Furfural-Extracted Corncob Ash: A New Geomaterial for Sustainable Construction

Nowadays, globally rapid increase in the production and demand of furfural oil due to its many viable properties and best alternative to petroproducts. Furfural-extracted corncob ash (FECA) is a residue generated from the furfural production industry. However, during the furfural extraction process, the bulk of corncob ash was developed, and dumping the residue poses an environmental threat. This paper presents the efficacy of the FCEA as a geomaterial in construction. A series of tests was conducted on FCEA blended clays to determine free swell index, compaction, and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests. Maximum dry densities and CBR values were significantly improved with an increase in FCEA content. The test results indicate that the FECA is a desirable material for construction activities. The paper also explores the potential selection of better geomaterial for construction. Because in most cases, the choice of additives predominantly relies on the engineering properties of the material. Such an exposition may cause an increased cost of the project due to the cost of the selected geomaterial.