Filter Paper Technique Research Articles

Rapid analysis of spilled petroleum oils by direct analysis in real time time-of-flight mass spectrometry with hydrophobic paper sample collection

BackgroundOil spills are widespread and can cause devastating environmental consequences. Rapid oil identification is critical to find the origin of the spill, monitor the environment, and lead to informed mitigation measures. The current standard methods in oil spill identification are precise and reliable, but require extensive sample preparation, long instrument runs, and time-consuming data processing. Direct analysis in real time time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DART-ToF MS) has been employed to screen for spilled petroleum oils, with results obtained in mere hours. The present study introduced an innovative, simple, and fast oil sampling method using hydrophobic filter paper and demonstrated its compatibility with DART-ToF MS analysis. Motor oils, jet fuels, marine diesels, crude oils, intermediate fuel oils, heavy fuel oils, and diluted bitumen were collected using the filter paper sampling method. Classification models were constructed from the spectral data by heat map inspection followed by principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). Oil slicks and weathered oil slicks were prepared from five oil types, and samples from each slick were collected using filter paper.ResultsThe filter paper technique allowed for effective oil sampling and data acquisition by DART-ToF MS for diluted source oils, oil slicks and weathered oil slicks. Classification via the constructed DAPC models indicated that the DART-ToF MS instrument in tandem with filter paper sampling and multivariate statistics can accurately identify common oil types, with significant improvement of sample collection and turnaround time.ConclusionsThe promising classification results, simple sample collection, and rapid data analysis illustrate the potential use of hydrophobic filter paper and DART-ToF MS as tools in managing large scale oil spill emergency situations.

Studying Effect of Saturation Degree on the Bearing Capacity and Failure Mechanism of Sandy Soils

In this research, an experimental method was employed on samples of sandy soils from the Tartous and Palmyra regions. The objective was to investigate the impact of saturation degree on the bearing capacity of partially saturated sandy soil and the associated failure mechanism. To achieve the aim of the research, a series of tests were conducted to determine the basic physical properties of the soils. Additionally, a series of laboratory loading tests were conducted for a footing model atop sandy soil under various saturation degrees. Matric suction was measured, and soil water characteristic curves were determined using the filter paper technique. The results were subjected to analysis and discussion, and the experimental work demonstrated that saturation degree had a clear effect on the bearing capacity. It was observed that the bearing capacity of partially saturated soil is higher than that of fully saturated soil. The values of the increase were found to range between 2.3 and 9.7 times the bearing capacity in the fully saturated state. An empirical relationship was proposed to simulate the bearing capacity of partially saturated sandy soil based on the experimental results. Furthermore, the results indicated that the saturation degree exerted a discernible influence on the failure mechanism. In particular, a failure mode associated with dense soils was discerned in medium-dense soils at specific degrees of saturation for the tested soils.

Root-induced changes in the hydraulic properties of a fine slope cover

Recently, the soil-vegetation-atmosphere (SVA) interaction is becoming a topic of intense scientific research within the geotechnical community, because it was recognized to potentially induce significant pore pressure variations in slopes, at both shallow and larger depths, being then responsible for weather-induced landsliding. The processes within such interaction are of different nature, and result in a chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical transient boundary condition at the ground level, causing exchanges of liquid, gas and energy within the soil cover layer (from ground level to 3-4 metres depths). Hence, both the soil cover material and its thermo-hydro-mechanical constitutive properties, as well as the vegetation properties, become of key relevance within such processes. In this study, with reference to a full scale in-situ test where deep-rooted crop spices were seeded and farmed, the hydraulic properties of rooted clayey soil were investigated in the laboratory as well as in-situ in terms of both saturated permeability and retention properties. As for the saturated permeability, both laboratory and in-situ tests were conducted, the latter being also back-analysed. The retention states of the material were investigated by means of the filter paper technique in the laboratory and were of use for the numerical back-analyses of the Guelph-induced wetting process in the soil cover. The measurements show that roots within the vegetated zone determine both an increase of the permeability and a reduction of the retention properties of the composite material if compared to the soil in bare conditions.

Is there an Association between the ABO Blood type and Bleeding or Clotting Times?

