Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1988
Degree Name
Master of Science in Civil Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Paul C. Chan
Second Advisor
Su Ling Cheng
Third Advisor
John R. Schuring
Abstract
An experimental investigation on the sorption characteristics of clay soils with liquid organics (phenol, chlorophenol, nitrophenol and chlorobenzene) and their effects upon geotechnical properties was undertaken. The investigation consisted of two different phases, namely, (1) the sorption/ desorption study, including kinetic rate, equilibrium time, isotherm modeling, and (2) geotechnical properties due to clay/ liquid organic interactions. The results of kinetic rate study indicate that the equilibration time for the contaminants way dependent upon the hydrophobic or the hydrophelic nature of the chemical. For equilibrium adsorption models, the linear isotherm was found to be the best fit in predicting sorption capacities of bentonite. The desorption process was found to be partially reversible. The rate of desorption was higher for highly soluble compounds and vice versa.
A study on geotechnical properties including the compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, and Atterberg limits influenced by liquid organics was also carried out. Both coefficients of consolidation and secondary compression were found to be higher for contaminated samples than those mixed with water; but lower in compressibility index. Hydraulic conductivity (calculated from the consolidation test) reveals that, a decrease in permeability in the contaminated samples.The liquid and shrinkage limits were found to be higher with the decrease of dielectric constant of contaminant; but lower in plastic limit.
In conclusion, the geotechnical properties of soils were found to be influenced by the contaminants. The major parameters which cause these variations were the diffuse double layer interactions as well as the sorption characteristics.
Recommended Citation
Rodrigo, Arambawattage Mahendra, "Sorption characteristics and their effects on geotechnical properties of clay soils" (1988). Theses. 3194.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3194
