Cement is a binding material that is used to bind different aggregate (coarse and fine) through a chemical process known as hydration in the presence of moisture. This research work is planned with the purpose to determine the most appropriate and efficient proportions of admixture i.e. fly ash so as to modify the strength properties of concrete. By adding this admixture strength properties of cement and concrete can be enhanced. Cement be replaced with different percentages levels of Fly ash as 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% by weight of cement. To work out the strength properties and the variation pattern due mixing in different proportions of fly ash for different tests such as compressive and tensile strength are planned to be performed after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days curing. These experiments were conducted at Laboratory scale. Addition of fly ash as an admixture in replacement of cement enhanced strength properties of cement and concrete up to a limit. At 10% fly ash cured for 28 days maximum compressive and tensile strength was achieved i.e. 1170 psi and 66 psi respectively. Furthermore, addition of fly ash as cement replacement showed gradual reduction in the strength properties i.e. minimum compressive and tensile strength was found to be for 50% fly ash sample cured for 7 days. As an outcome of this research fly ash is concluded to be an effective replacement of cement for non-loading constructions.

No abstract

Recent advances in graphene research have enabled the utilization of its nanocomposites for numerous energy-based and environmental applications. Recently, the advancement in graphene-based polymer nanocomposites has received much attention with special emphasis on synthesis and application. Graphene-based nanocomposites show astonishing electrical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal characteristics. Graphene nanocomposites (GNCs) are synthesized using a variety of methods, including covalent and non-covalent methods, a chemical-based deposition approach, hydrothermal growth, electrophoresis deposition, and physical deposition. Chemical methods are the most viable route for producing graphene in small quantities at low temperatures. The technique can also produce graphene films on a variety of substrate materials. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for the synthesis of AI-created nanoparticles has recently received a lot of attention. These nanocomposite materials have excellent applications in the environmental, energy, and agricultural sectors. Due to high carrier mobility, graphene-based materials enhance the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor materials. Similarly, these materials have high potential for pollutant removal, especially heavy metals, due to their high surface area. This article highlights the synthesis of graphene-based nanocomposites with special reference to harnessing the power of modern AI tools to better understand GNC material properties and the way this knowledge can be used for its better applications in the development of a sustainable future.

Water treatment plants (WTP) produce copious quantities of solid waste in the form of sludge that is deteriorating water resources, agriculture lands and human health. It should be discarded properly but a grave issue is finding ecological solution for its ultimate disposal. This study will provide an idea of incorporating sludge into soil-cement bricks that are used for construction providing dual benefits: reducing amounts of sludge and introducing cheaper bricks. A sample of sludge was analyzed for chemical constituents, plasticity value, particle size and content of organic matter. Sludge bricks incorporating 10 % of waste material by weight were prepared. The quality of sludge bricks was evaluated in terms of mechanical and physical properties (compressive strength test, water absorption test and apparent density test). The obtained results have revealed that waste material is mostly composed of plastic and could be utilized for manufacturing of sludge bricks. The compressive strength and density of bricks reduced with increasing amounts of sludge. However, the compressive strength of the bricks could even meet the standard requirement.

The current research was postured for optimizing the pretreatment of wheat straw with three different chemicals i.e., 1% NaOH at 121°C for 1 hour, 4% lime at 80°C for 40 minutes, similarly 4% acetic acid at 121°C for 1 hour and studying their effect on lingo cellulosic structure of wheat straw. It was observed that NaOH treatment was most suitable maximum degradation of lignin and least disruption of cellulosic contents. NaOH pretreatment was optimized for three main process parameters i.e., temperature, pretreatment time and chemical concentration. It was analyzed that at same concentration by varying treatment time and temperature, hemicelluloses and lignin contents decreased with the increase of both parameters. Concentration of chemical was optimized at boiling temperature of 105°C for 10 minutes, revealed that with the increase in NaOH concentration lignin and hemicelluloses contents degrade more. Time parameter was optimized applying treatment of 2, 5 and 8 days. Lignin degradation was highest at 8% NaOH concentration for 2 days. Lignin contents increased abruptly at 8% NaOH and 8 days of treatment. Optimum conditions obtained for cellulose and hemicellulose are 2% NaOH, 105°C for 10 minutes.