Introduction: Evaluating blood type, bleeding time (BT), and clotting time (CT) are essential before surgery. Blood type reveals personality. Multiple studies link ABO blood types to digestive (GI) disorders, urinary tract infections (UTIs), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes, thrombosis, and epistaxis. BT and CT differ among blood types. This study investigated the relationship between blood types and BT and CT. Aims and Objectives: To investigate the connection between BT and CT and Blood Groups in medical students and identify gender differences in these parameters.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional research was carried out between September 2021 and May 2022 on 250 healthy first-phase MBBS students (17–20 years old) of both sexes (batch 2020–2021 & 2021-22) at GMC Jammu’s haematology laboratory. The blood group was determined using a standard antiserum Agglutination test—CT using Wright’s Capillary tube technique and BT using Duke’s filter paper technique. Based on the methodology above, we classify regular BT and CT as 2 to 6 minutes and 3 to 8 minutes, respectively. BT and CT levels were examined for each blood type. The blood group distribution was reported as a percentage, the relationship between BT or CT and blood groups was analysed using Chi-square analysis, and the gender differences between these parameters were analysed using an unpaired t-test in SPSS 26.0. Results: In our investigation, the distribution of ABO blood groups was determined to be: 39.6% B > 34% O > 21.2% A > 5.2% AB. Chi-square analysis revealed a non-significant ABO blood group correlation with BT (p=0.938) and CT (p=0.652). Comparing blood types with BT and CT, the AB and B blood groups had higher mean BT and CT values among the study participants. The blood type influenced BT/CT. Screening and prevention must commence before the onset of bleeding disorders.
 Conclusion: The most prevalent blood group among medical students was B, whereas AB was the least prevalent. Blood types AB and B have greater levels of BT and CT. Neither BT nor CT were significantly associated with blood type. BT and CT values were found to be greater in females

An Investigation into the Water Retention Behaviour of an Unsaturated Natural Fissured Clay

The presence of intensely fissured soils is often found to relate to high geotechnical risks, such as landslide risk. This is especially the case of the Southern Apennines, Italy, where slopes formed of intensely fissured clays are frequently affected by landslides. The latter are generally triggered by rainfall infiltration, which takes place through the outcropping, unsaturated clayey soil cover. With the final aim of reducing landslide risk in areas covered by fissured clays, a detailed hydro-mechanical characterisation of these materials is required. While the behaviour of fully saturated fissured clays has been investigated in the last decade, only a few studies dealing with unsaturated, natural fissured clays are reported in the literature. The present paper aims to give a contribution toward filling this gap by extending an investigation campaign started a few years ago on the Paola Doce fissured clay outcropping on the Pisciolo slope (Southern Apennines, Italy). The physical properties of the material and some of its key micro- to meso-structural features are first analysed, the latter also based on Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs of an undisturbed sample taken at 1.4 m depth on the Pisciolo slope, which is mainly formed of Paola Doce clay. Subsequently, water retention data of the soil are presented, which were obtained using both high-capacity tensiometers and the filter paper technique. These data were collected not only on undisturbed samples but also while subjecting the same material to drying paths. The results herein reported aim to make a link between the water retention behaviour of the Paola Doce clay sampled at Pisciolo and its fissured structure.

Statistical comparison between the adjustment equations of the water retention curve in sanitary landfills coverage soil

Residual soils result from chemical weathering, so their characteristics depend on environmental factors, in addition to origin, topography, drainage and geological age. In the unsaturated condition, the behavior of soils is conditioned by suction, which refers to the state of the soil under reduced pressure. The aim of this study is to compare the water retention curve fitting equations in the study of tropical unsaturated soils through the filter paper technique and the analytical analysis of the data obtained in this test. By performing the analysis of the statistical evaluation parameters used in this study and the proximity of its values to the necessary boundary conditions defined for the equation to explain the soil suctioning behavior of the soil as it loses moisture naturally to the environment, it was verified that the Van Genuchten equation appeared to be the most suitable.

Assessment of the fungal isolates interactions using laboratory culture technique with brown lentil seed germination using Egyptian vermicompost suspension

This study focuses on the interaction among vermicompost fungi and vermicompost's ability to enhance seed germination by cultivating brown lentil seeds through using filter paper and pertri-dishes technique. Vermicompost also prepared using wastes materials and earthworms, then used for fungal isolation and lentil seed germination in the suspended form. The interaction among vermicompost fungi was observed during direct isolations using the serial dilution method and then using pure culture dual plate's plans. At the same time, brown lentil seed germination was occurred using vermicompost suspension and measuring seed germination percentage method. The results revealed that most isolated microorganisms were fungal isolates which used for study interaction among vermicompost fungi varied from neutral interaction to negative interaction; brown lentil seeds achieved a high germination percentage (80%) using vermicompost suspension compared to a positive and negative control. The overall results confirmed that the vermicomposting fungi play an essential role as biological control and growth-promoting factor.

