SAWDUST

Having a proper place to live is one of the problems that Filipinos still have. By substituting

wood sawdust as cement hollow blocks, the price of building a house will decrease due to more

affordable and low-cost materials. It will give knowledge to many people to see if waste

materials can be helpful in construction and test its structural stability, standardization, reliability

and validity.

The use of wood as a building material in the construction or other building elements

results in the emergence of wood waste that has not been fully utilized, in the form of sawdust.

One way to use wood industrial waste is to use it as a building material. In this study, industrial

wood waste (sawdust) was used as a partial substitute for sand in building materials in the form

of cement mortar. This study aims to determine the effect of adding sawdust of kala-kala wood to

cement mortar on its compressive strength. Sawdust is one of Natural powder, which is suitable

for use in the manufacture of composites as a substitute for glass powder. The use of natural

powders as reinforcement in polymers has an advantage because natural powders are

environmentally friendly. The advantages of natural powders are low density, easy to decompose,

high stiffness, and relatively low price. Some of the disadvantages of using natural powders are

high moisture absorption, low heat resistance, and low crystalline properties. The use of sawdust

in concrete mixtures has been used for a long time, due to its increasing availability, various

types have been developed, one of which is sawdust. In sawdust there are cellulose and

hemicellulose levels which when added to a mixture of cement and sand forming concrete, these

compounds will be absorbed on the surface of the particles and provide additional bonding

strength between the particles due to their adhesion and dispersion properties, and inhibit the

diffusion of water in the material. In this way, stronger and relatively impermeable concrete can
be produced, which can be used as a construction material for special purposes. F. Amir et

al (2024). Compressive Strength of Mortar with Addition of Sawdust IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth

Environ. Sci. 1355 012028. 10.1088/1755-1315/1355/1/012028

Sawdust was applied to partially replace sand in the making of concrete. By using sawdust

instead of sand, concrete can be made more affordably and sustainably than using

traditional methods. Typically, sawdust is disposed of by burning it outside, which releases

toxic smoke that is dangerous to human health. Using it in cement composites is a more

environmentally friendly approach to dispose of it. To lessen the strain on the limited natural

resources, sawdust, which the forest industry produces in large quantities, could partially

substitute fine aggregates in concrete production . Timber Crete is one of the materials that is

certain to grow more and more common in the future because it is a sustainable resource. It

indicates that it has excellent quality, is not harmful to the environment, and may be

utilized successfully for a variety of goals (Smith et al.,2012). Furthermore, it can be

incorporated into a wide range of architectural materials, including blocks, panels, and bricks.

Furthermore, the information consistently demonstrates that it is methodical and advantageous to

both the environment and its end-users. Timber Crete distinguishes itself from other building

materials with some unique qualities (Brostow et al.,2010). Its embodied energy is

substantially lower. It is also the only material on the market that traps carbon, which would

otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Timber Crete offers a less heavy substitute (Jonathan

& Charles, 2017), uses sawdust to help minimize pollution (Safa et al.,2014), and can be applied

to make up for the absence of fine aggregates like sand. In this research, itis discovered that

density decreases as sawdust proportion increases. Sawdust waste is reduced and

repurposed for use in building projects. Gopinath et al.(2016) state that sawdust can be used

in place of some fine aggregate. In this research, the impact of sawdust is examined by preparing

a matured fine aggregate by incorporating 5%,10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%of sawdust with the

fine aggregate. Suji (2016) states that a field experiment was conducted to examine the

characteristics of sawdust utilized as a partial substitute in block (Khan et al.,2020) in fine

aggregates. (Fasasi, M. O., 2024) Fasasi, M. O. (2024). ANALYSIS OF TIMBERCRETE:

SAWDUST-INFUSED CONCRETE MIXTURES. Open Journal of Environmental

Research (ISSN: 2734-2085), 5(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.52417/ojer.v5i1.591

The use of sustainable building materials has become increasingly vital in the

construction industry due to the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility and

resource conservation. One such area of exploration lies in the development of cement

composites that leverage the unique properties of waste-derived sawdust and the reinforcing

qualities of steel fibers. These materials have the potential to not only enhance the

compressive strength of concrete but also promote eco-friendly construction practices.

