Bentonite Content Research Articles

The influence of isotropic loading and unloading on anisotropic evolution of saturated hydraulic conductivity of bentonite-sand mixtures in a cube triaxial permeameter

Anisotropic permeability of bentonite mixtures governs water flow regime in buffer materials such as landfill cover systems, cutoff walls, and high-level waste repositories. Because of its widespread application, a series of 48 permeability tests were conducted in this study on specimens prepared from bentonite-sand mixtures with three bentonite contents. The tests were run along both isotropic loading and unloading paths to explore the evolution of anisotropic ratio from three distinct fabric anisotropy states. Accordingly, a new cubic sample-type, large-scale triaxial permeameter was introduced and employed. The results revealed an enhancement of as-compacted anisotropy ratio from 1 to almost 7 with bentonite contents. The anisotropy ratio was suppressed with isotropic loading for 40% and 70% bentonite while it was enhanced for 10% bentonite content. Unloading was revealed to reduce the anisotropy of higher bentonite contents due to the enhancement of fissures along horizontal and vertical directions. The practical implication in terms of the long-term performance of a landfill liner with medium to high bentonite contents is that despite a 10- to 30-fold reduction in permeability with loading, the leachate flow would be less anisotropic compared with the initial condition as supported by a reduction in the anisotropy ratio up to 3.5.

Evaluation of Compressive Strength of Manganese Oxidized Ore Briquettes: Effects of Compaction Pressure, Curing Time, and Percentage of Binder

ABSTRACT Agglomeration is a common process to safely recycle wastes from the mining and metallurgical sectors. In this process, the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of manganese ores exert a significant influence on the reduction reactions within the electric furnace. Therefore, a systematic work has been done to evaluate the compressive strength of briquettes composed of manganese oxidized ore fines, ferromanganese dust, charcoal fines, and three different binders, bentonite, pregelatinized starch, and slaked lime + molasses. A response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effects of compaction pressure, curing time, and % binder, whose response was measured in terms of compressive strength. The results were assessed by Analysis of Variance and a regression model was generated. The study showed that briquettes with bentonite demonstrated an optimized compressive strength of 2.54 MPa with a compaction pressure of 52.5 MPa, 11 days of curing time, and 11.5% bentonite content. Briquettes with slaked lime + molasses achieved a compressive strength of 3.70 MPa with a compaction pressure of 62.12 MPa, a curing time of 24 days, and an addition of 16.2% slaked lime + molasses. For briquettes produced with pre-gelatinized starch, the design of the proposed variables resulted in a lack of fit to the model. Optimization studies revealed that briquettes made with bentonite and slaked lime + molasses are viable alternatives to replace oxidized lump ore in electric furnaces.

Macroscopic Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Characteristics of Solid Waste Base Capillary Retarded Field Covering Material

In the practical operation of traditional landfills, compaction clay often experiences cracking, while the HDPE geomembrane may tear and bulge, resulting in a compromised performance of the landfill covering system. To address this issue, a capillary retarding covering material for landfill sites is proposed by utilizing municipal sludge and construction waste particles as substrates and incorporating a small quantity of calcium bentonite. The mechanical characteristics of the covering material were investigated using a standard consolidation test and a triaxial compression test. A permeability test and a soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) test were conducted to examine the permeability and capillary retarding effect of the covering material. Microscopic tests including SEM scanning, laser particle size analysis, and T2 NMR analysis were performed to investigate the connection mode, particle size composition, and pore structure characteristics of the covered particles. Based on the aforementioned research, the following conclusions can be drawn: The cohesion of the covering material ranged from 50 to 150 kPa, while the internal friction angle ranged from 24.23° to 31°. The cohesion was directly proportional to the content of construction waste, whereas the internal friction angle was inversely proportional to calcium bentonite content. The permeability coefficient ranged from 5.04 × 10−6 cm/s to 7.34 × 10−5 cm/s, indicating a certain level of impermeability. Both the sludge and the calcium bentonite contents jointly influenced the final permeability coefficient in a negative correlation manner, with a notable hydraulic hysteresis phenomenon observed. A higher content of construction waste leads to a more pronounced supporting force exerted by the formed skeleton structures within a load pressure range between 0 and 1600 kPa. When considering a mass ratio of municipal sludge: construction waste: calcium bentonite as 30:60:7, respectively, only a decrease in the pore ratio by approximately 13.20% was observed. This study provides valuable data support for designing and applying capillary retarding cover barrier systems in landfills.