Soil-water retention of highly expansive clay stabilized with a bio-polymer

The unpredictable expansiveness of clayey soils due to the change of water content can be responsible for significant pathologies on civil infrastructure. This behaviour depends mainly on the physical and chemical characteristics of the clayey soil and the stress-suction state of the soil. Extensive research has been carried out to control the swelling potential of clayey soils with traditional inorganic additives such as lime and cement. However, the use of these stabilizers presents adverse implications in terms of cost and environmental impact. Bio-products and waste by-products are an environmentally friendly alternative for geotechnical soil stabilization. In this article, we assess the effect of lignin on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of highly expansive clay. The research focuses on the behaviour upon wetting and the soil-water retention properties of clay and lignin-treated clay with different percentages. Suction measurements were made by using the filter paper technique. Particular emphasis on the mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis of the untreated and treated CR-Clay is done. Results of CR-Clay with lignin-based stabilizer show significant reduction of swelling upon wetting for the higher percentage of addition. Increase of the aggregation is observed with the growth of lignin percentage. An analysis of the soil-water retention properties with the van-Genutchen model is presented.

Effect of microstructure on water retention behavior of lateritic clay over a wide suction range

To investigate the effects of soil structrue and dry density on water retention behavior of lateritic clay over a wide suction range, the axial translation technique (ATT), filter paper technique (FPT) and vapour equilibrium technique (VET) were combined to obtain soil-water retention curves (SWRCs) of specimens with different structures and dry densities. Measured SWRCs indicate that the air-entry value (AEV) and descent gradient in terms of saturation degree versus suction relationship are smallest for undisturbed specimens, and are largest for pre-consolidated specimens. The SWRCs obtained from compacted specimens with different dry densities illustrate that the AEV and descent gradient of saturation degree versus suction relationship increase with increasing the dry density. However, the effects of soil structure and dry density on the water retention behavior can be negligible at high suctions, which are verified by the curves of gravimetric water content (w) verusus suction (s) coincided after a limiting suction for specimens with different structures and dry densities. In addition, the water retention behavior can be well illustrated by pore size distributions (PSDs), obtained from mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The AEVs depend on the diameters that corresponding to dramatically increase in differential intruded void ratio. And the descent gradients in the saturation degree versus suction relationship depend on their distinct PSD ranges and incremental peaks in the dominant pore sizes. Furthermore, the consistences of the AEVs and limiting suctions, deduced from the PSDs and SWRCs, demonstrate that the water retention behavior is highly dependent on the PSDs, and the SWRC features can be captured well by the PSDs.

Soil water characteristic curve parameters of collapsible sand in Lambayeque, Peru

Several structures are built on collapsible soils in the mining and petroleum industries and on civil sites. In order to analyze the stability of such structures, one must properly study the unsaturated soil behavior. Collapsible soils are frequent sand soil that are susceptible to a significant and sudden reduction in volume upon wetting. An important factor is matric suction, which es related to moisture content through the soil water Characteristic Curve (SWCC), the SWCC is obtained through a filter paper technique and provides a valuable relationship between suction and water content unique to soils. This measures the influence of parameters on the behavior of the structure of collapsible soil. Interactions between structure and soil must be properly evaluated as the bearing capacities of shallow and deep foundations are linked to properties of soil suction, moisture, and grade saturation. This work has experimentally measured the parameters of suction and moisture on the behavior of collapsible sands, where an oil storage tank will be built in the city of Lambayeque in Peru. Undisturbed soil specimens obtained from geotechnical exploration campaigns were used. The filter paper method used in this study was that proposed by models of Brooks-Corey and Van Genuchten. Results show consistent values near reported values from literature.

