INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is mainly an agricultural country with a land area of 30 million

hectares, 47% of which is agricultural. The total area devoted to agricultural crops is 13 million

hectares distributed among food grains, food crops and non-food crops. One of the most common

agricultural wastes in the Philippines is rice husk and food crops such as corn cobs.

Agricultural waste refers to waste produced from agricultural operations, including

waste from farms, poultry houses, and slaughterhouses. In the Philippines, rice, corn, coconut,

sugarcane production are in tons.(Caparino, Ph.D, 2018) The country was able to produce 1.28

million metric tons of corn and 4.09 million metric tons of rice in month of April to June, 2018

(BERSALES, Ph.D., 2018). That adds to our country’s major problem, which is solid waste

management. On the other hand, bricks tend to be more expensive than other exterior products,

such as vinyl siding. That’s why making a brick house is so convenient but the only problem is

it’s so expensive that not everybody can afford. The 1st and 2nd major agricultural crops wastes

in the Philippines are rice (straw, hull) and corn (cobs, husk, leaves, stalks). This study includes

the rice hull and corn cobs as components for an alternative brick.

That’s why the researchers sought to determine the potential of the 1st and 2nd major

agricultural crops wastes in the Philippines which is rice husk and corn cobs as an alternative

bricks. The project itself has the advantage because using corn cob and rice hull as an alternative

bricks help lessen the agricultural waste and help those people who want a brick house but can’t

afford the commercial one.

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 This study is limited to building houses and this beneficial to the people who can’t afford

a commercial brick. The researcher has 3 set ups and will be tested to determine the best set-up

by appearance, hardness and strength test after choosing the best set-up it will be compared to a

commercial brick. The area where the study would be done is in open area were sunlight is

plentiful. The findings of this study will determine the capability of rice hull and corn cobs as an

alternative brick and if it can be an affordable with high quality bricks. This study also seeks to

help lessen the agricultural waste of our country.

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 MATERIALS AND METHODS

This chapter presents the methods that were used in gathering the data, the instruments

that were used, the procedures that were done and the process of analysing the data.

2.1 PREPARATION OF SAMPLE

The researchers collected the corn cobs and rice hulls and mud clay was collected from food

stalls in Lagro, Quezon City. The collected corn cobs and rice hulls are gathered and placed in a

pot. To start the process of pyrolysis, a gas was poured on the corn cobs and rice hull and the

researcher created fire which lasted for 8 minutes. The pulverized product is mixed together with

the mud clay accordingly with its ratio level. After mixing it well and the ashes are distributed

equally it is then placed in the mould and compressed it for the mixture to be compact. The

moulded mixture was sundried for at least a week for it to dry and solidify.

2.2 BRICK PROPERTIES

After drying, the formed bricks were compared according to their visual inspection, strength

and hardness. The three bricks were undergo into three distinctive tests, the physical appearance

test, the strength test and the hardness test.

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2.2.1 Physical Appearance

The researchers test the physical appearance of the 3 bricks by inspecting the texture

and the edge of the bricks

2.2.2 Hardness

The researchers test the hardness of the 3 bricks by scratching the surface of the

bricks by the use of the finger nails and a copper 5 cents coin

2.2.3 Strength

The researchers test the strength of the 3 bricks by dropping the bricks 1.5 meters

above the ground.

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 RESULTS

Table 1: Observations about the 1st testing

1.1 DESCRIPTIVE RESULT TABLE

PRODUCT OBSERVATION
 Appearance
Smooth surface
Sharp edge
1:4 ashes to mud clay  Hardness
Visible scratch
 Strength
Totally Damaged
 Appearance
Smooth surface
Blunt edge
1:3 ashes to mud clay  Hardness
Less visible scratch
 Strength
Damaged

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  Appearance
Smooth surface
Blunt surface
3:7 ashes to mud clay  Hardness
Least visible scratch
 Strength
Least Damaged

1.2 NUMERICAL RESULT TABLE

Consider 1 as the lowest and 5 is the highest on the data table below.

APPERANCE HARDNESS

PRODUCT Texture Edges Finger Copper STRENGTH

nail coin

1:4 4 4 1 1 1

1:3 4 2 3 3 3

3:7 4 3 5 4 5

The table 1 shows the Different setups were made to determine the best possible mixture

of ashes and mud clay. Ratio 1 has a good appearance for it has a smooth surface with sharp

edges but it didn’t show signs of hardness and strength. Ratio 3 has a blunt edge but it did show

signs of hardness and strength.

