Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Spatial Estimation For Gas Flaring And Natural Gas Waste From Oil Production Using Remote Sensing And Gis Techniques, Hisham M. Jawad Al Sharaa

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This study aims to provide a comprehensive geospatial gas flaring intensity and emission doses analysis throughout oil production areas in Iraq based on remote sensing and GIS-based interpolation methods. Satellite image and spatial data were combined to create a map of flaring locations, refinery locations, and associated CO₂-equivalent emissions. The results show that there is a clear spatial variation in the intensity of the emissions ranging from northern regions towards the oil fields in the south near Basra, Rumaila and West Qurna, where refinery density and high flaring activities are observed. Interpolation modelling suggests that the majority of …

Ai-Enhanced Heat Transfer Optimization In Magnetic Bio-Nanofluids, Hasan Attyah Shaboot

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This study presents a hybrid Artificial Intelligence–Computational Fluid Dynamics (AI-CFD) framework for optimizing heat transfer in magnetic bio-nanofluids subjected to external magnetic fields. Magnetic bio-nanofluids, composed of biocompatible base fluids containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles, exhibit tunable thermal and flow behavior, making them promising for biomedical and micro-cooling applications. Conventional optimization methods based on experiments or brute-force CFD are computationally expensive and limited in exploring the full design space. To overcome these challenges, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) surrogate model was developed to predict two key performance indicators, the Nusselt number and the friction factor, with high accuracy (R² > 0.997). The …

Adaptive Modulation Techniques To Enhance Ofdm System Performance, Alaa Aqeel Mohammed

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication is supposed to combine a broad coverage of services, including high-speed data, video streaming, multimedia applications and voice transmission, into a single scale. Adaptive OFDM (AOFDM) is among the most popular techniques proposed to meet this objective in which the settings of the transmission are dynamically optimized to the prevailing changing conditions of the channel fading. This paper is concerned with the adaptive modulation in OFDM. We find out the performance of un-coded adaptive modulation on the schemes of QAM and PSK. An effort to use convolutional coding is also integrated into the structure of …

Design And Development Of Solar-Powered Water Desalination Systems, Salam Ali Hassoon Alabooda

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Background: Freshwater scarcity and growing energy demand have promoted interest in sustainable desalination technologies, particularly in arid areas like Iraq which has high solar resource and decentralized water supply becomes a key factor. Aim: The purpose of this study was to design and test a solar powered water desalination system that could enhance fresh water productivity, thermal efficiency and quality of water under the climatic conditions of Iraq. Methodology: It was designed as hypothetical pilot-scale system that comprised of a single-slope solar still combined with a flat-plate solar collector, a 200 W photovoltaic-driven circulation pump and 18 kg of phase …

Comparative Adsorptive Performance Of Clinoptilolite, Purolite, And Mesoporous Carbon (Cmk-3) For Heavy Metals And Hydrocarbons Removal From Real Petrochemical Effluent, Eynas Muhamad Majeed, Nuha Muhsen Ali

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Petrochemical activities result in the generation of effluent that contain highly toxic heavy metals and oil products, which are very hazardous to the environment. The research tries to examine the adsorption capacity of three materials synthetic clinoptilolite, synthetic Purolite, and synthesized mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) in the removal of Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, benzene, and toluene present in real refinery effluent obtained at Al-Dora Refinery in Iraq (Baghdad). The experiments were carried by batch adsorption that investigated the equilibrium behavior, kinetic performance, and the influence of ionic strength and organic co-contaminants. The heavy metal adsorption was …

The Impact Of Architectural Form On Seismic Performance Of Buildings, Durgham Munir Abdul Hadi, Abdullah Saadoon Salman, Lahib Ali Abdul Hussein

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Seismic overall performance of buildings is a important issue in each architectural and structural design, especially in regions exposed to seismic dangers. Despite giant improvements in structural engineering technologies, the function of architectural form stays insufficiently incorporated into layout practices geared toward improving seismic resistance. This look at investigates the effect of the formal dimension of architectural design on the seismic performance of buildings by analyzing key shape-related attributes, namely regularity, symmetry, simplicity, continuity, and slenderness. An analytical–descriptive method is followed, based totally on an extensive evaluation of applicable literature and the assessment of architectural configurations with regards to their …