This paper embarks on an investigation into the optimization of sawdust and steel fiber ratios in

cement composites with the overarching goal of enhancing their compressive strength.

By striking a balance between these two key components, the research aims to offer innovative

insights into the development of sustainable construction materials, highlighting the

critical interplay between environmentally-friendly additives and structural performance.

This study contributes to the broader discourse on eco-conscious construction while

addressing the need for stronger and more durable building materials. The historical utilization of

sawdust in concrete modification extends far into the past, yet the exploration of its
mechanical properties has been limited. Past investigations have revealed that sawdust,

classified as organic waste, exhibits a heightened water absorption rate when juxtaposed

with conventional concrete aggregates (Ali et al., 2023). This characteristic poses a

challenge to the complete substitution of fine aggregates with sawdust. Nevertheless,

empirical studies have demonstrated that partial replacement with sawdust imparts notable

strength to the concrete matrix (Ubachukwu et al., 2023). Empirical data from these studies

indicate that sawdust concrete achieves strength levels comparable to nominal concrete

while exhibiting reduced density (Acharya, 2021).This characteristic renders the

composition suitable for fabricating non-load-bearing partition walls and floor slabs.

Despite previous endeavors to employ sawdust concrete as lightweight concrete, no concerted

efforts have been made to enhance its mechanical strength through the incorporation of steel

fibers into sustainable cement composites. Abstract the construction industry's increasing

commitment to environmental responsibility and the preservation of resources has

accentuated the essential role of sustainable building materials. This study investigated the

optimization of sawdust and steel fiber ratios to enhance the compressive strength of

sustainable cement composites. O.A. Obakin (2023). Optimising Sawdust and Steel Fibre

Ratios for Enhanced Compressive Strength in Sustainable Cement Composites, Ibadan

Planning Journal, vol 9 No. 1 & 2 index.php/ipj/article/view/1276

Wood waste such as sawdust, is a viable replacement element for the development of

aerated concrete and energy absorption construction hybrids since it has minimal density and

good thermal wadding value. A concrete mix of coarse aggregate, sand, and cement with various

measures of sawdust as a fractional surrogate for sand could be used to create standard and
lightweight concretes that were both ecologically friendly and thermally efficient. Sawdust is

abundant and readily available, which makes it an affordable construction material. The cost of

sawdust can be significantly lower than traditional building materials such as cement, bricks, and

steel. Sawdust is an excellent insulator and can be used as a thermal barrier, reducing the need

for heating and cooling systems. This can help to lower energy bills and reduce the carbon

footprint of a building. Sawdust-based materials are lightweight, which makes them easy to

handle and transport. This can reduce construction costs and make building processes faster and

more efficient. Sawdust-based materials can be easily shaped and molded into different forms,

allowing for more flexibility in design and construction. Sawdust-based materials have a lower

carbon footprint than traditional building materials, as they are made from renewable resources

and require less energy to produce. Sawdust-based materials are biodegradable and can be easily

disposed of without harming the environment. This reduces waste and promotes sustainability.

Sawdust composites are materials made by combining sawdust with a binder material, such as

resin, to create a strong and durable building material. The durability and stability of sawdust

composites depend on the type of binder material used, the quality of the sawdust, and the

manufacturing process used to create the composite. Sawdust can be utilized in concrete to

produce lightweight concrete and this type of concrete is known as sawdust concrete made by

mixing sawdust with cement and water. Its durability and stability depend on a variety of factors,

including the quality of the sawdust used, the proportions of sawdust, cement, and water in the

mixture, and the curing conditions. (Olaiya, B. C. 2023)(Olaiya, B.C., Lawan, M.M. &

Olonade, K.A. Utilization of sawdust composites in construction—a review. SN Appl. Sci. 5,

140 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05361-4)

 As of now, garbage especially sawdust and plastic materials are of large volume and that

this is increasing year by year in the household, mills, factory’s markets and in any part of

society that can cause waste pollution in the society. Also, the use of concrete now is very

expensive. Sawdust is not a well-known material in the construction industry this is due to the

fact that there has not been a huge market for it commercially or it has not been promoted for

construction use. For some time now, there have been calls for the use of local materials in the

construction industries, especially in developing countries to check the costs of construction.

