Enhancement of soil mechanical properties with biopolymers
Enhancement of soil mechanical properties with biopolymers
The utilization of biopolymers in geotechnical engineering to enhance soil properties has garnered significant interest owing to their environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable characteristics. Various biopolymers, including chitosan, alginate, pectin, cellulose, and starch, have been explored for soil improvement purposes. Notably, guar and xanthan gums have emerged as prominent biopolymers for soil stabilization applications. The primary objective of employing biopolymers is to augment mechanical properties such as shear strength, stability, and permeability of soils. Evaluations of treated soils have consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of guar gum and xanthan gum in enhancing soil behavior, rendering them suitable for diverse geotechnical applications. Moreover, they represent a sustainable and eco- friendly alternative to conventional chemical and mechanical soil improvement techniques, which may entail adverse environmental consequences. In the research, several laboratory tests, including Atterberg limits, Proctor, and direct shear tests, were conducted on Hungarian soils treated with guar and xanthan gums to observe their mechanical behavior after treatment. Specifically focusing on uniformly graded sandy soil, the research delves into shear test parameters discussion and microscopic visualizations depicting the bonds between guar and xanthan gums and the sand particles.
N. Fradj; Istvan Kadar; K. Kopecsko; A. Nemeth
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
E - Environment, water and energy
Contact Information
- Secretary General - Dr A M McNamara
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +44 20 7040 8154
- City, University of London
- Northampton Square
- London EC1V 0HB. United Kingdom