a viable lightweight and thermal insulating material. Calcium carbonate derived from powdered mussel shell waste served as a calcium source in concrete mixture containing natural pozzolanic materials, namely bagasse ash and pottery stone. The autoclaved sample made from the agro-industrial waste has been physically and chemically analyzed. Mechanical properties, including compressive strength, density and thermal conductivity were investigated. A material body incorporating mussel shell waste exhibited high compressive strength while showing low density and good thermal insulation. The lightweight and thermal insulation material offers economic advantages by using mussel shells as a lime substitute and bagasse ash as a cement replacement. This approach promotes the sustainable reuse of these agro-industrial waste materials.