Quality Of Life Indicators In Historic Urban Spaces: A Case Study Of Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa, Baghdad / Iraq, Israa H. Karam Ali, Shireen I. Khazaal

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Historic urban spaces play a central role in shaping social interaction, environmental comfort, and collective identity in cities with deep cultural heritage. Despite this importance, empirical assessments of their performance in terms of Quality of Life (QoL) from the perspective of contemporary users remain limited, particularly in the context of Baghdad. This study examines Quality of Life indicators within a historic urban space through a case study of Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa, one of Baghdad's most prominent historic educational complexes. A descriptive–analytical approach was adopted, integrating a structured questionnaire survey, systematic on-site observation, and spatial analysis based on Space Syntax techniques. The …

Interaction Design In Museum Architecture: A Contemporary Developmental Vision For The Iraqi Museum, Afaf Abdel Sahib Mohammed, Enas Salim Abdulahaad

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The Iraqi Museum's remaining architectural form and traditional display techniques do not allow for enough interaction between visitors and the items, despite the museum's great heritage and cultural value. This between visitors and the exhibits. Additionally, the museum does not include interactive technologies and contemporary architecture, which are now essential components of modern museums around the world.This invites the question of how to optimize the Iraqi Museum's visitor experience by applying the principles of interaction design in museum architecture within a contemporary developmental vision. In order to revive the architectural spaces within the Iraqi Museum, the research aims to generate …

Experimental Analysis Of Diesel Engine Combustion Chamber Performance Using Field Measurements At The State Company For Heavy Engineering Equipment, Mohammed Kanaan Sedeeq

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The current paper provides a detailed experiment and numerical study of the performance of the combustion chamber of a heavy-duty diesel engine in the common Iraqi industrial conditions at the State Company of Heavy Engineering Equipment (HEESCO). The main goal is to close the difference between what is specified by the manufacturers concerning the performance data, which is usually assumed to be under ideal conditions of the ISO standard, and the real efficiency of operation as witnessed in the field. The methodology is based on a hybrid approach that combines direct field measurements of in-cylinder pressure, temperature and fuel flow …

An Ai And Iot Framework For Dynamic Optimization And Sustainability In Smart Cities, Zeinab E. Ahmed, Rashid A. Saeed, Salah Hagahmoodi, Mamoon M. Saeed, Khalid Hamid, Sally D. Abugasim, Eyman F. A. Elsmany

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Smart cities are emerging as a critical solution for creating more efficient, sustainable, and comfortable urban environments. This transformation is primarily driven by the synergistic integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The IoT provides a pervasive network of connected sensors that collect real-time urban data, while AI serves as the analytical engine that processes this information to optimize city-wide systems. This paper presents a comprehensive framework that leverages this AI-IoT convergence for dynamic optimization to achieve long-term urban sustainability. The framework focuses on enabling intelligent, data-driven decision-making across core urban domains. The discussion and analysis …

Optimization Of Bearing Design In Centrifugal Pumps Using Finite Element And Experimental Methods: Application At South Refineries Company, Basra, Mohammed Hasab Naser Al-Mtasher

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

In the study, nonlinear vibration and thermo-mechanical characteristics of centrifugal pump bearings utilized in the cooling tower system of South Refineries Company (Basra) were properly examined using a combined experimental and numerical method. The intent of the study was to learn the impact of misalignment, the nature of the lubrication film, and thermal gradients on the stability of the operation of these bearings and their service life under realistic industry environment conditions. Finite element model (FEM) was constructed and tested on the basis of real field data obtained at the working pumps that allowed realistic distribution of stress and temperature. …

Optimizing Graphene Oxide In Self-Compacting Concrete: A Sustainable Nano-Material Strategy For Enhanced Durability And Structural Performance, Mohammed Shakeebulla Khan, Vijaya G. S

