Effect of magnesium chloride solution on the physico-chemical characteristics of tropical peat

Abstract The stabilization of soils with additives is a chemical method that can be used to improve soils with weak engineering properties. Although the effects of non-traditional additives on the geotechnical properties of tropical soils have been subject of investigation in recent years, the effects of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) on the macro- and micro-structural characteristics of peat soil have not been fully studied. This study investigates the effect of MgCl2 on the physico-chemical characteristics of tropical peat. Unconfined compression strength tests were performed as an index of soil improvement in treated samples. In addition, the micro-structural characteristics of untreated and treated peat were investigated using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques such as X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area analysis. From an engineering point of view, the results indicated that the strength of MgCl2-stabilized peat improved significantly. The degree of improvement was approximately six times stronger than untreated peat, after a 7-day curing period. Additionally, the micro-structural study revealed that the stabilization process led to a few changes in the mineralogical, morphological, and molecular characteristics of the selected peat. The pores of the peat were filled by newly formed crystalline compounds known as magnesium aluminate hydrate (M–A–H).

[1]  J. A. Gadsden.  Infrared Spectra of Minerals and Related Inorganic Compounds , 1975 .

[2]  T. C. Huang,et al.  JCPDS-international centre for diffraction data low-angle powder diffraction study of silver behenate , 1994 .

[4]  Aminaton Marto,et al.  Physicochemical behavior of tropical laterite soil stabilized with non-traditional additive , 2016 .

[5]  Leong Sing Wong,et al.  Unconfined compressive strength characteristics of stabilized peat , 2011 .

[6]  Roslan Hashim,et al.  Strength and permeability of stabilized peat soil , 2008 .

[7]  B. Huat,et al.  Influence of Peat Characteristics on Cementation and Pozzolanic Reactions in the Dry Mixing Method , 2011 .

[8]  A. Eisazadeh,et al.  Stabilization of tropical kaolin soil with phosphoric acid and lime , 2012, Natural Hazards.

[9]  Frederic Masse,et al.  Ground Improvement Technologies for A Sustainable World , 2008 .

[10]  Aminaton Marto,et al.  Strength behavior and microstructural characteristics of tropical laterite soil treated with sodium silicate-based liquid stabilizer , 2013, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[11]  Marcello Romagnoli,et al.  Inorganic polymers from laterite using activation with phosphoric acid and alkaline sodium silicate solution: Mechanical and microstructural properties , 2015 .

[12]  A. Dehghanbanadaki,et al.  Influence of natural fillers on shear strength of cement treated peat , 2013 .

[13]  S. Kazemian,et al.  Effect of aggressive pH media on peat treated by cement and sodium silicate grout , 2011 .

[14]  Aminaton Marto,et al.  Analysis of strength development in non-traditional liquid additive-stabilized laterite soil from macro- and micro-structural considerations , 2015, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[15]  Amin Eisazadeh,et al.  Characterization of phosphoric acid- and lime-stabilized tropical lateritic clay , 2011 .

[16]  A. Haque,et al.  Improvement of problematic soils by lime slurry pressure injection: case study , 2010 .

[17]  S. Shen,et al.  Factors influencing strength development in clay–fly ash geopolymer , 2013 .

[18]  Ramli Nazir,et al.  Peaty Soil Improvement by Using Cationic Reagent Grout and Electrokintic Method , 2014, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering.

[19]  Roslan Hashim,et al.  Stabilization of peat soil by soil-column technique and settlement of the group columns , 2010 .

[20]  S. Hebib,et al.  Some experiences on the stabilization of Irish peats , 2003 .

[21]  Azizollah Dabaghi,et al.  A Comparison of the Effects of Implicit and Explicit Corrective Feedback on Learners` Performance in Tailor-Made Tests , 2008 .

[22]  BobetAntonio,et al.  One-dimensional consolidation behavior of cement-treated organic soil , 2011 .

[23]  W. Jacobi,et al.  Condition of Soils and Vegetation Along Roads Treated with Magnesium Chloride for Dust Suppression , 2009 .

[24]  Aminaton Marto,et al.  Stabilization of laterite soil using GKS soil stabilizer , 2013 .

[25]  B. P. Saha,et al.  A new sintering aid for magnesium aluminate spinel , 2001 .

[26]  Youcai Zhao,et al.  Effect of Magnesium Oxychloride Cement on Stabilization/Solidification of Sewage Sludge , 2009, 2009 3rd International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering.

[27]  Aminaton Marto,et al.  Performance analysis of reinforced stone columns using finite element method , 2013 .

[28]  F. Bell,et al.  LIME STABILIZATION OF CLAY MINERALS AND SOILS , 1996 .

[29]  I. Yilmaz,et al.  Gypsum: An additive for stabilization of swelling clay soils , 2009 .

[30]  B. Huat,et al.  Shear Strength Parameters of Improved Peat by Chemical Stabilizer , 2013, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering.

[31]  Alan F. Rauch,et al.  Mechanisms of Soil Stabilization with Liquid Ionic Stabilizer , 2001 .

[32]  Wilfrid A. Nixon,et al.  A GUIDE FOR SELECTING ANTI-ICING CHEMICALS , 2001 .

[33]  James K. Mitchell,et al.  Fundamentals of soil behavior , 1976 .

[34]  John F Rushing,et al.  Stabilization Mechanisms of Nontraditional Additives , 2007 .

[35]  Dallas N. Little,et al.  Review of Stabilization of Clays and Expansive Soils in Pavements and Lightly Loaded Structures—History, Practice, and Future , 2002 .

[36]  P. K. Kolay,et al.  Stabilization of Tropical Peat Soil from Sarawak with Different Stabilizing Agents , 2011 .

[37]  Edward J Fleege,et al.  MANUAL OF PRACTICE FOR AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-ICING PROGRAM: A GUIDE FOR HIGHWAY WINTER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL , 1996 .

[38]  Nima Latifi,et al.  Effect of Non-Traditional Additives on Engineering and Microstructural Characteristics of Laterite Soil , 2014 .

[39]  S. Vera,et al.  Evaluación de la efectividad del cloruro de magnesio hexahidratado (bischofita) como estabilizador químico de capas de rodadura granulares , 2002 .

[40]  Hossein Moayedi,et al.  Optimizing Stabilizers Enhanced Electrokinetic Environment to Improve Physicochemical Properties of , 2011 .

[41]  S. Mukherjee,et al.  Function of magnesium aluminate hydrate and magnesium nitrate as MgO addition in crystal structure and grain size control of α-Al2O3 during sintering , 2010 .

[42]  H. Tosun,et al.  The effect of magnesium chloride solution on the engineering properties of clay soil with expansive and dispersive characteristics , 2014 .

[43]  Salvador Trinxet,et al.  Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 , 2015 .

[44]  Ramli Nazir,et al.  Measurement of the electrokinetic properties of peats treated with chemical solutions , 2014 .

[45]  S. Mukherjee,et al.  Effect of agglomeration during coprecipitation: Delayed spinellization of magnesium aluminate hydrate , 2010 .