Evaluation of road performance and micro-mechanism analysis of bentonite plastic concrete subgrade

This study evaluated the performance of bentonite plasticized concrete with good deformation coordination as a road base material, to address the poor deformation coordination of rigid base layers in roads. Through tests such as slump, strength, permeability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD), the study analyzed the variations in workability, mechanical properties, and durability of plastic concrete as a base material under different bentonite and cement contents, as well as the underlying micro-mechanisms. The results showed that plastic concrete exhibited good workability, which improved with increased bentonite and cement content. The 28-day mechanical properties of the plastic concrete met the design criteria for road base layers and had features of higher load-bearing capacity, good toughness, slow strength attenuation, and overall integrity. In durability, the increase of bentonite content enhanced the concrete’s permeability, but decreased abrasivenes and shrinkage. From economic, performance, and engineering perspectives, the optimal bentonite and cement contents for the plastic concrete base were in the ranges of 90 kg m−3 to 120 kg m−3 and 110 kg m−3 to 150 kg m−3, respectively.

LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF SODIUM SILICATE AND BENTONITE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE GROUT BEHIND THE SEGMENT IN MECHANIZED EXCAVATION

Nowadays, the use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) in tunnelling has increased in urban environments. One of the effective parameters in the excavation process is the use of grout behind the segments to prevent ground settlement and penetration into the tunnel. The investigation of the effects of two-component grout (bentonite and sodium silicate) on the mechanical properties of the grout plays a crucial role in mechanized excavation. Therefore, this article aims to investigate the effect of various parameters on the properties of the two-component grout. Eight different mixing designs were considered in this research. Gel-time tests, viscosity test, water bleeding test, uniaxial compressive strength tests (UCS), and direct shear tests were conducted for each mixing design. The UCS tests were performed for eight mixing designs and at four different ages of the grout, while the direct shear test was conducted for five mixing designs at the age of one day. The results showed that increasing the sodium silicate content from 4% to 9.4% reduced the Gel-time to 7 seconds, and increasing the bentonite content from 2.3% to 4.58%, increased the marsh funnel time to 12 seconds. The uniaxial compressive strength of the grout increased to 0.682 MPa at the age of 28 days. Finally, by conducting the direct shear test on the grout and obtaining the parameters of cohesion and internal friction angle, it was determined that these two parameters depend on the values of bentonite and sodium silicate, and they change with the increase or decrease of these grout components.

Effect of synchronous surface grafting and intercalation bentonite on properties of SBS modified bitumen

