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| Illustration by Ai |
Volcanic sand from Mount Soputan could become a valuable alternative building material for stronger and more sustainable concrete blocks, according to new research published in 2026. The study was conducted by Syanne Pangemanan, Josep A. J. Sumajouw, Don R. G. Kabo, and Barakati K. Manginsihi from Manado State Polytechnic (Politeknik Negeri Manado), Indonesia. Published in the Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA), the research demonstrates that replacing part of the fine aggregate in concrete blocks with volcanic sand significantly improves compressive strength while reducing water absorption at higher substitution levels. The findings offer practical guidance for the construction industry while promoting the productive use of abundant volcanic materials in Indonesia.
Why Volcanic Sand Matters for Construction
Indonesia is home to some of the world's most active
volcanoes, producing enormous quantities of volcanic ash and sand during
eruptions. While these materials often create environmental and logistical
challenges, they also represent an underutilized natural resource.
At the same time, demand for construction materials
continues to increase as urban development expands across Indonesia.
Conventional fine aggregate, commonly obtained from river sand, is a
non-renewable resource. Excessive extraction contributes to environmental
degradation, riverbank erosion, and ecosystem damage.
Previous studies have shown that volcanic materials can
improve certain concrete properties when used in appropriate proportions.
However, most earlier research focused on concrete or mortar rather than
concrete blocks. Limited evidence was available regarding the technical
performance of locally sourced volcanic sand from Mount Soputan when used as a
substitute for fine aggregate in brick production.
This latest research addresses that knowledge gap by
evaluating how different substitution levels affect both the strength and
durability of concrete blocks while assessing compliance with Indonesian
construction standards.
How the Research Was Conducted
The researchers carried out laboratory experiments between April
and August 2023 at the Materials Testing Laboratory of Manado State
Polytechnic.
Concrete blocks were produced using five different mixtures:
- 0%
volcanic sand (standard mixture)
- 10%
volcanic sand
- 20%
volcanic sand
- 30%
volcanic sand
- 40%
volcanic sand
Each mixture was cured for 7, 14, and 28 days before
testing.
The research evaluated two major performance indicators:
- Compressive
strength, measuring how much load each concrete block could withstand
before failure.
- Water
absorption, measuring how much water the concrete blocks absorbed over
various immersion periods up to 24 hours.
The researchers also applied statistical analysis using
analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine whether differences among the
mixtures were statistically significant.
Stronger Concrete Blocks with Higher Volcanic Sand
Content
The study found that volcanic sand substantially influenced
concrete block performance.
The strongest results were obtained when 40% of the fine
aggregate was replaced with volcanic sand.
After 28 days of curing, the compressive strength reached:
- 250.95
kg/cm² for the 40% volcanic sand mixture.
- 164.50
kg/cm² for conventional concrete blocks.
- 176.82
kg/cm² for the 20% volcanic sand mixture, the lowest-performing
volcanic sand variation.
Strength consistently increased as curing time progressed.
The 40% volcanic sand mixture achieved:
- 189.91
kg/cm² after 7 days.
- 235.58
kg/cm² after 14 days.
- 250.95
kg/cm² after 28 days.
Statistical analysis confirmed that both volcanic sand
substitution level and curing age significantly affected compressive strength,
while the interaction between the two factors was not statistically
significant.
Lower Water Absorption Improves Durability
Besides improving strength, higher volcanic sand content
also reduced water absorption.
Concrete blocks with lower water absorption generally
contain fewer pores, making them less vulnerable to moisture penetration and
long-term deterioration.
After 24 hours of immersion, water absorption results were:
- 1.30%
for standard concrete blocks.
- 1.16%
for blocks containing 20% volcanic sand.
- 0.80%
for blocks containing 30% volcanic sand.
- 0.75%
for blocks containing 40% volcanic sand.
The researchers observed that higher absorption occurred in
blocks with larger internal pores, while mixtures containing 30% and 40%
volcanic sand developed denser structures with smaller pores.
Practical Applications for the Construction Industry
The findings have direct implications for manufacturers,
engineers, contractors, and policymakers.
Concrete blocks containing 40% volcanic sand achieved
Quality Grade II according to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI),
making them suitable for load-bearing applications in protected building
environments.
Meanwhile, concrete blocks containing 10%, 20%, and 30%
volcanic sand met Quality Grade III, making them more appropriate
for non-load-bearing walls installed in sheltered locations.
Beyond structural performance, volcanic sand substitution
offers environmental advantages by reducing dependence on conventional river
sand while creating productive uses for volcanic deposits that naturally
accumulate after eruptions.
For regions located near active volcanoes, this approach
could reduce transportation costs for construction materials while supporting
more sustainable resource management.
Researchers Highlight the Benefits of Local Volcanic
Materials
The authors conclude that volcanic sand from Mount Soputan
can significantly improve concrete block performance when used in appropriate
proportions.
According to Syanne Pangemanan and colleagues from Manado
State Polytechnic, laboratory testing demonstrated that replacing fine
aggregate with volcanic sand "significantly affects the compressive
strength of concrete blocks," with the 40% substitution level producing
the best overall performance in terms of strength while also achieving the
lowest water absorption among all tested mixtures.
Their findings reinforce growing evidence that locally
available volcanic materials can become valuable construction resources instead
of being treated solely as volcanic waste.
Looking Ahead
As Indonesia continues expanding its infrastructure while
pursuing more sustainable construction practices, innovative uses of naturally
available materials are becoming increasingly important.
This study provides scientific evidence that volcanic sand
from Mount Soputan has practical engineering value for concrete block
manufacturing. With additional large-scale industrial testing, similar volcanic
materials from other regions may also contribute to more environmentally
responsible construction while reducing pressure on natural river sand
resources.
The research demonstrates how local geological resources can
simultaneously address environmental challenges, improve building material
performance, and support sustainable infrastructure development.
Author Profile
Syanne Pangemanan is a researcher at Politeknik
Negeri Manado (Manado State Polytechnic), Indonesia, specializing in civil
engineering, construction materials, and building technology. This study
was conducted in collaboration with Josep A. J. Sumajouw, Don R. G. Kabo,
and Barakati K. Manginsihi, who are also affiliated with Manado State
Polytechnic and conduct research in construction engineering, material
performance, and infrastructure development.
Source
Article Title: The Effect of Using Volcanic Sand
from Mount Soputan as a Substitute for Fine Aggregate in the Production of
Bricks
Journal: Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA)
Publication Year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/mudima.v6i6.71
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