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Effects of surfactants and electrolyte solutions on the properties of soil

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Biosurfactants are frequently used in petroleum hydrocarbon and dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) remediation. The applicability of biosurfactant use in clayey soils requires an understanding and characterization of their interaction. Comprehensive effects of surfactants and electrolyte solutions on kaolinite clay soil were investigated for index properties, compaction, strength characteristics, hydraulic conductivities, and adsorption characteristics. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and NaPO3 decreased the liquid limit and plasticity index of the test soil. Maximum dry unit weights were increased and optimum moisture contents were decreased as SDS and biosurfactant were added for the compaction tests for mixtures of 30% kaolinite and 70% sand. The addition of non-ionic surfactant, biosurfactant, and CaCl2 increased the initial elastic modulus and undrained shear strength of the kaolinite–sand mixture soils. Hydraulic conductivities were measured by fixed-wall double-ring permeameters. Results showed that the hydraulic conductivity was not significantly affected, but slightly decreased from 1×10−7 cm/s (water) to 0.3×10−7 cm/s for Triton X-100 and SDS. The adsorption characteristics of the chemicals onto kaolinite were also investigated by developing isotherm curves. SDS adsorbed onto soil particles with the strongest bonding strength of the fluids tested. Correlations among parameters were developed for surfactants, electrolyte solutions, and clayey soils.

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Acknowledgements

This subject is supported by the Ministry of Environment, Korea as "The Eco-technopia 21 project" (grant No. 041-051-032).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Urban & Geosystem Engineering, Seoul National University, Shinlim-dong, Gwanak-gu, 151-742, Seoul, South Korea

    Junboum Park

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4003, USA

    Cumaraswamy Vipulanandan

  3. Weeco International Corp., 4929 Blalock Rd, Houston, TX, 77094, USA

    Jee Woong Kim

  4. Research Institute of Energy and Resources, Seoul National University, Shinlim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea

    Myoung Hak Oh

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  1. Junboum Park
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  2. Cumaraswamy Vipulanandan
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  3. Jee Woong Kim
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  4. Myoung Hak Oh
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Correspondence to Junboum Park.

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Park, J., Vipulanandan, C., Kim, J.W. et al. Effects of surfactants and electrolyte solutions on the properties of soil. Environ Geol 49, 977–989 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0136-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0136-6

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