To better enhance the improvement effect of natural bentonite on the comprehensive performance of styrene-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic elastomer modified bitumen (SMB), in this study, 3-(trimethoxysilopropyl) dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride (DC5700) was used for synchronous surface grafting and intercalation of bentonite (DC5700-Bentonite). Meanwhile, γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propytrimethoxysilane (KH560) surface grafting bentonite (KH560-Bentonite) and octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ODBA) intercalation bentonite (ODBA-Bentonite) were used as comparison samples. The structure and properties of the bentonite and organic bentonites (DC5700-Bentonite, KH560-Bentonite and ODBA-Bentonite) were tested by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectrometer and contact angle measurement. The effects of bentonite and organic bentonites on physical, rheological and aging properties of SMB were investigated. FTIR and XRD results showed that KH560 was chemically grafted onto the surface of bentonite, ODBA was organically intercalated into the bentonite, while DC5700 achieved synchronous surface grafting and intercalation on the bentonite. Compared with KH560-Bentonite and ODBA-Bentonite, DC5700-Bentonite had the best lipophilicity and ultraviolet shielding ability. When the bentonite content was 4 wt%, KH560-Bentonite, ODBA-Bentonite and DC5700-Bentonite could increase the rutting factor of SMB by 2.9 ℃, 4.9 ℃ and 6.5 ℃, respectively, and reduce the ductility of SMB by 6.5 cm, 4.2 cm and 3.1 cm. Meanwhile, compared to SMBs containing KH560-Bentonite or ODBA-Bentonite, the SMB containing DC5700-Bentonite had the smallest creep stiffness at − 12 ℃, − 18 ℃, and − 24 ℃. The results indicated that DC5700-Bentonite was more conducive to increasing high-temperature performance of SMB than KH560-Bentonite and ODBA-Bentonite, and its adverse effects on low-temperature ductility and low-temperature cracking resistance of SMB were also significantly reduced. After thermal and ultraviolet aging, the deterioration extent of physical and rheological properties of SMB containing DC5700-Bentonite was significantly smaller than that of SMB containing KH560-Bentonite and ODBA-Bentonite. FTIR revealed that DC5700-Bentonite was more beneficial than KH560-Bentonite and ODBA-Bentonite in inhibiting the increase of carbonyl index and the decrease of butadiene index in SMB during aging. The comprehensive results revealed that compared to KH560 surface grafting bentonite and ODBA intercalation bentonite, DC5700 synchronous surface grafting and intercalation bentonite were more conducive to improving the physical and rheological properties, and aging resistance of SMB.

Evaluation of High-Temperature Recrosslinkable Preformed Particle Gel for Fluid Loss Control during Drilling

Lost circulation has become one of the biggest challenges that drilling engineering faces during drilling, especially at high-temperature reservoirs. The consequences of lost circulation can vary from an economic aspect as well as a safety aspect. In this paper, the capability of a novel high-temperature recrosslinkable preformed particle gel (HT-RPPG) is evaluated to see whether it can be better used to control severe and total losses. The HT-RPPG is injected in the form of dispersed swellable gel particles, but it can self-crosslink to form a strong bulk gel after being placed in target zones. The sealing pressure and plugging efficiency of the HT-RPPG were evaluated utilizing a core flooding test. Various impacting factors were investigated, including the swelling ratios, fracture widths, and bentonite concentrations. Results indicated that HT-RPPG is an excellent material that can be used to control the severe loss of drilling fluids in fractured reservoirs with temperatures up to 130°C. The recrosslinked RPPG could withstand pressure up to 1,077 psi/ft for fractures up to 2 mm, and permeability was reduced more than 107 times.

Phyllite/bentonite mixture—an alternative effective buffer material for a geological disposal of radioactive waste

The use of phyllite (Phy) instead of quartz in mixtures with bentonite (B) is recommended as a buffer material for engineering barriers in a geological repository of nuclear waste. The recommendation is based on experimentally determined sorption properties of various Phy/B mixtures. The adsorption capacity of Phy/B mixtures (Phy/B: 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75), the removal efficacy of Eu(III) ions (an analog for fissiongenic lanthanides and actinides), and the rate of their binding reaction were studied using the batch adsorption equilibrium and kinetic experiments at different Eu(III) initial concentrations, solution pH, and solution to adsorbent (L/S) ratio. The adsorption capacity of the Phy/B mixtures increased with the increased bentonite content in the mixture depending on the L/S ratio and solution pH. The highest increase in the adsorption capacity of the Phy/B mixtures compared to phyllite was observed for the Phy/B proportions of 25/75 and 50/50. The rate of the Eu(III) adsorption was the best fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicating that the adsorption rate was controlled by chemisorption. The Sips model provided the best correlation of the adsorption experimental data, indicative of more than one adsorption site. The results of this study show the advantage of the Phy/B mixtures in immobilizing Eu and certain fission products by combining adsorption properties of the materials.

