International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231 - 606X 7 2 2017 02 18 Physicochemical and mechanical characterization of Benin’s Kenaf fibers and its effect on the building compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) mechanical properties 6 15 EN J.B. Nvau 1 Chemistry Department, Plateau State University, Bokkos. Plateau State, Nigeria M.B. Wufem 2 Chemistry Department, Plateau State University, Bokkos. Plateau State, Nigeria J.G. Nangbes 3 Chemistry Department, Plateau State University, Bokkos. Plateau State, Nigeria E.S. Gamaniel 4 Department of Traditional Medicine Research and Plant Medicine, National institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development Idu Industrial area, Abuja, Nigeria U. Faruq 5 Chemistry Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria J.S. Gushit 6 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Jos, Nigeria B.A. Laibi 1 Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche en Chimie Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 2009 Cotonou, République du Bénin, Equipe Structure et Comportement Thermomécanique des Matériaux (ESTM) du Crismat, UMR 6508, Ensicaen, 6 boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex 4, France & Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et de l\'Environnement (LACIE), Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 4521 Cotonou, République du Bénin M. Gomina 2 Equipe Structure et Comportement Thermomécanique des Matériaux (ESTM) du Crismat, UMR 6508, Ensicaen, 6 boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex 4, France E. Sagbo 3 Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et de l\'Environnement (LACIE), Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 4521 Cotonou, République du Bénin M. Agbahoungbata 4 Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et de l\'Environnement (LACIE), Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 4521 Cotonou, République du Bénin P. Poullain 5 Institut de Recherche en Génie Civil et Mécanique UMR 6183 Technologie des Matériaux (GeM), France N. Leklou 6 Institut de Recherche en Génie Civil et Mécanique UMR 6183 Technologie des Matériaux (GeM), France K.C.D. Sohounhloule 7 Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche en Chimie Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 2009 Cotonou, République du Bénin > Research Paper 2016 10 14 2017 02 18 The physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of Kenaf fibers from the Republic of Benin were studied by using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal gravimetric analysis coupled withdifferential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) and chemical analysis using the method of VAN Soest. It emerged from study that the fibers of Kenaf essentially consisted of cellulose (73wt %), hemicelluloses (18 wt%) and lignin (6 wt%). Kenaf fibers of 10, 20 and 30 mm lengthwere used at dose rate of 1.2% weight to reinforce the mechanical and thermal properties of Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB)developed from a clay soil;constituted of kaolinite (33, 46wt%); illite (14.90wt%%); microcline (2.11wt%); quartz (48.78wt%) and 0.86wt% of anatase. The incorporation of Kenaf fibers permitted to reduce the distribution of cracks in CEB. Analysis of the mechanical behavior of different formulations soil/fiber in terms of flexural strength and compression demonstrated the beneficial effect of the fibers. The best result of mechanical strength standpoint was obtained with the fibers length of 30 mm. Here we successfully proved that it is possible to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of CEBby using fibers for reinforcement; and the composite can be optimized by altering the fiber content and length. Copyright@ International Science Community Association