Geo-engineering properties of expansive soil treated with xanthan gum biopolymer

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the effectiveness of xanthan gum (XG) biopolymer in stabilising the expansive soil. The XG biopolymer is mixed with expansive soil in different proportions such as 0%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 0.8% and 1.0% by weight of the dry soil mass. The plasticity, compaction, swelling, compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, strength and durability characteristics of the treated and un-treated expansive soil are examined. Results show that the plasticity index of the treated soil mass initially increases but beyond 0.5% biopolymer addition it decreases sharply. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of treated soil, found out from light and heavy compaction tests, do not follow any definite trend. It is also found that increasing XG content increases compressibility slightly but, it reduces swelling pressure, differential free swelling value and hydraulic conductivity remarkably. On the other hand, time-dependent compressive strength and resistance to mass loss increases with increasing XG content. Microscopic examination confirms the formation of gel-like linkage, which brings about the modifications in the treated expansive soil.

KEYWORDS:

• Expansive soil
• xanthan gum biopolymer
• soil modification
• engineering properties
• microstructure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.