Effect of Different Levels of Aflatoxin B1 in Concentrated Livestock Diets on Some Characteristics of Rumen Fluid in Laboratory with Sodium Bentonite

This study was conducted in the nutrition laboratory of the Department of Animal Production in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences at the University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriya. The experiment lasted for 90 days to investigate the effects of adding sodium bentonite (SB) to a concentrated diet contaminated with aflatoxin B1 on some characteristics of rumen fluid in a laboratory setting. Four diets were prepared, each contaminated with different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (0, 20, 40, 60 ppb), and four different percentages of sodium bentonite (0, 3, 5, 7%) were added to each ration. The results showed a significant increase in pH values among the different treatments, with the diet contaminated with 40 ppb aflatoxin B1 (T3) recording the highest acidity compared to the control treatment at 0% concentration. However, there were no significant differences in pH rates between the treatments. The pH rates of 7% sodium bentonite addition did not differ significantly from 5% and 0%, while 3% had the lowest pH rate. Regarding volatile fatty acids (VFA), there was a significant increase in their percentage with the increase in sodium bentonite concentrations. The second treatment contaminated with 20 ppb aflatoxin B1 recorded the highest VFA percentage among the treatments, while the fourth treatment (T4) at 0% concentration recorded the lowest VFA percentage. Significant differences in VFA percentages were observed among all the treatments, with the highest VFA percentage in T2, followed by T3 and T1, while T4 recorded the lowest percentage. The analysis of ammonia nitrogen values showed a significant increase among the different treatments, with T2 recording the highest value among the treatments, and T4 at 0% concentration recording the lowest ammonia nitrogen value. Significant differences in the average percentage of ammonia nitrogen were observed among all the experimental treatments, with the highest value in T2, followed by T1 and T3, while T4 recorded the lowest percentage. The total number of microorganisms showed a significant increase with the increase in sodium bentonite concentrations, with T2 at 7% concentration having the highest number of microorganisms, while T4 at 0% concentration recorded the lowest number. Significant differences in the average total number of microorganisms were observed among all the experimental treatments, with T2 having the highest number, followed by T1 and T3, while T4 had the lowest number.

Optimization of the Grout Mix Ratio and Simulation Test of Shield Tail Grouting Similarities in a Water-Rich Fine Sand Layer

When shield tunneling is performed in water-rich silt and fine sand strata, the grout becomes runny when diluted by groundwater. After dilution, the filling effect of the grout is not significant, and the level of surface settlement is very high. In this study, based on bidding section 04 of Tianjin Metro Line 11, traditional grouting materials were selected to conduct response surface method (RSM) tests. The purposes of the RSM analysis were to analyze the interactions between materials and their influences on grout performance and to optimize the grout mix ratio. Various admixtures were compared to assess the effects of different admixtures and compositions on the dispersion resistance and flow performance of the grout. Finally, a shield synchronous grouting test system was developed, and a similar indoor grouting simulation test was performed to analyze the influences of the different admixtures on the filling effects and to determine a reasonable grout mix ratio. The following three results were obtained. (1) The RSM was suitable for grout performance prediction and grout mix ratio optimization, and hydroxyethyl cellulose could improve the grout performance and increase the bond performance between the cementing material and aggregate. (2) Admixture incorporation enhancement could improve the grout utilization rate and increase the diffusion distance at the top of the tunnel, which would be conducive to filling the gap at the tail end of the shield. (3) The optimal preparation scheme of grout in water-rich fine sand formations included a water–binder ratio of 0.72, cement–sand ratio of 0.80, fly ash content of 5%, bentonite content of 14.94%, and admixture content of 0.8%–0.9%

Mechanical and durability performance of polyvinyl alcohol fiber hybrid geopolymer-portland cement concrete under freeze–thaw cycles

