Utilization of Oil Shale Ash in Construction Materials
Summary
Oil shale ash (OSA) is the residual by-product generated during the combustion of oil shale for energy production. Traditionally consigned to landfills, OSA is increasingly recognised for its potential as a secondary raw material in construction. Its chemical composition—rich in calcium, silica and alumina—endows it with pozzolanic properties, enabling partial replacement of cement in concrete and mortar. Various processing routes, including thermal activation, mechanical milling and accelerated carbonation, have been explored to enhance reactivity and optimise particle size distribution. Applications span the development of supplementary cementitious materials, self-cementing binders, brick and block manufacture, and soil stabilisation for road embankments. Incorporation of OSA can reduce carbon footprint, conserve natural resources and divert waste from disposal, while delivering comparable mechanical performance and improved durability in many contexts. The global drive towards circular economy principles and carbon neutrality has elevated the strategic significance of OSA reuse, prompting multidisciplinary research into its microstructural evolution, long-term stability and practical implementation across diverse climatic and infrastructural settings.
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Utilization of Oil Shale Ash in Construction Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in utilization of oil shale ash in construction materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Oil shale ash (OSA): The inorganic residue produced by burning oil shale, typically containing calcium-silicate phases and residual carbon.
Pozzolanic activity: The ability of silica- and alumina-rich materials to react with calcium hydroxide to form cementitious hydrates.
Supplementary cementitious material (SCM): A non-cementitious component added to concrete or mortar to enhance performance and reduce clinker content.
Accelerated carbonation: A process by which carbon dioxide is reacted under controlled conditions with alkaline materials to form stable carbonate phases.
Interfacial transition zone (ITZ): The thin region around aggregate particles in concrete where microstructure and porosity differ from the bulk matrix.
References
- Evaluation of New Applications of Oil Shale Ashes in Building Materials. Minerals (2020).
- Modelling and Optimization for Mortar Compressive Strength Incorporating Heat-Treated Fly Oil Shale Ash as an Effective Supplementary Cementitious Material Using Response Surface Methodology. Materials (2022).
- Stabilization of Road Embankments on Peat Soils Using Oil Shale Ash and Pozzolanic Additives. Applied Sciences (2023).
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