Chemical Treatments for Coffee Husks: Application in Mortar for Coating and Laying Blocks

(1) The use of agro-industrial wastes, such as coffee husks, in cementitious materials is a viable way to achieve the sustainable development new construction materials. Traditionally, these wastes are applied after calcination, spending energy and financial resources. Furthermore, calcination contributes more environment. This interesting because treatments usually expensive than those using chemical treatments. Thus, objective this research evaluate possibility husks with sodium potassium hydroxide mortars for coating laying blocks. (2) methodology article consists producing test specimens mortar blocks composition 1:1:6:1.55 (cement: hydrated lime: sand: water), that will be incorporated quantities 2.5% relation mass cement its natural state treatment hydroxide. Compositions containing calcined evaluated comparison purposes. parameters were density hardened state, water absorption by immersion compressive strength. To complement analyses, XRD, SEM calorimetry tests executed compare proposed (3) results indicate NaOH KOH allows mortars, since obtained compatible type application. not possible due their low strength high absorption, caused porosity. alkaline treatments, especially KOH, does affect hydration cement, allowing obtention values statistically equivalent reference composition. even promising content amorphous potassium, which promotes conversion ettringite into hydrous calcium aluminate monosulfate. (4) It concluded that, application blocks, meets necessary parameters—for example, greater 2 MPa, making building promoting waste