Cold winter temperatures at high latitudes in coastal regions lead to prolonged exposure of offshore concrete structures to freeze–thaw (F–T) damage, which significantly reduces the mechanical and durability properties of concrete. To improve the durability of concrete under F–T damage, this study investigated the combined effects of fly ash (FA) and bentonite on the frost resistance of polyvinyl alcohol fiber reinforced geopolymer concrete (PFRGC). The study comprehensively analyzed the effect of fly ash and bentonite content on the rate of mass change and compressive strength under various F–T damage conditions. In addition, uniaxial compressive tests were carried out at different stages of F–T damage and the resulting stress–strain curves and compressive properties were analyzed. Correlations between peak stress, peak strain, modulus of elasticity and deterioration time of the concrete were developed. SEM microscopy tests were also used to investigate the evolution of the internal microstructure and the morphological characteristics of the erosion products under freeze–thaw conditions. The results indicated that the change in concrete mass with a growing number of F–T cycles can be divided into two periods: a gentle increase and a faster increase. A continuous increase in the rate of mass increase was observed for the specimens containing fly ash and bentonite, while the compressive strength of these specimens continued to decrease. During F–T damage, the maximum stress decreased slightly and the maximum strain increased gradually as the volume of bentonite and fly ash increased. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical basis for the development of fly ash and bentonite to improve the frost durability of offshore structures.

Study on the hydraulic conductivity of plastic concrete vertical cutoff walls

With the rapid development of global economy and the accelerating process of urbanization, the prevention and control of groundwater pollution has received great challenges. In the remediation of contaminated sites, the traditional method is to use isolation barriers for in-situ remediation. However, due to the influence of various factors, the permeability of barriers will be changed to different degrees. This paper takes plastic concrete as the research object, through the permeability, water content and SEM test, discusses the water-binder ratio, no pollution and the presence of Ba2+ conditions on the permeability. The results show that in the case of no pollution, the decrease in the water-binder ratio and the increase of bentonite content will decrease the permeability, which decreases with the increase of age and satisfies the exponential relationship. Both Ba2+ and pH had adverse effects on the permeability. Ba2+ inhibits the formation of hydration products and the bonding between aggregate and bonding of cementitious materials, resulting in the decrease of compactness and the increase of porosity, which adversely affects the permeability. The addition of Ba2+ and the increase of pH will have adverse effects on the permeability, and these influencing factors need to be considered in the actual project.

Ageing Effect On Shear Strength Of Mixed Kaolinite-Bentonite And Sand Clay Minerals

Ageing Effect On Shear Strength Of Mixed Kaolinite-Bentonite And Sand Clay Minerals

Natural bentonite as an internal curing agent in the production of eco-friendly ultra-high performance concrete with low autogenous shrinkage

This study investigated the use of natural bentonite as a green internal curing agent to prepare eco-friendly ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with low autogenous shrinkage and excellent heavy metal ions solidification properties. A method based on the pore fractal dimension analysis was used for assessing the performance of UHPC. Results showed the use of bentonite as a replacement of cement could effectively reduce the autogenous shrinkage through its internal curing effect without compromising the compressive strength and workability of UHPC. The UHPC containing 4% bentonite showed the best volume stability and durability, with a 26.9% reduction in the autogenous shrinking compared to the control UHPC. The addition of bentonite further improved ion penetration resistance and solidification of heavy metal ion owing to its ion exchange capacity. However, the enhancement effect decreased when the bentonite content was too high due to the volume change of bentonite. Two kinds of pore classification dimensions, Dmin and Dmax, were obtained from NMR results to build good correlations with the autogenous shrinkage and durability, respectively. Finally, the ecological evaluation demonstrated that the designed UHPC with bentonite had relatively low environmental impact compared to other internal curing material, which was promising to generate a cleaner product in the near future.

