Viability of bio construction units in Indian environment.

Until 1824, lime led the role in masonry structures as a binding agent but with the advent of cement, lime lost its popularity. Cement was opted for in this space age because of its quick setting properties compared to lime. However, lime has its own advantage of being less brittle. Lime helps to reduce moisture and improve the environment of the home. The production of lime does not cause global warming like cement. Lime can be manufactured on a small scale. Nature can provide materials that are more durable than man-made materials and processes that use less energy without harming the environment Lime prepared from limestone is harmful to the environment whereas lime prepared from seashells are a boon to the construction industry and sustains the environment. Seafood is common in the coastal region. As seashells are biodegradable it is appropriate to dispose them by landfilling. But the excavation of a vast ditch is tiresome and expensive for shell farmers. So, by adopting the process of producing lime from seashells, the landfilling of seashells can be reduced. Hence in this paper we will study the scope of producing lime based bricks (shellcrete), tiles, mortar etc. from seashells in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]