Corn Stover Liquids for Sand Soil Particles Stabilization: Laboratory Wind Tunnel Study

Abstract

The effects of different corn stover liquids (CSLs) as bio-binders on the sand soil particles were studied in order to determine the applicability of using those liquids in stabilizing the sand soil particles against movement by wind force. The corn stover powder (CS) was liquefied in ethylene carbonate (EC) in the presence of dilute sulfuric acid. Different liquid samples were prepared with 4 levels of CS/EC ratio (20%, 22.5%, 25%, and 30%, w/w), 2 levels of liquefaction temperature (140°C, and 160°C), and varied reaction times. The insoluble residue ratios for the CSLs increased with higher CS/EC ratios, lower reaction temperatures and shorter reaction times. While the viscosity in the CSLs increased with higher CS/EC ratios, higher reaction temperatures and longer reaction times. The air dried pre-treated sand soil samples covered with CSLs were placed in a tunnel subjected to wind speeds ranging from 6 m/s to 18 m/s. The crusts developed with the CSLs on the sand soil surface could withstand wind speeds up to 10 m/s, beyond this speed the deformation in the crust with a gradual increase in the erosion rate was observed. The present work concluded that the adhesive forces of all the CSLs samples had nearly the same resistance effects to the wind flow irrespective to the preparation conditions (CS/EC ratios, reaction temperature and reaction time) and the viscosity. Also the crust developed on the sand soil samples showed high resistance to wind erosion to a limited wind speed; however, beyond that limit the sand soil particles are no longer stabilized.