Improving the mechanical behaviour of clay contaminated with glycerol and anthracene using lime and Portland cement

ABSTRACT

The specimens of contaminated clay improved with Portland cement and lime were cured for seven days and were subjected to uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) testing. The results for anthracene-contaminated specimens improved with three percent Portland cement (by weight of clay) were approximately equivalent to those improved with 10% lime. The results for glycerol-contaminated specimens improved with nine percent Portland cement was approximately equivalent to that improved with 10% lime. According to the results, both Portland cement and lime were able to improve the clay soil contaminated with anthracene and glycerol, but Portland cement had a greater effect than lime on the anthracene-contaminated specimens because of the non-polar behaviour of anthracene and the grain-like (flocculated) behaviour of the contaminated soil. These factors were the result of a decrease in the diffuse double layer thickness by anthracene, which has a lower dielectric constant relative to water. The lime had a greater effect than cement on the specimens contaminated with glycerol because of the polar behaviour of glycerol, the increase in the required moisture content for hydration, and because the dielectric constant of glycerol is close to that of water. These results were evaluated and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.

KEYWORDS:

• Kaolinite
• anthracene
• glycerol
• UCS
• polarity
• scanning electron microscopy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).