Utilization of wood waste ash in construction technology: A review

Abstract The rapid growth in urbanization and construction is increasing the demand for cement and aggregate, especially for concrete production. However, the production of cement and concrete increases the emission of carbon dioxide, and the source of natural aggregates to deplete. Hence, alternative materials are needed for concrete applications. Wood waste ash (WWA), a substitute material, is obtained from wood-fired plants, pulp and paper, and other wood-burning industrial facilities. However, the WWA production industry requires large areas of land in localities. Some wood waste is spread over the land, while some industries burn wood waste in incinerators, thus promoting air pollution, a major environmental issue. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the effective use of WWA as a replacement material for cement or aggregates in concrete. An overview of the utilization of WWA in the construction sector is presented, and development trends are studied in accordance with setting time, strength, and durability properties. Meanwhile, the effects of WWA as a pozzolanic additive are summarized for eco-concreting applications. Findings show that incorporating WWA in cement and concrete is beneficial to sustainable development and zero-waste technology. Environmental issues on using WWA and ways of reducing the hazardous impact on the surroundings are presented as well.