Laboratory investigation for engineering properties of sodium alginate treated clay

The formation of biopolymer-soil matrices mainly depends on biopolymer type and concentration, soil type, pore fluid and phase transfer to influence its strengthening efficiency. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of sodium alginate (SA) treated kaolinite are investigated through compaction test, thread rolling teat, fall cone test and unconfined compression test with considering biopolymer concentration, curing time, initial water content, mixing method. The results show that the liquid limit slightly decreases from 69.9% to 68.3% at 0.2% SA and then gradually increases to 98.3% at 5% SA. At hydrated condition, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of SA treated clay at 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% concentrations is 2.57, 4.5, 7.1 and 5.48 times of untreated clay (15.7 kPa) at the same initial water content. In addition, the optimum biopolymer concentration, curing time, mixing method and initial water content can be regarded as 2%, 28 days, room temperature water-dry mixing (RD), 50%-55% to achieve the maximum unconfined compressive strength, which corresponds to the UCS increment of 593%, compared to the maximum UCS of untreated clay (780 kPa).