Sugarcane Enzymes in Construction: Sustainable Alternatives for Earth Material Stabilization

Abstract

Most contemporary construction systems rely heavily on the use of steel and concrete as their primary building material, with natural materials being less frequently employed. Earth or soil is a key natural material that is readily accessible, and which was once of great importance as a structural material. This material is well-known and is employed in the construction of simpler architectural structures, primarily in developing countries. However, this material is currently in disuse as a structural material in Europe. The use of earthen constructions does not necessarily imply a certain social level, as this material has been employed successfully in the construction of simple houses as well as palaces, walls and churches. Earthen construction is often used with stabilizing binders including lime and cement. The use of such additives enhances the structural integrity of so-called stabilized-earths or stabilized soils. The objective of this research is to demonstrate how the optimized use of binding additives, including ecological enzymes, lime, clay and cement can improve the mechanical performance of stabilized soils. The physical–mechanical properties of stabilized soils examined here, including uniaxial compression and longitudinal strain, are evaluated in accordance with the European Standard EN ISO 17892-7:2019. The average compressive strength values obtained are between 1.0 MPa and 2.3 MPa for soils stabilized lime and organic enzymes with clay additives, respectively. These values compare favorably with compressed earth blocks and adobe blocks [1]. On the other hand, the values of the Modulus of Elasticity, between 574 and 1852 MPa, are higher than those of the reference samples without additives. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.