Characterization of Elephant Grass Ash as a Potential Clay Ceramic Addition

Abstract

The elephant grass (Pennicetum purpureum) is traditionally used both as fresh feedstock for cattle and, dried, as fuel for ceramic production in Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil. In the present work the bottom ash generated after dry grass incineration in a ceramic furnace was characterized for a possible addition into red clay ceramics. The characterization comprised the ash morphology by laser microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with EDS and thermal behavior by thermogravimetry as well as differential thermal analysis. These results indicated that the elephant grass ash could be added into a clay body not only as a fluxing agent but also to improve the particles compaction before firing.