Retrieving clay minerals from stabilised soil compacts: Fid-Bau Portal

Retrieving clay minerals from stabilised soil compacts

Venkatarama Reddy, B.V. / Latha, M.S.

Abstract Stabilised soil products such as stabilised soil blocks, rammed earth and stabilised adobe are being used for building construction since the last 6–7 decades. Major advantages of stabilised soil products include low embodied carbon, use of local materials, decentralized production, and easy to adjust the strength, texture, size and shape. Portland cement and lime represent the most commonly used stabilisers for stabilised soil products. The mechanism of strength development in cement and lime stabilised soils is distinctly different. The paper presents results of scientific investigations pertaining to the status of clay minerals in the 28day cured cement and lime stabilised soil compacts. XRD, SEM imaging, grain size distribution and Atterberg's limits of the ground stabilised soil products and the natural soil were determined. Results reveal that clay minerals can be retrieved from cement stabilised soil products, whereas in lime stabilised soil products clay minerals get consumed in the lime–clay reactions and negligible percentage of clay minerals are left in the stabilised soil compacts. The results of the present investigation clearly demonstrate that cement stabilisation is superior to lime stabilisation in retrieving the clay minerals from the stabilised soil compacts.

Highlights • It is possible to retrieve clay minerals from the cement stabilised soil products. • In lime stabilised soil products both lime and clay get consumed. • Not enough lime is left for re-carbonation in lime stabilised soil products. • Cement stabilised soil products give better scope for retrieval of clay minerals.