A Preliminary Study on the Improvement of Gangue/Tailing Cemented Fill by Bentonite: Flow Properties, Mechanical Properties and Permeability.

Backfill mining has significant advantages in safe mining, solid waste utilization and ecological environmental protection, but solid waste materials (tailings, gangue and coal gasification slag, etc.), as derivative residues of the chemical and metallurgical industries, contain a large number of heavy metal elements, which is posing great challenges to the underground environment after backfill. In order to study the feasibility of bentonite for reducing the permeability of gangue/tailing sand cemented backfill body, relevant tests were carried out from the basic performance index, flow performance and mechanical properties of paste backfill materials. The test results show that bentonite has a significant effect on the water secretion rate of cemented fillers, and also promotes the improvement of slump and diffusion diameter of backfill slurry. The enhancement effect of mechanical properties in the early stage is not obvious, mainly concentrated in the middle and late stages of specimen curing. With the increase of bentonite content, the 28-day uniaxial compressive strength increased from 7.1 MPa and 7.9 MPa to 8.7 MPa and 9.0 MPa, respectively. Bentonite is filled between the pores of the cemented backfill with its fine particles and water swelling, which can reduce the porosity and permeability of the gangue and tailings cemented backfill. Therefore, on the premise of satisfying the flow and mechanical properties of paste backfill, bentonite can be used to improve the permeability of cemented backfill and reduce the leaching and migration of heavy metal ions.

Laboratory modeling and analysis of slopes of different geometry under the effect of precipitation

Back stability analysis, in-lab testing, and field tests may all be used to assess the behavior of stability of slopes. Each of these approaches has benefits and drawbacks compared to one another. Amongst these approaches, laboratory modeling stands out with its ability to prepare identical samples, keep external conditions under control, and measure deformations precisely. In this study, laboratory-based slope models at 1(Horizontal)/1(Vertical), 2/3, and 1/3 angles including the effects of precipitation and external loading were created. The results of these models were compared with those of the Plaxis 2D software. First, models were built using highly permeable cohesionless coarse-grained soils, and mixtures containing high plasticity clay (bentonite) at different rates were then prepared to investigate the effect of fine-grained soils on stability. Laboratory tests such as sieve analysis, specific gravity, consistency limits, Standard Proctor, and direct shear were used to assess the geotechnical index and mechanical properties of soils. Incremental surcharge loads were placed on the slope models and surface deformations, and local and general collapses under the effect of precipitation were observed. Laboratory model results highlighted that the fines content had a non-negligible effect on stability. When the slope behaviors were examined, it was observed that the models with a 1/3 slope had more severe local fractures and collapses. The stability of the slope is negatively affected when bentonite content in soil mixtures rises. The results of Plaxis 2D analysis are compatible with those of laboratory model tests and the factor of safety values obtained from Plaxis 2D range from 0.98 to 11.4.

Modification and characterization of selected Zambian clays for potential use as photocatalysts

Natural materials such as clay are valued for their favorable physical and chemical characteristics on the surface. In this study, the selected Zambian clay materials are immobilized with TiO2 and manganese ions to determine their suitability for use as photocatalysts. SiO2 and Al2O3 oxide composition of Zambian clays was obtained in the range of 35.08-52.63/35.15-52.72 and 13.85-21.73/13.77-21.80, respectively, by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF); while Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) of modified clays showed that they have 1.54% incorporation of Ti and 4.98% Mn for Chingola clay to act as UV-Vis absorbers. According to the powder X-ray diffraction analysis of raw clays, the primary phase of all samples is quartz and contains low concentrations of bentonite and kaolinite. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed fluffy morphology with agglomeration, while the particle sizes of the clay photocatalysts with the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) ranged between 3.0 and 4.8 nm. UV-vis spectroscopy of the samples showed bandgap energies ranging from 2.52-3.08 eV. The surface areas, pore volumes, and pore sizes of the investigated modified and unmodified clays determined by the Brunauer, Teller, Emmett/Barrett Joyner Halenda (BET/BJH) model ranged from 12.06-64.51 m2/g, 0.029-0.068 cm3/g, and 0.642-2.802 nm, respectively. To enhance the mixing of oil and clay, the adsorbents were grafted with silane and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy through CH peaks at ~1450 and ~2860 cm-1. The modified clay materials exhibited favorable properties for use as photocatalysts.

