Characterisation of Taal Volcanic Ash as a Potential Raw Material for the Construction Industry

Abstract

The phreatomagmatic eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas, Philippines, in January 2020 resulted in a massive ash plume covering a large portion of nearby provinces, including Metro Manila. This event caused damage and disruptions to various sectors, including agriculture, the environment, health, infrastructure, and aviation. The challenge of managing the vast amount of collected tephra environmental waste prompted the initiative of converting it into a useful material. This study characterizes and evaluates the quality of the collected tephra as a potential raw material for the construction industry, based on the Philippine National Standard (PNS) 07:2018, to ensure structural integrity and public safety. Four ashfall samples from strategic locations, identified by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), were obtained and analysed for specific chemical parameters using various analytical techniques. The results suggest that tephra has potential as a raw material for ground-level structures. However, further treatment is necessary to reduce the concentration of certain constituents. The material met the standard specifications for SiO2, MgO, and SO3. However, the levels of Al2O3, Fe2O3, total alkali, loss on ignition, and water-soluble and acid-soluble Cl− exceeded the threshold limits set by PNS 07:2018 and EN 197-1:2000.

Keywords

• volcanic ash
• construction materials
• chemical analysis
• oxides
• waste management