Investigation of the use of waste biomass ash in clay concrete paving stone

In many advanced countries, increasing urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructure development have led to a rise in pollution and environmental issues. This increase has resulted in the production and release of various types of hazards and biologically non-degradable solid wastes into the environment. Correctly identifying the physical and chemical properties of these wastes and evaluating them as alternative products in different sectors can contribute to a country's economy. Since the storage or transportation of waste materials also incurs additional costs, they are often disposed of directly, regardless of their content. However, utilizing these materials as resources can often be more advantageous. This study investigates the feasibility of using biomass ash from CEMAK Elektrik Enerjisi A.Ş., located in Tokat, as a partial replacement for cement in concrete paving stones. In this context, the ash, which was freed from foreign substances and processed through a ball mill, was prepared for use. The ash was used as a replacement for cement in proportions of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% by weight to produce concrete paving stones. Various tests were conducted on the control group and other sample groups, including dimensional and appearance determination, water absorption rate, abrasion resistance, splitting tensile strength, resistance to freeze-thaw cycles with de-icing salts, and ultrasonic velocity tests. According to the results obtained, it was determined that biomass ash can be used as a replacement for cement in concrete paving stones up to 15% by weight.