Physical and Microscopic Characterization of Thermal Treatment Products of Plant Waste for Recycling in Sustainable Construction

Organic plant waste is a source of pollution, so it is necessary to dispose properly. One way is recycling. Studies show the possibilities of using it in construction. In the present study, some municipal waste has been characterized and evaluated for its application in mortars and concretes. A preliminary evaluation was done with five residues (orange peel, corn cob and husk, pineapple leaf and garden grass). In the compression tests of mortars with various percentages of aggregate replacement, the best results were with grass, with resistances like to the standard sample after 7 days of curing. Therefore, mortar and concrete samples were prepared with 5% and 10% re-placement of sand by volume with grass. The results of the mortar samples, after 7 days of curing, were 88% and 74.6% and the concrete samples were 87% and 85% respectively after 28 days of curing, compared to the standard samples. It is concluded that it is feasible to recycle grass for use as a partial substitute for aggregate in concrete. However, it is necessary to complement the tests carried out, to define the optimal percentage of substitution and in terms of durability, to define the scope of its application in construction.