Electrochemical treatment of highly shrinking soils

Abstract Fourteen soil samples from Menlo Park, California (mainly rock flour) and Conejo Valley, near Ventura, California (illitic soil) were treated electrochemically in the laboratory. The equipment and procedure used in the laboratory are described. Electrolyte solutions of calcium chloride, aluminum sulfate, aluminum acetate and aluminum silicate were used in the experiments. X-ray diffractograms were prepared of samples from Menlo Park, before and after treatment, in order to detect any change in soil mineralogy due to electrochemical treatment. The results showed that shrinkage of soils rich in clay minerals may be reduced considerably upon treatment; but, for rock flour (quartz, feldspar, etc. of clay size) the improvement may be insignificant.