Waste materials are inappropriate to one's health if it is not properly disposed of by burning it

because people think that it's the only way to lessen it. Waste materials when processed properly

could be used as valuable engineering materials and could also satisfy the design requirements. It

will also be beneficial for the environment concerning reducing the waste disposal volume of

landfills. Also, the use of concrete now is very expensive. Garbage especially sawdust and plastic

materials are of large volume and that this is increasing year by year in the household, mills,

factory’s markets and in any part of society that can cause waste pollution in the society. Sawdust

is not a well known material in the construction industry this is due to the fact that there has not

been a huge market for it commercially or it has not been promoted for construction use.

(Lobitos Orvin A. et. al, 2023) Lobitos Orvin A., et al. (2023). Optimization of Composite

Eco-Blocks Derived From Sawdust Ash and Plastic as an Alternative Aggregate. Journal of

Environmental Impact and Management Policy, 3(02), 1–12.

https://doi.org/10.55529/jeimp.32.1.12

Rice husk is usually high in ash, which is 92 to 95% silica, highly porous and lightweight,
with a very high external surface area. Its absorbent and insulating properties are useful to many

industrial applications, such as acting as a strengthening agent in building materials. On the other

hand, wood sawdust is abundantly available solid waste in the area as by-product of saw mill

enterprises. If these wastes are burnt directly, it results in very poor thermal efficiency and may

create a lot of air pollution and contributing to global warming. Due to the increasing number of

agricultural wastes nowadays, these problems need to be taken care of before it got to worst. One

of the many applications of these agricultural wastes in the production on particle boards.

Particle boards is a product used primarily in economy especially in construction and furniture

sectors. It is one of the primary products used in the manufacture of value-added wood products

such as furniture, cabinets, millwork, stair treads, home construction, paneling, shelving,

vanities, table tops, sliding doors, interior signs, lock blocks, kitchen worktops, pool tables,

educational establishments, floor underlayment and other industrial product applications (Nemli

et al., 2009). The usage of particleboard can be related to its economic advantages such as low-

cost of raw materials, inexpensive adhesives and its simple processes (Guru et al., 2006). Nassar

(2010) studied combination of saw dust waste and rice husk fibers with different binders being

used as alternative. Also, Temitope et al. (2015) studied the potential of rice husk as substitutes

for production of particleboards with the utilization of starch wood glue as binder. The results

indicated that the mixture of rice husk, starch wood glue mixture had a high potential to be used

in the production. One advantage of producing particleboards from these composites is the use of

waste materials which helps in conservation of natural resources. Further, it will help reduce

waste or garbage problem and minimize environmental hazards and devastation. In this study, it

is aimed to develop particleboard with the use of alternative raw materials such as sawdust and

rice husk with starch as potential substitute for particleboard formed by a hot-press machine. The
composition of sawdust and rice husk were varied and its effects were investigated. It also

evaluated the performance of the manually-operated hot-press machine (Jabile L. et al., 2022)

Liezl M Jabile et al.(2022). UTILIZATION OF SAWDUST AND RICE HUSK FOR

PARTICLE BOARD APPLICATION. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2022,

17 (2), pp.257-261. ⟨hal-03928999⟩

The sawdust used for production of the sawdust concrete is a by-product of carpentry

processing. Their use for production of the concrete allows to reduce the consumption of natural

aggregate and reduces CO2 emissions. The big advantage of sawdust is its low price and easy

availability, thanks to which the use of this material for production of the concrete does not

generate additional logistical problems or costs. This is an advantage of sawdust over mineral

aggregates – the latter with a constantly growing price and a limited area of extraction, which

results in high transportation costs. Sawdust concrete is a type of lightweight concrete in which

sawdust replaces part of the traditional aggregate. It is possible to add additives and admix-tures

to sawdust concrete. As a result of the combination of wood and concrete, a material with a

lower density and greater thermal and acoustic insulation than regular concrete is obtained. Due

to different physical and chemical properties, direct connections between concrete and wooden

elements are not used in construction. However, with proper preparation and combination

of these materials, sawdust concrete is obtained, which is suitable for use in construction.

