Influence of Cajuput Leaf Residue on the Properties of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate

This study investigates the utilization of cajuput leaf residue as an additive in the production of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregates (LECA). The solid cajuput residue, a by-product of cajuput oil extraction, was mixed with clay in varying ratios (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by weight, denoted as 0%RW, 10%RW, 20%RW, 30%RW and 40%RW, respectively) to form pellets, which were then sintered at 800°C. Besides, the study of temperature effects was conducted on samples containing 40% cajuput leaf residue, sintered at 700 °C, 800 °C, and 900°C. The physical properties bulk density, water absorption, and porosity were assessed, alongside microstructural and chemical analyses using SEM and EDS techniques. The results showed that increasing the cajuput leaf residue content significantly enhanced porosity and water absorption while reducing bulk density, with optimal performance observed at 800°C. The findings demonstrate the potential of cajuput leaf residue in developing eco-friendly LECA for applications such as plant growth media, with this waste recycling contributing to circular economy initiatives.