Optimization of termite mound soil through alkali activation and cement stabilisation for sustainable and eco-friendly construction materials

This paper explores the use of natural potash as an alkaline activation and cement stabilisation in termite mound soil. The compressive strength was examining for both alkaline activated and cement stabilized samples. To correlate the microstructure of the samples to the compressive strength, microstructural analyses namely scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) were carried out to assess the microstructure and functional groups present in the samples. The compressive strength was examined at 7, 14, and 28 days. Partial replacement with cement at 5wt% displayed the highest compressive strength. In addition to the good compressive strength, termite mound soil will contribute to protecting the environment and lower standard housing costs.