Cement-bonded composites from lignocellulosic wastes

A large quantity of lignocellulosic wastes is generated worldwide from various sources such as agriculture, construction, wood and furniture industries leading to environmental concerns. Use of these wastes in making cement-bonded construction materials can reduce the magnitude of the problems. However, in this effort there are various restraints like compatibility of these wastes with cement, their toxicity, and limited composite strength. This paper reviews the results of recent research into the use of these wastes in making cement-bonded composites used as building materials. The approaches like pre-treatments, use of chemical admixtures and modified manufacturing process, adopted to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks are described. The benefits and limitations of the use of such materials in building are also discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.