Investigation of Recycled Geopolymer Bricks Made with Sugar Beet Bagasse Ash and Filter Cake Binders

This study investigates the incorporation of sugar beet bagasse ash as a partial binder in geopolymer bricks to enhance their microstructural and mechanical properties. Geopolymer brick samples were fabricated using varying proportions of sugar beet bagasse ash, granulated blast furnace slag, and brick fragments, activated by a sodium hydroxide–sodium silicate alkaline solution. After a 28-day curing period, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was conducted to examine microstructural changes, while mechanical and durability performance was assessed through compressive strength, flexural strength, and water absorption tests. The results demonstrated that adding 10% sugar beet bagasse ash significantly improved compressive strength to 35.5 MPa and flexural strength to 8.2 MPa compared to the control mix, while also reducing permeability, shrinkage, and microcracking. Higher bagasse ash percentages negatively affected strength, confirming 10% as the optimal level for performance and durability. This research highlights the potential of sugar beet bagasse ash as a sustainable supplementary material for geopolymer bricks, promoting environmental sustainability and supporting eco-friendly construction practices.