Incorporating Kenaf and Oil Palm Nanocellulose in Building Materials for Radon Gas Emanation Reduction

EasyChair Preprint 1420, version 2

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study is to reduce radon gas emanations in indoor environment by incorporating Kenaf and Oil Palm nanocellulose that act as nano-fillers into building materials. Fabrication of composite brick were carried out according to the ASTM Standard. In this the research, 40ml, 80ml, 120ml, 160ml and 200ml of nanocellulose were used to replace the usage of sand, stone and cement materials, respectively. Kenaf and Oil palm nanocellulose were acted to reduce the internal and surface porosity as well as to replace the radon resources (stone) which indirectly reduced radon gas emanation. Radon gas emanated from each composite bricks were measured within 10 consecutive days in airtight prototype perspex room by using Radon Monitor Sentinel 1030. Compression test also carried out to investigate the physical strength of the fabricated composite bricks. The results have shown 40ml of kenaf and oil palm nanocellulose was the optimum amount in reducing the radon concentration, where the radon readings were 1.4 pCi/L and 0.93pCi/L, respectively. Meanwhile, brick with no nanocellulose has shown highest radon reading of 3.77 pCi/L. Moreover, Young Modulus for composite brick for both kenaf and oil palm nanocellulose were 28.92N/mm2 and 27.8N/mm2 compared to normal brick that was 27N/mm2. The results have proved the radon gas emanations was reduced by 62.86% for kenaf and 75.3% for oil palm by incorporating the organic nanocellulose which has high potential towards healthy indoor environment.

Keyphrases: Nanocellulose, Radon, building materials, healthy environment

@booklet{EasyChair:1420,
  author    = {Farah Aini Mocktar and Muhammad Khairul Azhar Abdul Razab and An'Amt Mohamed Noor},
  title     = {Incorporating Kenaf and Oil Palm Nanocellulose in Building Materials for Radon Gas Emanation Reduction},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 1420},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2019}}