Studies on soil contamination due to used motor oil and its remediation

An experimental program was undertaken to evaluate the changes in behaviour of soils due to interaction with used motor oil (U.M.O) followed by their remediation. Different types of soils classified as clay with low plasticity (CL), clay with high plasticity (CH), and poorly graded sand (SP) were used for the study. Laboratory studies were conducted on virgin (uncontaminated) soil samples and soil samples simulated to varying degrees of contamination (i.e., 3%, 6%, and 9% by dry weight of soil) to compare the geotechnical properties before and after contamination. The engineering properties altered due to contamination. Surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)) enhanced washing was employed to decontaminate the soils. It was observed that the original geotechnical properties of soils could be almost restored (variation ranging from 0 to 12%) upon decontamination with SDS at an optimum dosage.