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

In order to reduce the environmental impact of the constructed world, advanced and sustainable construction materials are needed. This work is a summary of the comprehensive study on a novel self-compacting concrete with nano-engineered material (graphene oxide) modified self-compacting concrete (GO-SCC). The optimum dosage of GO was determined using Taguchi method, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) multi-objective statistical optimization method, and was found to be 0.10% by weight of cement (bwoc). This dosage of 0.10% GO led to the overall desirability score of 0.87, which confirmed that this was the optimum dosage for six response variables …

Beneficial Investigation Of Sustainable Recycled Waste Plastic In Treating The Consolidation Behavior Of Fine Soil, Aram Mohammed Raheem, Cumaraswamy Vipulanandan, Mohammed Hiwa Abdullrahman, Ali Tariq Omer

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Recycled waste plastic is one of the regular garbage utilized as a sustainable material in soil remediation. This study examines the efficacy of utilizing local recycled waste plastic as an ecological quantifiable along with soil containing fine particles to analyze the consolidation behavior. Various recycled waste plastic contents ranging from 2% to 10% were employed experimentally in two patterns where in the first pattern the recycled waste plastic were mixed as dry material with the fine soil particles while in the second pattern a sandwich layer of 10% of the recycled waste plastic was placed in the middle of the …

Enhanced Thermal Energy Storage In Buildings: Impregnation, Leakage, And Environmental Performance Of Organic And Inorganic Pcm Composites, Gökhan Genç, Esra Yılmaz, M. Yusuf Yazıcı

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study experimentally investigates the impregnation and leakage performance of various organic (tobacco, sawdust, bay leaf, black cumin) and inorganic (vermiculite, perlite, bentonite, sepiolite) carrier materials used for phase change material (PCM) integration in building applications. The commercial paraffin-based PCM RT-31 was used as the thermal storage medium. Impregnation and leakage tests were conducted to evaluate the PCM absorption capacity, form stability, and energy storage potential of each carrier. The results revealed that perlite (C = 80%) and bay leaf (C = 78%) exhibited the highest impregnation capacities due to their porous and fibrous structures; however, they also demonstrated significant …

Modeling Of Tensile Stress-Strain Response For Steel Fiber Reinforced Self-Compacting Concretes, Anıl Niş, Nilufer Özyurt, Turan Özturan

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Main aim of the research was to further understand self-compacting concrete reinforced with steel fibers (SFR-SCC) behavior and to contribute modeling of the tensile stress-strain diagrams for the standardization of the fiber reinforced materials for structural utilization. Fiber reinforced materials has not been used without structural rebar because of the absence of stress-strain curve in tension required for the structural design codes. Hence, an inverse analysis (multi-layer model) was further modified for various steel fibers to predict tensile stress-strain behaviour. For this purpose, 5 different mixes; control, reinforced with long fibers with 0.5% and 1%, short fiber with 0.5% and …

Oriented Electrospun Fibers Of Poly(Pro-Curcumin/Peg) Sequester Reactive Oxygen Species And Promote The Growth Of Schwann Cells, Jack W. Devlin, Payton R. O'Connor, Conrad H. Cheung, John T. Leman, Martin Oudega, Edmund F. Palermo, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the biological injury microenvironment, pathologically elevated oxidative stress hinders healthy cell migration. Aligned electrospun fibers are used as tissue engineering scaffolds to support and guide the directionality of cell migration. The ability of cells in the central nervous system to sequester and quench reactive oxygen species is limited, and most electrospun fibers do not exert any antioxidant activity on contact. Thus, the challenge remains in designing a scaffold that can both guide cells to the injury site as well as sequester and quench excess free radicals, allowing cells to thrive and potentially regenerate. Curcumin is a well-known, potent antioxidant, …

Moisture-Induced Degradation And Mechanical Durability Of Mineral-Filled Polylactide (Pla) Composites, Barbara Szaraniec, Aleksandra Ptaszkowska, Alicja Rapacz-Kmita