Pressure evaluation of a gap space in the engineered barrier system in a high-level radioactive waste repository

Disposal canisters and buffer materials are main components in an engineered barrier system designed for high-level radioactive waste disposal. The design temperature of the buffer material is below 100 °C in most countries, and many studies have been conducted to increase the design temperature of the buffer material to increase the disposal density of the repository. A 1-cm air gap exists between the canister and buffer material that can cause several variations in the thermal–hydraulic–mechanical performance of the compacted bentonite buffer material. Therefore, considering the air-gap effect under high-temperature conditions is necessary because high temperatures can cause pressure variations in the air gap and compacted bentonites. Therefore, an experimental system was developed to measure the pressure variations in a confined cell, which contained air and compacted bentonites from room temperature to 150 °C. The pressure of the confined cell increased with increasing water content of the compacted bentonite, and the pressure changes were similar up to 100 °C irrespective of the presence of the 1-cm air gaps. Moreover, the pressure values at 150 °C were 10–15% higher in samples without gaps.

Removal of Turbidity from Raw water by Novel Coagulant Based on PVC Pipe Waste and Sodium Alginate

In the current study, waste polyvinyl chloride pipes were used as a primary material in the reactions, which are widely used for water supply and drainage systems where the waste pipes were prepared by cleaning them from suspended materials and grinding them into small particles, then reacting natural polymers from a plant; Alginic acid. We have obtained modified polymer (PVC/Alginate) or AL-PVC which have been grinded to obtain a powder. Four methods were used to characterize the properties of natural and prepared polymers: Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TGA-TG). The effectiveness of AL-PVC polymer as a coagulant flocculant in the treatment of surface water has been studied. Tests were carried out in the laboratory on two kinds of water (50 NTU and 100 NTU). The first one is the synthesis of water mixed with high and low concentrations of bentonite, simulating thus turbid water. The second one is raw water from the treatment station of the Shatt Al-Arab River. The performance of the coagulation-flocculation process has been assessed by measuring the supernatant turbidity for different pH, doses, and flocculation times of the AL-PVC polymer. The obtained results show that AL-PVC polymer effectiveness was strongly dependent on pH and the doses of AL-PVC polymer, the initial turbidity, and the water quality. The physical and chemical methods used in the present study of water treatments are mainly due to their simplicity, ease of use, low cost as well as excellent removal efficiency.

Effect of Bentonite Admixture Content on Effective Porosity and Hydraulic Conductivity of Clay-based Barrier Backfill Materials

Clay-based barrier wall has been diffusely employed as vertical barriers. Nevertheless, there were few project practices of these walls in China. And few research have been performed to study the impact on the permeability of the addition of domestic bentonites. To solve this problem, the influences of bentonite level on hydraulic conductivity, porosity and clay-bound water of soil-bentonite admixtures have been assessed employing a flexible-wall test and water centrifugal dewatering experiment with various bentonites. The outcomes revealed that as barrier walls are constructed by blending bentonite and Fujian standard sandy soil, there is a critical bentonite level of the smallest porosity. If the bentonite level is less than the critical bentonite content, hydraulic conductivity is reduced quickly, while if the bentonite level is greater than the critical bentonite content, hydraulic conductivity is reduced gently. Additionally, as the bentonite level grew, the clay-bound water centage of the admixtures continually improved. Supposing that the clay-bound water enclosed the clay grains, a near computation approach of the effective porosity is put forward and showed that the effective porosity decreased with bentonite content. Additionally, an exponential relationship was found between the effective porosity and the permeability.