Abstract
In this study, Biopolymers are used as an attempt to create sustainable environment by eliminating the negative environmental impacts of using traditional admixtures in soil stabilization. Xanthan Gum is used as a biopolymer to treat expansive soil. A series of tests like, Standard Proctor Test, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), One-Dimensional Consolidation and Standard Direct Shear tests were conducted on virgin soil and biopolymer (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5%) treated soils. The results revels that by addition of biopolymer content Maximum Dry Density (MDD) of soil decreases and Optimum Water Content (OMC) increases. The UCS value is increased by 4 times for the addition of 1% xanthan gum to soil for 28 day curing period. Compressibility of soil is deceased by 65% for 28day curing period. Shear parameters of treated soil shows improvement with addition of xanthan gum content. For further examination, SEM analyses were conducted on the tested samples and revealed that the soil fabric had white lumps and pores in the soil structure were filled with cementitious gel. Moreover, the resistance towards shear and compressibility of treated samples increased with curing times. Therefore, use of Xanthan Gum for soil stabilization is a solution for eco-friendly soil stabilizing material.
Highlights
The soil treatment processes are used to modify different properties of soil for instance strength, stability, and permeability and erosion resistance
According to the Indian Standard Soil Classification, the collected clay samples have been classified as high-plasticity clay; the free swell index of clay is approximately 160% and the soil is classified as expansive soil
When sugar is aerobically fermented by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris, it produces an anionic polysaccharide known as xanthan gum
Summary
The soil treatment processes are used to modify different properties of soil for instance strength, stability, and permeability and erosion resistance. Water-insoluble gel-forming microbial biopolymers that are industrially produced can be used in the treatment of soil as it encloses a bioremediation zone and mitigates soil liquefaction. Some of these biopolymers are chitosan, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyglutamic acid, sodium alginate, and xanthan gum [9, 10]. Use of biopolymer in Geotechnical applications reduces permeability of sands and silty sands by void filling [11, 12] It increases shear parameters of soil and used as a soil binder by forming gel - clayey matrix via strong hydrogen bonding [13]. Many polysaccharide group biopolymers have been examined recently for civil and geotechnical applications
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