Suitability of Mixing Spent Coffee Grounds and Plastic Waste with Clay for Brick Production

Abstract

The conventional method of bricks production using clay soil has brought natural resource depletion. In Jimma City and around Jimma there are high amount of Spent coffee ground and Plastic Waste thrown everywhere in the city. The aim of the study was to investigate the suitability of the mixture of clay soil, spent coffee ground and plastic waste for production of bricks. The specific objective of the study were evaluating index properties of clay soil and general properties of poly ethylene terephthalate and spent coffee ground, examine the physical and mechanical properties of the produced bricks, determine adequate firing temperature of produced bricks and determine the optimum percentage replacement of coffee ground and plastic waste as brick raw materials. According to this research methodology, control bricks and four other different percentages of spent coffee ground and plastic waste with clay soil were replaced 2, 4, 6 and 8% and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6% by weight respectively manufactured. The laboratory test result of mean compressive strength for this study, the 2, 4, 6 and 8% spent coffee ground and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6% plastic waste and control bricks at 8000C firing temperature were 16.51, 20.62, 14.42, 13.52 and 23.43Mpa respectively. The maximum compressive strength was at 3% Plastic Waste and 4% Spent Coffee Ground replacement fired at 600, 700, 800, 900 and 10000C which were 13.72, 16.31, 20.62, 16.72 and 16.37MPa respectively. The produced Bricks were fulfills Ethiopia standard and America society for testing and materials standard. Based on the 8000C firing temperature, Water absorption for all percentage replacement and control bricks were 21.44, 21.62, 22.15, 22.35 and 20% respectively. The efflorescence test results show that, all of the produced Bricks were not effloresced and the dimension tolerance test result was satisfied for construction purpose as Ethiopia standard and America society for testing and materials standard. Finally incorporated spent coffee ground and plastic waste with clay bricks were better for construction purpose by fulfilling the standard in addition to giving safety for environment and natural resource depletion. Therefore, the concerned government bodies, society, Small and micro enterprises and the user shall adopt the mixing spent coffee ground and plastic waste with clay for brick production.