Rice husk ash and silica fume in low carbon concrete: A comprehensive review of physicochemical properties, mechanical performance, embodied carbon, and waste valorization
- 1Department of Civil Engineering, University Institute of Engineering, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India
- 2Department of Civil Engineering, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India; Corresponding author.
Abstract
Utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) presents an opportunity for achieving lower carbon intensity in cement while upholding concrete performance; particularly, silica-rich rice husk ash (RHA) and silica fume (SF) provide benefits both in terms of performance and resource efficiency. This review, therefore, provides a comprehensive summary of experimental studies conducted on RHA- and SF-based concrete, covering their material properties, mechanical performance aspects, strength-enhancement mechanisms as well as their contribution toward environmental sustainability. Normalized performance trends are presented in tabular and graphical forms, enabling a comparative assessment of the results for compressive, split-tensile, and flexural strength across replacement levels and curing ages. The review also assesses life cycle assessment (LCA)-based CO 2 reduction, embodied carbon behaviour, waste valorization and circular-economy effects. Across the studies reviewed, it was observed that 5–10% SF replacement resulted in a higher compressive strength of 25–35% after 7–28 days, but RHA at 10–15% registered 15–25% increased compressive strength between 28 and 90 days which suggests its potential for later-age activity. Both RHA and SF were associated with global warming potential reductions of about 20–50% at favourable replacement levels. The integrated comparison of materials-performance-environment trade-offs is designed to provide practical guidance on SCM selection, performance optimization and low-carbon concrete development.
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BibTeX
@article{singh2026rice,
title = {{Rice husk ash and silica fume in low carbon concrete: A comprehensive review of physicochemical properties, mechanical performance, embodied carbon, and waste valorization}},
author = {Harpreet Singh and Aditya Kumar Tiwary},
journal = {Next Sustainability},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100565},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100565},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Rice husk ash and silica fume in low carbon concrete: A comprehensive review of physicochemical properties, mechanical performance, embodied carbon, and waste valorization
AU - Harpreet Singh
AU - Aditya Kumar Tiwary
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Next Sustainability
DO - 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100565
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100565
AB - Utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) presents an opportunity for achieving lower carbon intensity in cement while upholding concrete performance; particularly, silica-rich rice husk ash (RHA) and silica fume (SF) provide benefits both in terms of performance and resource efficiency. This review, therefore, provides a comprehensive summary of experimental studies conducted on RHA- and SF-based concrete, covering their material properties, mechanical performance aspects, strength-enhancement mechanisms as well as their contribution toward environmental sustainability. Normalized performance trends are presented in tabular and graphical forms, enabling a comparative assessment of the results for compressive, split-tensile, and flexural strength across replacement levels and curing ages. The review also assesses life cycle assessment (LCA)-based CO 2 reduction, embodied carbon behaviour, waste valorization and circular-economy effects. Across the studies reviewed, it was observed that 5–10% SF replacement resulted in a higher compressive strength of 25–35% after 7–28 days, but RHA at 10–15% registered 15–25% increased compressive strength between 28 and 90 days which suggests its potential for later-age activity. Both RHA and SF were associated with global warming potential reductions of about 20–50% at favourable replacement levels. The integrated comparison of materials-performance-environment trade-offs is designed to provide practical guidance on SCM selection, performance optimization and low-carbon concrete development.
SN - 2949-8236
ER -