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study investigates the influence of mineral fillers on the hydrolytic stability and mechanical durability of polylactide (PLA) composites under accelerated aqueous ageing conditions. Composites containing halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and bentonite-based fillers (BM, BS, BSP) at 2 wt.% were prepared using a powder-coating and injection moulding approach. Accelerated hydrolytic degradation was conducted at 50 °C for up to six weeks. The degradation behaviour was evaluated through mass variation, water absorption, incubation medium analysis (pH and electrical conductivity), mechanical testing, surface observations, and contact angle measurements. The results revealed a clear filler-dependent response. Bentonite-filled composites exhibited increased water absorption and accelerated …

Applications Of Geosynthetics In Tunnels Construction: A Sustainable Approach To Carbon Footprint Reduction, Ibraheem Rais, Abdullah H. Alsabhan, Md. Rehan Sadique, Shamshad Alam

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The use of geosynthetics has transformed tunnelling practices by enhancing structural integrity, durability, and environmental sustainability. This review adopts a systematic literature review design, covering publications from 2000 to 2025 sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The selected studies were screened based on relevance, quality, and focus on tunnelling applications, then thematically analyzed into four domains: geosynthetic types, applications, sustainability, and performance evaluation. This review focuses on the applications of various geosynthetics, including geotextiles, geogrids, geocomposites, geocells, and geomembranes, in tunnelling projects. These materials play crucial roles in reinforcing tunnel walls and slopes, improving load distribution, …

Membrane-Engineered Nanotherapeutic Platforms For Drug Delivery: Hollow Fiber Membrane Synthesis Of Lipid Nanoparticles, Biomimetic Nanocarriers, And Nanobubbles, Zhixiang Liu

Dissertations

Lipid-based nanocarriers have emerged as a cornerstone technology for RNA therapeutics, enabling effective intracellular delivery for applications ranging from vaccination to gene regulation. However, current manufacturing approaches, particularly microfluidic-based platforms, face inherent limitations in scalability, throughput, and structural tunability due to their reliance on confined channel geometries and restricted mixing architectures. Addressing these challenges requires fundamentally new strategies that decouple nanoparticle formation from traditional microscale flow constraints while maintaining precise control over physicochemical properties.

This dissertation presents a comprehensive framework for the design, engineering, and application of advanced lipid-based nanocarriers, centered on a hollow fiber membrane (HFM)—assisted nanopore-mediated assembly platform. …

Sorption And Thermal Conductivity Of Concrete Containing Aggregates Of E-Waste, Rakesh Kumar Saini, Praveen Kumar

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

In many parts of the world, substantial energy is used to maintain comfortable temperatures in inner parts of the buildings for living and working. Construction materials with low thermal conductivity, if used in the exterior walls and façade etc. in such structures can be useful in lowering the energy demand. On the other hand, moisture ingress through sorption is a common factor contributing in degradation of concrete structures with time. Constituents of concrete may be engineered to some extent to get both the desired attributes, lower thermal conductivity and sorption than normal concrete. The rapid increase in electronic waste, or …

Response Surface Modelling And Multi-Objective Optimisation Of Asphalt Binder And Mixture Properties Modified With Reclaimed Automotive Lubricants And Waste Glass Bottle Powder, Nura Shehu Aliyu Yaro, Jacob Adedayo Adedeji, Luvuno Nkosinathi Jele, Nasir Khan, Aliyu Usman, Jacob Olumuyiwa Ikotun

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Large volumes of reclaimed automotive lubricant (RAL) and waste glass bottle powder (WGBP) are disposed of inappropriately, causing serious environmental concerns. Furthermore, the paradigm shift towards sustainability in the pavement industry has prompted academics to investigate alternatives to conventional materials. As a result, one possible approach is to use these waste products as alternative materials in the asphalt pavement sector. This study investigated the combined use of RAL and WGBP as complementary modifiers, extending beyond the conventional single-modifier approaches reported in previous studies. Thus, in this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilised to optimise and predict the synergistic effects …

Design Of Air-Entrained Concrete For Airport Pavements Through Local Aggregate Utilization: Performance Optimization And Economic Analysis, Li Wentao, Rizwan Qadir, Arslan Mushtaq, Hilal Khan, Kamran Jillani

