Geo-Congress 2020
Effect of Acid and Alkali Contamination on Swelling Behavior of Kaolin Clay
Publication: Geo-Congress 2020: Geo-Systems, Sustainability, Geoenvironmental Engineering, and Unsaturated Soil Mechanics (GSP 319)
ABSTRACT
This paper aims at studying the influence of acid and alkali solutions on the swell behavior of a non-expansive soil. Sulphuric acid (acidic medium); sodium hydroxide (alkaline medium) of 1 N and 4 N concentrations were used as pore fluids to understand the influence of acid and alkali pore fluids on the swell behavior of kaolin clay relying on one-dimensional free swell tests. Results showed that kaolin clay exhibits maximum equilibrium swelling of about 41% in acidic medium and 22% when interacted with alkaline medium. It is further observed that the magnitude of induced swell in clays is dependent on dispersion of clay particles leading to the formation of new minerals under both acidic and alkaline media. In order to better understand the mechanism responsible, the contaminated soil was investigated for changes in mineralogy and microstructure relying on x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the end of interaction. The formation of zeolite minerals viz. sodalite in alkaline media and aluminum sulphate hydrate hydroxide in acidic media were noted from XRD results. Furthermore, SEM studies revealed rosette-type morphological structure(s) in case of 4N NaOH and needle-like structures in H2SO4.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Al-Omari, R. R., Mohammed, W. K., Nashaat, I. H., and Kaseer, O. M. (2007). “Effect of Sulphuric and Phophoric Acids on the Behavior of a Limestone Foundation.” Indian Geotechnical Journal, 37, 263-282.
Assa'ad, A. (1998). “Differential upheaval of phosphoric acid storage tanks in Aqaba, Jordan.” Journal of Performance of constructed facilities, 12(2), 71-76.
ASTM D4546-14e1 (2014). Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Collapse of Soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA.
Chavali, R.V.P. and Reddy, P.H.P. (2018). “Swelling and compressibility characteristics of bentonite and kaolin clay subjected to inorganic acid contamination.” International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 12(5), 500-506.
Chavali, R.V.P., Vindula, S.K., Reddy, P.H.P., Babu, A. and Pillai, R.J. (2017). “Swelling behavior of kaolinitic clays contaminated with alkali solutions: a micro-level study.” Applied Clay Science, 135, 575-582.
Imai, G., Komatsu, Y., and Fukue, M. (2006). “Consolidation yield stress of Osaka-Bay Pleistocene clay with reference to calcium carbonate contents.” Journal ASTM International, 3, 1–9.
Mal'tsev, A. V. (1998). “Theoretical and experimental investigations of the effect or aggressive wetting on various types of bed soils.” Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 35(3), 83-86.
Puppala, A. J., Napat, I., Rajan, K. V. (2005). “Experimental studies on ettringite- induced heaving in soils.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. 131 (3), pp. 325-337.
Reddy, P.H.P., Chavali, R.V.P., and Pillai, R.J. (2017). “Swelling of natural soil subjected to acidic and alkaline contamination.” Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 61(3), 611-620.
Shekhtman, L. M., Baranov, V. T., and Nesterenko, G. F. (1995). “Building deformations caused by the leakage of chemical reagents.” Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 32(1), 32-36.
Sivapullaiah, P. V., Prasad, B. G., and Allam, M. M. (2009). “Effect of sulfuric acid on swelling behavior of an expansive soil.” Soil & Sediment Contamination, 18(2), 121-135.
Sokolovich, V. E. (1995). “Chemical heaving of soils.” Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 32(4), 135-137.
Sokolovich, V. E., and Troitskii, G. M. (1976). “Heaving of a sand base as a consequence of the development of secondary crystal hydrate formations.” Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 13(6), 376-378.
Sridharan, A., Nagaraj, T. S., and Sivapullaiah, P. V. (1981). “Heaving of soil due to acid contamination.” In Proceedings of The 10th International Conference on Soil Mechanics Foundation Engineering, 2, 383-386.
Vronskii, A. V., Boldyrev, G. G., and Terent'ev, B. I. (1978). “Deformations of buildings and structures of the Balakovo chemical plant being constructed on swelling soils.” Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 15(5), 290-293.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Geo-Congress 2020: Geo-Systems, Sustainability, Geoenvironmental Engineering, and Unsaturated Soil Mechanics (GSP 319)
Pages: 217 - 223
Editors: James P. Hambleton, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Roman Makhnenko, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Aaron S. Budge, Ph.D., Minnesota State University, Mankato
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8282-7
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 21, 2020
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.