Science Journal of Chemistry 2019; 7(1): 1-10 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/sjc doi: 10.11648/j.sjc.20190701.11 ISSN: 2330-0981 (Print); ISSN: 2330-099X (Online) Mineralogy, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Adobes Stabilized with Cement and Rice Husk Ash Issiaka Sanou 1 , Mohamed Seynou 2, * , Lamine Zerbo 2 , Raguilnaba Ouedraogo 2 1 Department of Biologicals Sciences, University Nazi BONI, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso 2 Department of Chemistry, University Ouaga I Pr Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Email address: * Corresponding author To cite this article: Issiaka Sanou, Mohamed Seynou, Lamine Zerbo, Raguilnaba Ouedraogo. Mineralogy, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Adobes Stabilized with Cement and Rice Husk Ash. Science Journal of Chemistry. Vol. 7, No. 1, 2019, pp. 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.sjc.20190701.11 Received: November 25, 2018; Accepted: December 20, 2018; Published: January 24, 2019 Abstract: A Burkina Faso clay referenced SAB has been characterized to be used as raw material in the making of adobes. Mineralogical studies (by XRD, DTA-TG), chemical and geotechnical studies (Atterberg limits, particle size distribution) carried out on this clay have shown that it is composed of kaolinite (62 wt%), quartz (30 wt%) and goethite (18 wt%). It is a sandy-silty clay of medium plasticity containing no swelling minerals. Its particles are mainly clay (19 wt%), silt (36 wt%), fine and coarse sand (45 wt%). It is thus suitable for the development of adobes for habitats. The adobes elaborated with SAB clay have been stabilized with an optimal cement content of 10 wt%, which offers a mechanical strength greater than 2 MPa; minimum value for single-level constructions. In order to improve the physical properties (density, porosity, water absorption by capillarity, erosion resistance, compressive and flexural strengths) of these adobes and to reduce cement consumption as much as possible, the cement (10 wt%) was partially or totallysubstitutedby rice husk ash. This substitution contributed to the improvement of the physical and mechanical properties of the adobes, due on the one hand to the effect of micro-filling of the ash and on the other hand to the increase of the CSH resulting from the pozzolanic reactivity between the released portlandite by the hydration of the cement and the amorphous silica of the rice husk ash. Keywords: Clay, Adobe, Cement, Rice Husk Ash and Pozzolanic Activity 1. Introduction More than 1/3 of the world's population live in mud buildings or houses [1]. In Africa more than 2/3 of the population live in this type of house. This type of habitat, also called green habitat, is ecological and respects the environment [2, 3]. It requires less energy for its implementation and for their thermal comfort. Good moisture regulators and good acoustic insulators, the mud bricks are suitable for many types of construction and are the most accessible in the developing countries. Despite these multiple benefits, mud habitats have low durability due to poor mechanical quality and poor water performance [4-6]. This is the situation that the people of Saaba, rural district of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in the peri-urban area, are living. This rural district with a very high population density and non-parceled areas, is built mainly with raw earth. The district has a potential clay soil site which is currently exploited by the vast majority of the population for the manufacture of adobe bricks. Buildings are short-lived and require permanent repair, especially after each rainy season (Figure 1). This difficult situation makes the living conditions of the populations even more precarious. An alternative solution is then necessary to improve the quality of bricks from this clay soil. Cement stabilization is possible but with a low proportion in view of the non- accessibility of cement by these people. To reduce the amount of cement and at the same time improve the durability of the bricks that will be made, some of the cement has been substituted by active pozzolan. The accessibility of pozzolan led us to think about rice husks as regards the main agricultural activity of the populations. The present work then presents the results of stabilization of the Saaba clay soil for the construction of a raw brick by the pozzolan-cement additions. Emphasis is placed on the