CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
In this chapter, the researchers are going to discuss the studies related to their
research to provide knowledge and proof how the oyster shell’s calcium carbonate
(CaCO) will make the mud bricks stronger; thus more durable and the fact that it would
be helping the consumers and environment.
Mud Brick (MB)
Ancient times
Thousands of years ago, cement bricks were not yet thought up and people
would use mud bricks to create establishments such as houses, building, temples etc.
According to Brick Architecture
mud bricks were discovered in
southern Turkey, around the city of
Jericho (Figure 1). It was the oldest
establishment made from mud
Figure 1 A Building in Jericho, Turkey
bricks that the world has ever
known; it was made at 8000 B.C.
In the ancient city of Ur, in Mesopotamia (which is now called Iraq) the first
true arch of sun-baked brick have made during 4000 BC.
Although the arch was not much of a success, it gave man description of the first know
reference to mortars other than mud (Mason, T. and Lee, J. 2018). In Egypt however;
their slaves mixed clay with straw to make it more durable. The evidence can still be seen
at the Harappan Buhen (Figure 2) and Mohenjo-daro. (Figure 3)
As civilization spread eastward &
westward, so did the manufacturing of mud
bricks; it has been used to construct various
structures that are still known today, like,
Figure 2. Harappan Buhen The Great Wall of China that was made
210 BC, and the reconstruction of Pantheon
in Rome during 123 AD (Mason, T. and
Lee, J 2018). The ground development Ever
since then, most houses in Ancient Africa,
Europe, Asia and America are made from
Figure 3. Mohenjo-Daro mud bricks.
Mud wall
Also known as tapia in the Spanish-speaking world, tabya in the Islamic region
use to be one of the most common structural materials of the 15th century Cordoba and
Seville and a regular construction method in many Muslim areas in the 13th century,
especially for military purposes. (Deagan, K. 2002)
Oyster Shells (OS)
It’s Composition
It was stated on a journal entitled Characterization of calcium carbonate obtained
from oyster and mussel shells and incorporation in polypropylene that, cooking the
oysters by steaming improves the appearance and values of the shells: plus the OS are
composed of 95% of CaCO and the remains are organic substances and other compounds
of the shell. If the wastes of the shells aren’t properly disposed, it causes a bad odor that
affects the area and decreases water oxygen and microalgae that are responsible for the nutrition
of oysters, thus hindering the growth of the shellfish.
Recycling OS (using them in cement)
Oyster shell is used as an additive or replacement of part of the cement in
concrete. Construction material diversified with crushed oyster shell and sand was used
for sand compaction piles to improve soft soils underneath a breakwater port in Japan.
OS for Construction materials
The crushed shells would be beneficial to the waste industry along with the
construction industry. When the shells get crushed they can be substituted for all different
types of aggregates depending on the size of the specimen. Oyster shells are a viable
option because they contain a large amount of calcium carbonate. Which is the element
helps to strengthen the materials. So the materials can stand the harsh weather and
chemical in the surroundings. (Kakisawa, H., & Sumitomo, T., 2012)
In this study to evaluate the possibility of recycling this waste for use as a
construction material, the mechanical characteristics of pulverized oyster shell were
investigated in terms of its potential utilization as a substitute for the aggregates used in
mortar. The effect of organic chemicals on the hardening of concrete was evaluated by
preparing ethyl-benzene-mixed mortar specimens. The long-term strength improvement
resulting from the addition of fly ash was also examined by performing unconfined
compression tests on specimens with fly-ash content. There was no significant reduction
in the compressive strength of the mortars containing small oyster shell particles instead
of sand. From these test data, the possible application of oyster shells in construction
materials could be verified, and the change in the strength parameters according to the
presence of organic compounds was also evaluated to be successful. (Yoon, Hyunsuk &
Park, Sangkyu & Lee, Kiho & Park, Junboum. 2004)
