Characterisation data for open-air processed common water reed (Phragmites australis) ash and papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) ash

Currently, there are a lot of discussions on the production of sustainable cement for construction purposes, unlike the conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC), as its production, transportation, and application contribute to the generation of greenhouse gases, hence, climate change. Consequently, limestone, the primary material used to produce OPC, is non-renewable. Therefore, there is a need to use sustainable materials to make cementitious materials to achieve sustainable construction. This has led to a lot of research focussing on the valorisation of agricultural wastes and less economical, no-food lignocellulosic plants in producing sustainable and environmentally friendly cementitious materials commonly known as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). The agrowastes ashes include rice husk ash (RHA), sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), and corn cob ash (CCA), among others. In contrast, the lignocellulosic plants’ ashes include common water reed ash (CWRA) and cyperus papyrus ash (CPA). There has been the belief that these pozzolanic materials are homogenous. However, these ashes are highly heterogeneous when they undergo microscopic analysis. Therefore, the current data paper provides Laser Diffraction Spectroscopy (LD) for Particle Size Distribution (PSD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) data for unprocessed CWRA and CPA in the form of tables, micrographs, and figures for microscopic analysis. This data helps characterise and evaluate CWRA and CPA's potential as pozzolanic materials, especially as road construction materials, and will be beneficial for other scientists to better understand unprocessed CWRA and CPA mineral information development biologically inspired materials for biologically inspired materials sustainable development across many disciplines.