Contact and repellent effects of essential oils of Chromolaena odorata (L.) and Uvaria chamae (P. Beauv) against Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman)

Macrotermes bellicosus, though a beneficial termite species causes serious damage to wood and wood products, fabrics and many agricultural crops and ornamental trees. This study was conducted to assess the potentials of essential oils of the leaves of Chromolaena odorata and roots of Uvaria chamae in the control of M. bellicosus. The repellency, knockdown and insecticidal effects of the oils to M. bellicosus were tested using the filter paper and cotton ball impregnation technique. Each test oil (0.05, 0.075 and 0.10 ml) was separately used in the repellency assay, for an exposure period of 30 and 60 minutes. For the knockdown and toxicity test, termites were exposed to 0.05, 0.075, 0.10, 0.125 and 0.15 ml of each oil for an exposure period of 60 minutes and 6 hours, respectively. Each test and control (untreated) group had three replicates and in each experiment twenty active workers of M. bellicosus were exposed. Repellency results were somewhat irregular and oil volume and exposure, time independent. Knockdown effect of 56.67 and 86.67 % were observed for C. odorata and U. chamae oils (0.15ml), respectively at the 60th minute. Contact toxicity test with 0.15 ml of the oils resulted in 100 % and 86.67 % mortalities for U. chamae and C. odorata, respectively. No knockdown or mortalities were observed in the controls. The difference between the repellency of both oils at 30 and 60 minutes was not significant (p>0.05; p= 0.842 and 0.212 respectively), whereas for knockdown and insecticidal effects of both oils the difference was significant Q3(p<0.05; p= 0.000 and 0.001 respectively).. Essential oils of C. odorata and U. chamae are potential agents for the control of M. bellicosus.

A ssessment of Various Methods to Measure the Soil Suction

The foundation of the lightweight structures is commonly in unsaturated state conditions because located above the ground-water table. The matric suction governs the hydro-mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils. Soil suction estimation is challenging both in the field and lab. The indirect and direct techniques are utilized to measure the soil suction. Several types of equipment utilized to measure the soil suction have been developed with innovative technology. However, there are constraints on reliability, suction range estimation, application, etc. The primary objective of this study is to review, describe the working principle, report limits, and benefits of various techniques utilized to measure the soil suction and select the cost-effective. A comparative study on direct and indirect technique of soil suction estimation is conducted base on recent literature, with a focus on suction range, procedure, type of suction, processing time, and application (lab/field). The apparatus utilized to measure directly or indirectly the matric suction found in the literature displays the highest range in the order of 1500 kPa except for the filter paper. The thermocouple psychrometer and the transistor psychrometer can measure a maximal total suction of 8000 kPa. The chilled-mirror hygrometer can measure a maximal total suction of 30000 kPa in the laboratory. The filter paper technique and the chilled-mirror hygrometer are cost-effective techniques. However, the filter paper technique is likely the easiest and low-cost technique to measure the matric suction and total suction for the full range with extreme care in the test procedure both in the field and lab.

Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analyses for Fast and Non-Destructive Prediction of Corn Seed Germination

The application of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and multivariate analysis for determining the seed germination rate of corn genotypes was assessed. Seed samples about 90 gr belong to commercial and local corn varieties at various ages were scanned with FT-NIRS on the reflectance mode from 1000 to 2500 nm wavelength. Filter paper technique showed the seed germination rates varied between 18-100% depending on the genotypes after 7 days at ±25°C. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was applied to the reference values corresponding to the spectra. The best statistical results obtained from the pre-treatment combinations of Smooth Savitzky-Golay 9 Points (sg9), MSC full and normalization to unit length (nle). The regression coefficient of calibration (R2C) and prediction (R2P) of the created NIRS calibration via chemometric software NIRCal are realized 0.97 and 0.98 respectively for the property of corn germination rate. The standard error of both calibration (SEC) and prediction (SEP) were almost overlapping (4.17%, 4.61% respectively). The prediction accuracy of the final NIRS model was quite reasonable with the acceptable root mean standard error of prediction (RMSEP) as 8.88%. According to the residual predictive deviation (RPD) index (4.18), the accuracy of the NIRS model regarded as in the best category. Therefore, the NIRS model developed here is sufficient to predict the corn seed germination rate very fast and non-destructively without using any regents.