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Airport pavement construction in developing countries faces critical challenges balancing international performance standards with economic constraints, while limited research exists on optimizing air-entrained concrete mixes using locally sourced materials for cost-effective solutions. This study investigated the development of economical air-entrained concrete mix designs for airport pavements utilizing Pakistani aggregates and systematic cement content optimization. Comprehensive experimental evaluation included material characterization through petrographic analysis, alkali-aggregate reactivity assessment via accelerated mortar bar testing, and mechanical property development across cement contents from 360-450 kg/m3. Air entrainment was achieved through controlled admixture dosing while maintaining target slump of 50mm. Results demonstrated that locally sourced …

Strengthening Kidney Dialysis One Membrane At A Time: Enhancing Tempo-Oxidized Nanocellulose And Ionic Liquid Membrane Strength Through The Variation Of Cosolvents, Bailey M. Butler

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys lose the ability to effectively filter the blood, which causes waste build up. End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is the most severe case of kidney disease and requires either dialysis or a kidney transplant. Hemodialysis, the most common form of dialysis, is an extremely time-intensive and physically burdensome process that is currently limited by membrane performance. The polysulfone (PSf) membranes that are widely used for dialysis today have many limitations, including fouling, toxin rejection, and essential protein loss. Recently, new membranes made from TEMPO-Oxidized nanocellulose dissolved in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM-Ac) have shown promising characteristics, …

Plant Growth Promoting Phenotypes Of Fungal Isolates From The International Space Station, Shane Doyle, Frances A. Edmonson

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• In situ (on site) space crop production is vital for sustainability and dietary health of astronauts. 
• We hypothesize that International Space Station (ISS) derived fungal isolates will stimulate plant growth and express PGP phenotypes.
• Eleven space-viable fungi were screened via phenotypic testing to identify plant growthpromoting (PGP) activity.
• Prior research has been conducted solely with ISS derived bacteria, while ISS fungi are unexplored, which could reveal new or improved symbiotic relationships and growth factors.

Uptake And Fate Of Silver And Zinc Engineered Nanoparticles In Maize Under Single And Binary Dosing Soil Ecosystems, Lei Xu, Qingbo Yang, Xingmao Ma, Honglan Shi, John Yang, Hu Yang, Samira Mahdi, Ying Wang, Young Shin Jun

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent agricultural applications of engineered metallic nanoparticles (ENPs) have raised concerns about their uptake and fate in plants. To understand this critical issue, this study investigated the fate and uptake of silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) ENPs in maize (Zea mays L.) after single or binary ENP exposure in soil. Results indicated that both Zn and Ag elemental concentrations in roots increased with increasing ENP dosage. Ag NPs in the tissues were detected, but not Zn NPs. Ag NP concentration was 3 times higher in the roots than in the shoots at low Ag NP dosing, while Ag NP …

Mathematical Modelling And Optimisation Of The Reactor For The Esterification Process Of Safflower Oil With N-Butyl Alcohol, Sadritdin Makhamatdinovich Turabdjanov Academician, Hasan Sadriddin Ugli Fozilov, Ozoda Bakhronovna Axmedova, Sadriddin Fayzullayevich Fozilov

Technical science and innovation

This study addresses the mathematical modelling and optimisation of a reactor for the esterification of safflower oil with n-butyl alcohol. To improve process controllability and reduce the need for numerous pilot-scale trials, an ideal-mixing continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) model was adopted. Incorporating reaction kinetics, the effect of contact time on the relative viscosity of the product mixture was analysed. The modelling results indicate that achieving an acceptable degree of feedstock conversion is difficult when a single ideal-mixing reactor is used. Therefore, a CSTR cascade was proposed, and the configuration with N = 2 reactors was selected as the most appropriate …

