Experimental Investigation of the Structural and Morphological Characteristics of Wood Waste Ash Pozzolan Derived from Selected Tropical Wood Varieties

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the structure and morphology of some selected wood ash pozzolans. Four samples, namely Gmelina arborea (Gmelina), Anacardium occidentale (Cashew), Parkia filicoidea (Locust bean), and Milicia excelsa (Iroko) wood ashes were analyzed to explore their potential as pozzolans. X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were used to investigate the microstructure and morphology of the ashes. XRD results revealed the presence of crystalline phases of CaO, SiO2, and Fe2O3, which are among the four major compounds for pozzolans (SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and Fe2O3) in all the samples. SEM results indicated a heterogeneous mixture of varying-sized particles in the wood ash. Overall, the results suggest that all the wood ashes used in this research are suitable for use as a pozzolan and as a raw material in cement production.