Frequência de Doenças Infecciosas em Gestantes de Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil

O período gestacional não é isento de infecções que comprometam a saúde materno-fetal. Existem riscos do desenvolvimento de doenças infecciosas de transmissão vertical, que pode levar diversos problemas ao desenvolvimento e vitalidade do futuro concepto. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a frequência de doenças infecciosas em gestantes submetidas à triagem do pré-natal através da técnica do papel filtro na cidade de Aparecida de Goiânia –GO. Trata-se de um estudo transversal de 1.328 gestantes submetidas à triagem pré-natal no período de 2011 a 2016 através da técnica de papel filtro. Após a confirmação dos resultados positivos em papel filtro, a confirmação foi realizada e as frequências encontradas foram de 22,52% para sífilis, 14,23% para toxoplasmose, 7,45% para doenças de Chagas, 4,74% para hepatite pelo vírus B (HBsAg), 3,77% para o vírus HIV, 1,73% para hepatite pelo vírus C (anti-HCV), 1,05% para vírus HTLV, 0,98% para citomegalovírus e 0,15% para rubéola. A importância da triagem para doenças infecciosas de transmissão vertical, é notória no presente estudo, principalmente pela frequência do número de casos de sífilis, toxoplasmose, doença de Chagas e hepatite pelo vírus B. Através do diagnóstico precoce é possível evitar a transmissão vertical e/ou diminuir os comprometimentos fetais. A metodologia de triagem através do papel filtro para diagnóstico de várias infecções de importância na saúde materno-fetal, ressalta a sua necessidade e importância no período pré-natal.

Measuring pile shaft and tip capacities of a single pile embedded in saturated and unsaturated expansive clayey soil

This research presents a series of compression load tests conducted on a single pile embedded in saturated and unsaturated expansive clayey soil. Soil water characteristics curve (SWCC) and initial soil suction (total and matric) are measured using the filter paper technique to study the influence of soil suction on the pile and tip capacities. Soil pressure gauge is used and embedded in the soil under the pile at a distance of 2D. The results showed that the ultimate pile capacity is increased when the initial degree of saturation decreases. In addition, the tip capacity is increased when the degree of saturation decreases. Then, the sharing ratios of the ultimate tip and shaft capacities to the ultimate pile capacity are calculated. The results have shown that the sharing ratio of the ultimate tip capacity to the ultimate pile capacity of a single pile is increased with the decrease in the degree of saturation while the ratio of the shaft capacity to the ultimate pile capacity is decreased.

Load sharing and behavior of single pile embedded in unsaturated swelling soil

This study presents a series of model experiments conducted on single pile embedded in saturated and unsaturated expansive soil. A soil composed of 70% bentonite and 30% sand which represents a very high expansive soil is employed in this study. Soil suction (total and matric) was measured using the filter paper technique and calibrated electrical resistance gauges to study the behavior of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) and initial suction and their influence on the results. The results showed that the ultimate skin resistance is increased about 49% when the initial degree of saturation decreases from 90 to 70%. However, the adhesion factor (α, used in calculating the skin friction) increases as the unconsolidated undrained cohesion decreases and as the initial matric suction decreases. The adhesion factor reached a value of 1.3 when the undrained cohesion is 36 kPa, initial degree of saturation of 100% and initial matric suction of 10 kPa. The sharing ratio of the ultimate shaft capacity to the ultimate pile capacity of a single pile changes from 91 to 81% when the degree of saturation decreases from 100 to 70%.

Effect of pore water chemistry on the behaviour of a kaolin–bentonite mixture during drying and wetting cycles

The behaviour of a kaolin–bentonite mixture with different pore water chemistry, i.e. distilled water, NaCl and CaCl2 solutions, was investigated through a number of cyclic drying and wetting tests. Experimental tests were carried out on compacted samples of the expansive soil (i.e. mixture of 80% kaolin and 20% bentonite) in a modified oedometer with different pore water chemistry under a surcharge pressure of 10 kPa. The vertical and radial deformations of the samples were determined during different stages of drying and wetting. In addition, the soil–water characteristic curve was established by the filter paper technique for samples with different pore water chemistry. The results indicate that the shrinking–swelling deformation was nearly the same when the equilibrium condition was attained. Furthermore, the paths of drying and wetting converged to an S-shaped curve at equilibrium condition. This curve consists of one linear and two curvilinear portions, and the majority of the deformation occurred in the linear section. The hysteresis phenomenon was also studied through the void ratio and suction, and the results indicated that the hysteresis is gradually diminished with increasing the number of drying and wetting cycles.

