Thesis (BS Architecture) University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2019

The growing concern of odor problems in developing urban areas in the country has contributed to the development of different techniques to improve the odor quality of the environment especially in building spaces for quality living. The study addresses the idea of integrating organic waste materials, specifically Coconut Shell Activated Carbon (CSAC) into building materials as solution to improve indoor odor quality. The study identified the integration of Coconut Shell Activated Carbon (CSAC) as an admixture to produce an odor-adsorptive concrete. Throughout the research, the properties of the material such as odor-adsorptive, compressive, and water absorption, of the output material were thoroughly explored through different tests. Odor Adsorption Test, Compressive Strength Test, and Water Absorption Test was conducted to measure the odor-adsorption rate, maximum compressive strength and structural capacity, and water absorption rate of CSAC concrete, respectively. Results showed that among the treatments, CSAC Concrete Treatment 3, Class C-with ratio of 1:2:3 (cement: sand: gravel) having 10 kg, 20 kg, 30 kg, respectively with 16 kg CSAC-exhibits the fastest odor adsorption capacity of 5 hours and Treatment 1, Class AA-with ratio of 1:2:4 (cement: sand: gravel) with only 2 kg CSAC as the least odor-adsorptive capacity of 24 hours. With these results, CSAC Concrete is suitable as a solution to minimize odor and improve indoor odor quality in spaces with poor air quality.