Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> The increased environmental footprint of Portland cement production has spurred efforts to find sustainable, bio-based alternatives for masonry. The use of <italic>Detarium senegalense</italic> seed powder as the sole binding material in cement-free interlocking bricks has received little attention, despite the study of other plant-derived binders. This study aims to assess the viability of producing cold-pressed, cement-free bricks using a <italic>Detarium senegalense</italic> bio-binder. Bricks with 10, 20, and 30 wt. % bio-binder were prepared by cold pressing and a controlled curing process. They were assessed by measuring their density, water absorption, compressive strength, failure characteristics, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. Addition of more bio-binder increased the density of the bricks, from 1386.91 ± 56.68 to 1521.49 ± 50.97 kg/m³, with enhanced particle packing. After absorption, though, the number of water molecules absorbed rose from 10.29 ± 1.90% to 16.92 ± 7.47%, with all specimens showing shape distortion post-immersion, indicating low moisture resistance. The optimum wt.% bio-binder for maximum compressive strength was obtained at 20 wt.% and the best bio-binder formulation, exhibiting the best compressive strength of 5.53 ± 0.10 MPa, was achieved. The results show that <italic>Detarium senegalense</italic> has remarkable potential as an alternative bio-binder to manufacture sustainable and eco-friendly cement-free interlocking bricks for non-load-bearing construction, particularly for outdoor use, where water resistance must be improved. </p>