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Table 2: Comparison between commercial brick and 70% mud clay and 30% ashes

2.1 DESCRIPTIVE RESULT TABLE

PRODUCT OBSERVATION
 Appearance
Rough surface
Sharp edge
Commercial Brick  Hardness
Less visible scratch
 Strength
Totally Damaged
 Appearance
Smooth surface
Blunt surface
Alternative Brick  Hardness
(70% mud clay 30% ashes) Least visible scratch
 Strength
Least Damaged

2.2 NUMERICAL RESULT TABLE

Consider 1 as the lowest and 5 is the highest on the data table below.

APPERANCE HARDNESS
PRODUCT Texture Edges Finger Copper STRENGTH
nail coin
Commercial Brick
1 4 3 3 1
3:7
4 2 5 4 5

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 The table 2 shows and compares the commercial bricks to alternative bricks. The

commercial bricks have rough surface and it didn’t show any signs of strength for it broken into

pieces. The alternative brick has a smooth surface but with blunt edge but it did show signs of

hardness and strength.

Table 3: The Economic Feasibility

The Economic Feasibility study was conducted to determine the unit cost of the project

including all preparations of materials needed for the experiment. The results shown in the table

below:

Materials Unit cost

Mud Clay Free

Corn cobs Free

Rice hull Free

Gas 3 pesos

Total : 3 pesos

In this project, the alternative brick is said to be efficient. The total expenses on this

project is only 3 pesos while the commercial bricks cost 18 pesos and above. This study proved

that the alternative brick is efficient with high in quality.

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 DISSCUSSION

Based on the results obtained, these studies confirm that rice hull and corn cobs contain

high silica when burned which is significant as a component to alternative bricks. The presence

of silica (rice hull ash and charred corn cobs) prevents cracking, shrinking and warping of raw

bricks. That’s the reason why the ratio 3:7 ashes to mud clay has the least damaged when

dropped at the height of 1.5 meters above the ground .It thus imparts uniform shape to the

bricks.

Through this study, people who can’t afford but want to have commercial bricks will

benefit a lot. Aside from being inexpensive, the materials are also abundant in nature and are

easily found. The method used is also simple, hence can be easily learned.

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 CONCLUSION

The pulverized ashes from rice hull and charred corn cobs were characterized through

series of tests to affirm its capability as a major factor for an alternative brick. By the use of 3

different brick test which is appearance, strength and hardness test it is confirmed that rice hull

and charred corn cobs has the capability to be a silica in an alternative brick.

After conducting all the experiments the results showed that the ratio 3:7 ashes to mud

clay are the most suitable mixture among the 3 set-ups. Silica (rice hull ash and charred corn

cobs) prevents cracking, shrinking and warping of raw bricks. Therefore the higher the

percentage of silica present in a bricks, the stronger and harder the bricks are. The researchers

conclude that the brick made from rice hull ashes and charred corn cob can be affordable and

eco-friendly can be a substitute to commercial bricks.

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 RECOMMENDATION

Based on the findings of this study, the researchers recommend increasing the ratio of

pulverized ashes in a certain amount of mud clay in order to get better and stronger bricks. In

order to have more accurate result for the durability, try to test or apply in field experiments.

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 APPENDICES

 Preparation of Materials

Rice Hull Mud Clay

Corn Cobs

 Pyrolysis

Preparation before pyrolysis Starting to apply heat with high temparature

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 Pyrolysis On-going

Finish Product of Pyrolysis

 Mixing

Measuring the percentage Mix the ashes together Final Product of Mixing

of ashes for each set-up with the mud clay

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 Tamping

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 Drying

Bricks were sundried for a week

 Testing

Test #1 (Appearance Test)

1:4 ashes to mud clay

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 1:3 ashes to mud clay

3:7 ashes to mud clay

Test #2 (Hardness Test)

1:4 ashes to mud clay

Finger Nails

Scratch Result

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Copper Coin 5 cents
Scratch Result

1:3 ashes to mud clay

Finger Nails
Scratch Result

Copper Coin 5 cents

Scratch Result

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 Finger Nails
Scratch Result

3:7 ashes to mud clay

Copper Coin 5 cents

Scratch Result

Test #3 (Strength Test)

*Drop each brick at a height of 125 centimeters above the ground*

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1:4 ashes to mud clay

Result

1:3 ashes to mud clay

Result

3:7 ashes to mud clay

Result

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 Commercial Bricks Testing

Test #1 (Appearance Test)

Test #2 (Hardness Test)

Finger Nails
Scratch Result

Copper Coin 5 cents

Scratch Result

Test #3 (Strength Test)

Result

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