Evaluation of Waste Cooking Oil as Sustainable Binder for Building Blocks

Increasing depletion of material resources and concern for the environment has led to the great quest for degradable and environmentally sustainable material in various industries in recent years. Application of Waste Vegetable oils as a renewable and biodegradable binder material was explored in this work. Block samples were prepared with 10% liquid binder of vegetable oil, compacted with 75 impact blows and thermally cured in a conventional oven at temperature ranges of 160-200°C. This study explores the effectiveness of waste cooking oil as a novel binder in the production of building block, called WasteVege block. Important parameters such as optimum binder content, optimum curing temperature, and optimum curing age were established. The mechanical and physical properties of the product were examined, the result shows that compressive strength in ranges of 5 - 34 MPa was achieved, initial rate of absorption (IRA), water absorption, efflorescence, and wet/dry durability of the product exhibit acceptable values within the threshold of required standards.