Valorization of Corn Cob Ash as a Sustainable Cement Substitute for Low-Carbon Concrete Block Production
Uche Emmanuel EDIKE
Abstract. The construction industry is one of the most vicious contributors to global GHG emissions, and the sector has a pivotal role to play in mitigating environmental degradation. This study examines the use of corn cob ash (CCA) as a partial substitute for cement in the production of concrete blocks. The study addresses the urgent need to identify and adopt sustainable alternative materials in the construction industry to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote environmental sustainability. CCA was used to partially replace OPC at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by mass. The EDXRF, mechanical properties, embodied energy, global warming potential, and sustainability index of the composite materials were evaluated for each mix. The study found that the optimum mix of 15% CCA led to a 14.43% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the control sample. The study reveals a complex relationship between compressive strength and carbon footprint in concrete composites. The research provides empirical evidence supporting the valorization of CCA as a viable pozzolan in concrete block production. The adoption of CCA as a partial cement replacement leads to lower embodied energy, enhanced waste management benefits, and a reduced carbon footprint for masonry units.
Keywords
Cement Composition, Constituents of Pozzolans, Concrete Block, Global Warming Potential, Pozzolans, Sustainability
Published online 4/2/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Uche Emmanuel EDIKE, Valorization of Corn Cob Ash as a Sustainable Cement Substitute for Low-Carbon Concrete Block Production, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 63, pp 203-210, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904053-23
The article was published as article 23 of the book Advances in Cement and Concrete Research
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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