Protected, e.g. by mineralization, the sawdust does not exhibit the negative prop-erties of wood,

e.g. they do not decompose, do not rot and do not have high water absorption. Mineralized

sawdust does not hinder the cement setting process and the production of sawdust concrete itself

does not differ significantly from the production of regular concrete. It is worth noting that the
addition of sawdust does not affect the homogeneity of the concrete mix. As the sawdust content

increases, the mechanical properties of sawdust concrete deteri-orate. This is because the

strength of the material decreases as compared to regular concrete. Studies have shown that

the durability and strength of sawdust depends on the texture, size and angularity of the

wood particles . Thus, it is only suitable for construction. Kropidłowska, O. (2022). Application

of sawdust concrete in construction . Budownictwo I Architektura, 21(3), 005–018.

https://doi.org/10.35784/bud-arch.2927

Many previous researches have obtained valuable results to use the industrial wastes in various

forms of construction materials production [2]. So we are used babul sawdust in manufacturing

of bricks. In addition, demand for clay bricks with higher insulating capacity is increasing. For

this purpose, we used babul sawdust and other organic materials most frequently used as pore

formers [3]. These materials had properties which resembled those of lightweight brick

materials. The Babul sawdust is the byproduct of sawing babul tree timbers. In this study,

investigation of the sawdust suitability to use in combination of ceramic material was carried out.

The clay bricks made with the mixture of sawdust and ceramic material have advantage

compared to traditional bricks in the aspect of action of degreasing, low density and alveolar

appearance, improved mechanical strength. The cohesive nature of the clay imparts plasticity to

the soil under moist conditions. The thin film of water absorbed ensures the strong adherence

between the layers leads to plasticity. The mineral present in the clay acts as a natural binding

agent. The affinity of the clay towards water results in swelling and shrinking when it dries,

especially it is prominent when montmorillonite is present. Babul tree known for the exploitation

of the ground water and its impact on reduction of the water table. Even it grows in the drought
hit areas with no ground water by absorbing the water molecules in the air (humidity), leaving

the place dry and affects the rainfall also. The roots of the babul tree destroy the soil nutrients. It

produces carbon dioxide more than the oxygen generation which makes it unlikely even for the

birds to have their shelter. The seeds and the parts of the babul tree is of no use to the humans

and animals. Earlier the babul tree seed was sowed in various drought hit regions of India for

firewood purpose. Kumar R., P., D.S., B., & G., N. (2022). Experimental Investigation on

Clay Bricks Using Babul Sawdust Bricks. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.107082

Due to rapid growth of industrialization, the industrial waste creates the environmental and

economic problem associated to their disposal. During the recent years there has been increasing

focus on the application of discarded items and by-products from numerous sources in building

works. Along with the environment protection, numerous studies were conducted on recycling of

waste products as construction resources. Utilization of such waste materials into the building

works could be a feasible answer not only to the pollution problem, but also to the challenge to

high cost of construction materials which are being faced by many developing countries. One of

such important waste is the sawdust which is comparatively plentiful and economical. Sawdust is

waste produced by timber industries, obtained from cutting, sawing or grinding of timber in the

form of particle. Sawdust incorporated in cement has been familiar as ‘sawdust cement.

However, the development of sawdust concrete is still under investigation Some of researchers

have focused utilization of sawdust with additive materials, chemicals, waste materials,

lightweight aggregate, sand replacement. However, this paper highlights the possible use of

sawdust in masonry concrete blocks as a sand replacement adopted by former researchers from

Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, China, Iraq, Turkey, UK, India, Philippines, France and Malaysia. It is
expected that this information can be useful for the new researchers to discover more on sawdust

concrete. (Ali Mang S., 2019). Ali Mang, S. et al. (2019). Utilization of Sawdust in Concrete

Masonry Blocks: A Review, Vol. 38, No. 2, 487-494, Mehran University Research Journal of

Engineering & Technology. DOI: 10.22581/muet1982.1902.23

Sawdust has pozzolanic properties and has been shown to react chemically with the

calcium hydroxide released from the hydration of Portland cement, to form cement compounds.