Investigation of Hydraulic Conductivity and Matric Suction in Sand–Bentonite–Coal Ash Mixes

Compacted bentonite–sand/coal ash mixtures have been used nowadays as backfilling materials for nuclear waste disposal systems and as a landfill liner as they possess low permeability and good adsorption capacity, which proves to be beneficial in order to encapsulate waste from the surrounding environment. This paper deals with the evaluation of matric suction using pressure plate apparatus and filter paper technique on compacted sand–bentonite–coal ash mixtures. While the bentonite content was varied from 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40% in case of sand–bentonite mixes 5, 10, 15, 20% for coal ash–bentonite mixes, coal ash percentage was varied from 10, 20, 30, 50% for sand–bentonite–coal ash mixes at fixed bentonite contents of 10, 15 and 20%. Data was fitted using two models—Van Genuchten, Fredlund and Xing to obtain the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and to estimate the SWCC variables for different soil mixes. The air entry value (AEV) and residual suction (Ψr) values decreased as the effective grain size (D 10) of soil increased. A distinction in the values of the AEV and Ψr was observed using the Van Genuchten, Fredlund and Xing Models. The effect of varying bentonite content for sand–bentonite, coal ash–bentonite mixes and varying coal ash content in case of sand–bentonite–coal ash mixes was ascertained upon the SWCC modelling parameters viz. a, n, m. It was concluded that the parameter ‘a’ is directly related to the air entry value while ‘n’ and ‘m’ follow a reverse relationship as the ‘m’ parameter decreases with an increase in the bentonite content. It was concluded from the study that suction pressure is an important factor related to the performance evaluation of the bentonite enriched soils to serve as a barrier material as the soil tends to be in the unsaturated condition throughout the year. As per the chosen materials in this study, i.e. bentonite and coal ash, it can be witnessed that the addition of high percentages of bentonite and coal ash to the soil lead to higher suction pressures, which may prove to be detrimental to the stability of the landfills. Also, keeping in mind the statutory requirement of low hydraulic conductivity for use as a liner material, hydraulic conductivity of soil mixes was determined in both saturated and unsaturated state.

Experimental Study on Use of Internal and External Drains in Triaxial Tests

AbstractTriaxial tests require a relatively long period of time for consolidation, especially on fine-grained soil. To accelerate the consolidation process, external filter paper strips have often been used in practice. This paper examines and evaluates use of an internal yarn drain technique, compared to the traditional filter paper technique in triaxial testing. The experiments employed seven drainage configurations, either with internal drains, with external filter strips, or with no drains or filter strips at all. The effectiveness was first evaluated in both isotropic and anisotropic consolidation stages of the triaxial tests. Undrained compression loading was then performed to examine the effects of the internal and external drains on shear behavior. The internal drains showed excellent potential for shortening the consolidation time, as did external filter paper. However, the relative effectiveness depends on the type of the soil among the three clays tested in this paper. The effect of the potential disturbance from the insertion of the internal drains may be less than the disturbance due to different sampling methods.

Assessment and statistical evaluation of suction characteristics obtained via filter paper technique on zeolite–bentonite mixtures

Filter paper technique (FPT) is known to measure both matric and total suctions in a wide measurement range. However, it has many individual errors due to the uncertainty of calibration curve and sensitivity of the measurements to the temperature and relative humidity variations. Besides, the ASTM procedure for FPT does not specify any sample preparation and repetition for experiments. In this regard, this study covers the reliability of suction measurements using the FPT and its application on zeolite–bentonite mixtures (ZBMs), which were proposed for use of liner material in the literature. A calibration curve for Whatman No. 42 filter paper was constructed and compared to the other calibration curves given in the literature. Due to large scatter of calibration curves, total suction measurement is found to be inconvenient for suction values under 1000 kPa. An improvement in sample preparation and necessary minimum numbers of tests are also suggested. When preparing the test specimen, the compacted sample is recommended not to be cut but to be compacted separately as upper and lower parts where the contact filter paper to be placed in between in order to obtain good contact area to measure the matric suction accurately. The necessary minimum numbers of tests for ± 10% accuracy band in a confidence level of 95% for ASTM procedure on ZBMs are suggested. Repetitions were found to vary depending on the suction type and bentonite content. Repetitions of six and eight times are recommended for 10% ZBMs for matric and total suction measurements, respectively. Similarly, for 20% ZBMs the repetitions of six and ten times are found for matric and total suction measurements, respectively. In addition, the influence of index properties and compaction states on suction was also investigated. Matric suction values decrease from dry of optimum water content to the wet of optimum water content and approach to zero for higher water contents. The suction values are found to increase with decreasing water contents where the dry density and the void ratio were constant. On the other hand, for a given water content, matric suction values are found to be increasing with increasing dry densities, while the void ratio was decreasing being more evident at relatively higher saturation degrees.