Recycling of Oil Palm Shell as Aggregate in Concrete: A Review

Abstract

The consideration of using alternative materials as coarse aggregates in construction industry is to conserve the natural resources, reduce undesirable carbon dioxide (CO2) and environmental degradation related to conventional aggregate. Oil palm shell (OPS) which is a by-product from oil palm industry has shown potentials as an alternative to the conventional aggregate in concrete production. This paper reviews the previous studies on the application of OPS as a construction material and has been extensively used in tropical countries. The performance of OPS meets the minimum requirements for lightweight aggregates. It is suitable material for the production of structural lightweight aggregate concrete with 28-day compressive strength more than 25 MPa. The various improvement techniques employed OPS concrete that resulted in improved OPS concrete performance are also highlighted in this review.