Sawdust can be used as both, substitute for sand as well as cement, leading to a reduction in

either workability or compressive strength respectively. On replacing cement, the reduction in

strength may be compensated for, by the use of fibers. Moreover, a ductile failure is experienced

under compression, flexure and torsion along with the increase in fatigue resistance when steel

fibred are used. The structural properties like impact resistance, flexural toughness and flexural

strength increases with the use of these fibers. At the same time strength, freeze-thaw durability

and dry shrinkage also increases. However, on the other hand addition of carbon fibers decreases

the electrical resistance and density, while improving thermal conductivity, chemical stability and

abrasion resistance. Lathe scrap has also been known to increase the strength of concrete. Apart

from strength it also increases Radiation Shielding Capacity of Concrete. Since the original aim

of our work here is to reduce the cost of concrete it would be counterproductive to choose

addition of Steel or Carbon fibers to compensate for the strength reduction, and hence the ideal

decision here, is to combine the use of sawdust to reduce the cost and lathe scrap as an additive

to account for the loss in strength without affecting the economy. (M. Ananthkumar et al. 2019)

M. Ananthkumar et al. (2019). IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 577 012054.

DOI 10.1088/1757-899X/577/1/012054
Sawdust, collected from grinding, cutting, or pulverizing of hard and soft woods is an example of

natural fiber. Sawdust has been used, but not widely, as fine aggregate in casting floors, roofs and

walls for more than 50 years. Recently, some researcher investigated the applicability of using

wood waste as a replacement for fine aggregate in concrete mixtures. According to Turgut P.

(2006), postulated that it can be used efficiently in producing artificial limestone brick. Awal, A.

A. (2016), suggested that wood chipping improves the thermal and insulation properties of

concrete mixtures and lessen the density of the concrete, however, it attained high water

absorption. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of using sawdust wastes in order

to produce the desired composite and sustainable green construction material. El-Nadoury, W.W

(2021). Production of sustainable concrete using sawdust. Magazine of Civil Engineering.

105(5). Article No. 10507. DOI: 10.34910/MCE.105.7

The disposal of sawdust is often by open dumping, open burning, or dumping in landfills.

Sawdust dumped in landfills increases the burden on landfill sites and burning it contributes to

greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the air pollution and public health challenges associated with

open burning, it is commonly practiced by saw millers as the easiest way to get rid of sawdust.

When dumped on stream and river banks sawdust is transported by rainwater or wind into the

surface water and can severely affect aquatic life. Moreover, sawdust indiscriminately dumped

on land kills plant life and causes wood dust when blown into the atmosphere. Creating value

from this waste stream would reduce disposal costs and create jobs. Additionally, utilizing wood-

based products such as sawdust composites in construction contributes to climate change

mitigation. Substituting steel, concrete, and other high energy manufactured products with
sawdust composites has the potential to reduce the consumption of large amounts of fossil fuels.

Considering that wood based products store carbon for the duration of their life cycle, the use of

sawdust composites, accordingly, leads to reduced CO 2 emissions and therefore mitigates against

global warming. The motivation for this review article is that sawdust, an environmental hazard,

has great potential for use as a raw material to produce construction composites that meet

international standards. This potential use is yet to be fully explored, particularly in developing

countries where indiscriminate dumping of sawdust is rife. The article briefly highlights some

environmental challenges that sawdust poses and reviews engineering characteristics of sawdust

construction composites, namely, particleboards, sawdust concrete blocks, bricks and lightweight

sawdust concrete. It is envisaged that the reviewed literature will serve as a catalyst for more

research on sawdust composites and for promoting increased utilization of these composites in

construction. This would further contribute to the development of green building materials and

mitigate against the sawdust environmental pollution threat. The data presented and discussed in

this article is also beneficial to researchers studying alternative construction materials aimed at

conserving non-renewable natural resources and energy. (Mwango, A. 2019) Mwango, A. and

Kambole, C. (2019) Engineering Characteristics and Potential Increased Utilisation of

Sawdust Composites in Construction—A Review. Journal of Building Construction and

Planning Research, 7, 59-88. doi: 10.4236/jbcpr.2019.73005.

Sawdust is a loose particles or wood chippings obtained as by-products from sawing of

timber into standard useable sizes. Sawdust as an industrial waste in the wood industry

constitutes a harmful impact to both the human health and environment when not properly
managed as reported by Elinwa and Abdulkadir (2011). Sawdust is one of the major

underutilized by products from sawmilling and

Timber Shed operations. The generation of wood wastes in form of sawdust in sawmill industries

is an unavoidable or cannot be totally eliminated, hence a great efforts are made in the utilization

of such waste (Zziwa et al, 2006). Recycling of sawdust wastes as building materials appears to

be one of the viable solutions not only to such pollution problem but also to the problem of

economic design of buildings. The increase in the popularity of using environmentally friendly,

low-cost and lightweight construction materials in building industry has brought about the need

to investigate how the used of hard-wood sawdust from some forest trees species can be

achieved by benefiting to the environment as well as maintaining the material requirements

affirmed in the standards Olugbenga et al., (2014). The objectives of the present study were: first,

to produce hollow block from sawdust of Daniella oliveri as a partial replacement for sand and

the use of Portland cement as a binder with a view to recycling the waste for profitable resource

which is currently causing environmental problem in Makurdi metropolis. And the second

objective was to determine percentage of water absorption and compressive strength of the

blocks produced to ascertain it suitability in building walls. Finally, the third objective was to

determine bulk density of the produced blocks. (Ekhuemelo D. et al. 2017) Ekhuemelo, David,

et al. "Some Aspects of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Hollow Blocks Procuced

From Hot Water Treated Sawdust." Sustainability, Agri, Food and Environmental Research,

vol. 5, no. 4, 2017, doi:10.7770/safer-V5N4-art1304.

Attempts have also been made by various researchers to reduce the cost of its constituent

and hence total construction cost by investigating and ascertaining the usefulness of material
which could be classified as local materials. Some of these local materials are agricultural or

industrial waste which includes sawdust, concrete debris, fly ash, coconut shells among others

which are produced from milling stations, thermal power station, waste treatment plant and so

on. As a result of the increase in the cost of construction materials, especially cement, crushed

stone (coarse aggregate), fine sand (fine aggregate); there is the need to investigate the use of

alternate building materials which are locally available. High cost of building material has

affected many Filipinos who engage in cutting corners to achieve building production leading to

failure in the buildings. It is therefore necessary to use alternative available local material for

concrete production. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine the use of locally available

construction materials such as sawdust as substitutes for fine aggregate in concrete and paves the

way for the recognition and acceptance of using waste building materials for low-cost housing

construction. It proposes alternative materials specifically sawdust as fine aggregate substitute.

In its entirety, the research addresses the concern of the poor and marginalized sector of society

on affordable shelter and recycling waste parts of construction materials. Sawdust can be used as

alternative substitute for fine aggregate in concrete production. Sawdust should be washed and

cleaned before use as concrete constituent because of large amount of bark which can affect

setting and hydration of cement. Concrete obtained from sawdust is a mixture of sawdust, gravel

with certain percentage of water to entrance the workability and full hydration of the cement

which help in bonding of the concrete. Sawdust concrete is light in weight and has satisfactory

heat insulation and fire resisting values. Nails can be driven and firmly hold in sawdust concrete

compare to other lightweight concrete which nail can also easily drive in but fail to hold. As the

construction community might well be aware of, incorporating organic materials into solid

concrete is not such a good idea to begin with. First of all, its loose molecular structure would
cause the structure to fail at a certain stage and second, it would compete and retard the hydration

process of cement. Certain predictions state that if sawdust is mixed with cement and gravel, it

might simulate a synthetic wood fiber bond found in trees. Since trees exhibit great strength. The

most important aspect and main target of the experiment are proving that sawdust-cement-gravel

mixtures can prove to be more lightweight and cost efficient. Since sawdust is already waste then

the cost would go down as well as weight cause of its extremely light unit weight. (Ganiron Jr.,

2014). Ganiron, T. U. (2014). Effect of sawdust as fine aggregate in concrete mixture for

building construction. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 63(1), 73-

82. http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/ijast.2014.63.07