Conclusions - Construction Clay bricks KnO 100068_Utilization of Cow dung in Brickmaking

Utilization of cow-dung in brickmaking

Practical Action

Conclusions

1. Some agricultural residues and animal wastes are useful in brickmaking. Examples are:

saw dust, groundnut shell, "garad" seed, charcoal fines, bagasse and cow-dung.

2. Cow-dung, when added to brick clays modifies properties of those clays and results in

better brick qualities compared to other organic waste additives.

3. Addition of cow-dung to clays improves plasticity, reduces green breakage and acts as

internal fuel in firing bricks thus reducing firing cracks.

4. The higher the cow-dung content in bricks the lower their strength and density, and the

higher the water absorption.

5. 20 -30% cow-dung in clays is the best ratio that gives the desired combination of

opposing qualities: strength vs. density, dimensional changes (and losses) and

workability of clays.

6. Sand-moulding is superior to slopmoulding since it results in higher strength & density,

lower water absorption and losses.

Recommendations

Since the Practical Action Sudan research in Kassala described in this case study concentrated

foremost on the improvement of the qualities of bricks as a result of incorporating cow-dung into

brick clays the accompanying and therefore possible saving in fuel-wood is the content of

additional research at Practical Action. There is a need to do this as the question of reduction of

cost of energy is a pressing commercial environmental issue in the Sudan.

References

 Return to Burri Brick Factory, Laboratory studies and field bricks, by Awad, M. E. & El

Sawi 0., NBRS CP 1/74, 1974.

 Techno-Economic Feasibility for the Establishment of a Demonstration Plant for

Producing Red Bricks, BRRI, U. of K.,1982.

 Principals of Clay Masonry Construction, Student Manual, by Raymond, D.e. & Henry e.

P., Structural Clay Products Institute, Washington D. e., USA.

 The Chemistry & Physics of Clays and Allied Ceramic Materials, by Grimshaw R. W.,

Ernest Benn Limited, London.

 On The Development of Fired Clay Bricks: Wastes as Additives in Brickmaking, by Awad,

M. E. & Salih, M. A., NBRS, Building Digest No. 16, July 1975.

 Building with Earth and Red Bricks Technology, by Awad, M. 0., BRRI, No. 2,1983.

 Expansive Soils in Sudan, by M. A. Osman & Wayne A. Charlie, BRRI, 1983.

 Comparative Study on the Rational Use of Fired Clay in Building in Khartoum, by

Hussein, M. H. H., a PhD.-Thesis submitted to BRRI, 1987.

 Study of Bricks Production in Eastern Sudan, Practical Action Sudan, 1995.

 Effect of Dung on Physical & Chemical Properties of Bricks, by Jermiah T. Bairiak,

Practical Action Sudan, Kassala, 1997.

 Basic Know-how for the Making of Burnt Bricks and Tiles, by Gerhard Merschmeyer, for

MISEREOR, 1989, Aachen, Germany.