Dendrimer Nanogels With Built-In Free Radical Scavenging Enable Efficient Topical Delivery Of A Hydrophilic Antioxidant To Restore Lens Redox Balance For Cataract Treatment, Lin Qi, Huari Kou, Anna Chernatynskaya, Da Huang, Vimalin Jeyalatha Mani, Humeyra Karacal, Nuran Ercal, Hu Yang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide and are primarily caused by oxidative stress that damages and aggregates lens proteins, leading to lens opacification. However, the eye's anatomical barriers limit the penetration and bioavailability of antioxidant therapies. To address this challenge, a dendrimer-based nanogel with a built-in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capability developed by us was employed to deliver the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to the lens. NAC was loaded into a generation-5 PEGylated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (G5-PEG-TK, termed the GPT) nanogel. The resulting NAC-GPT was characterized for its ROS-scavenging activity, bioavailability, and corneal permeability. The efficacy of NAC-GPT was …

Numerical Study Of Nutrient Mixing In Trabecular Bone In Microgravity, Disuse And Normogravity, Sagar Gharti

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Mechanical loading is known to regulate bone remodeling by driving interstitial fluid flow which stimulates cells and drives nutrient transport within the trabecular network. In microgravity, the absence of mechanical stimulation or loading suppresses convective flow processes, causing diffusion-driven nutrient mixing and renewal, and accelerated bone loss. This thesis investigates how oscillation frequency and trabecular bone density jointly control nutrient mixing and wall shear stress within trabecular cavities.

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework is developed in STAR-CCM+ using a soft-cap oscillation model that mimics cyclic compression. Three idealized trabecular morphologies are simulated across different frequencies to represent microgravity or …

Mechanical, Thermal And Fire Behaviour Of Hemp-Based Composites With Different Binders For Sustainable Building Applications, Anilcan Aygun, Fahri Birinci, Selim Aytac, Ali Kemal Ayan, Hasan Alp Sahin, Ibrahim Isildak

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study investigates the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of hemp-based composites produced with traditional binders such as lime, cement, gypsum, clay, and water-based glue. Hemp fractions of different sizes (splinter, shiv, fiber and powder) were combined with these binders to manufacture cube and plate specimens, which were tested for physical, mechanical, thermal, and temperature resistance properties. The study aims to compare the mechanical, physical, thermal, and fire behaviour of these composites to assess their suitability for sustainable construction applications. The hemp-based composites were tested for unit weight, water absorption, compressive strength and thermal conductivity. Most specimens are lightweight (<1000 kg/m3), and exhibit good thermal insulation performance and high compressive deformability, making them suitable for seismic-prone regions. The glue-based composite had the lowest unit weight, measured as 330 kg/m3. Thermal conductivity ranged from 0.051 to 0.243 W/m· K, with several mixtures performing better than natural pumice. While cement-based composites showed the highest compressive strength, ranging from 5.5 to 24.8 kg/cm2, natural hydraulic lime is the lowest. Water absorption was high, and moisture release occurred slowly across all hemp fractions. Combustion tests indicated that hemp-based materials have moderate temperature resistance, with charring temperatures ranging from 238–265°C for raw hemp and 300–385°C when mixed with binders. Overall, hemp-based composites are lightweight, eco-friendly, and suitable for non-load-bearing construction and insulation applications. However, improvements in moisture resistance and long-term durability are necessary to enhance their practical applicability.

Sustainable Cow Dung Bricks: An Innovative Approach To Eco-Friendly Masonry With Enhanced Thermal And Mechanical Performance, Nagesh Sugandhi, Sachin Patil, Satish Reddy, Ashwini G, Santosh Kumar

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study explores the development, characterization, and performance of sustainable cow dung bricks using locally sourced organic (cow dung) and mineral (clay, quartz sand, feldspar, lime) constituents for non-load-bearing masonry in India. Three blends with varying cow dung content (70%, 75%, 80%) were mixed, molded, air dried, and cured without kiln firing to reduce environmental impact. The bricks' mechanical properties—compressive strength, water absorption, bulk density, flexural strength, shore hardness, and modulus of elasticity—were systematically evaluated with complete statistical documentation (n = 6 replicates per formulation per test age). Microstructural features were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray …