Effects of Acid and Base Contamination on Geotechnical Properties of Clay

S. Prakash, Dr. P. D. Arumairaj

Abstract: Industrial advancements have led to discharge of variety of pollutants in the form of effluent into the soil. Such effluents consist of acid and base wastes. The pollutants and wastes tend to contaminate soil. The geotechnical properties of polluted soil gets altered. The study is carried out to determine the effects of acid and base contamination on the geotechnical properties of clay. Clay of high compressibility (CH) is taken up for study in this work. The effects of contamination in soil are studied by adding the contaminants in the laboratory. The properties such as particle size analysis, plasticity, differential free swell, compaction, unconfined compressive strength are studied. The acid contaminants used are hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid. The base contaminants used are sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. Clay sample is collected from Mullai nagar, Coimbatore. The geotechnical properties are evaluated. The clay samples are then contaminated by adding acids and bases in varying percentages such as 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 % and 30 %. The geotechnical properties of acid contaminated and base contaminated clay are studied.

Keywords: compressibility, contaminants, compaction, unconfined compressive strength