Guar Gum, Gellan Gum Biopolymer Soil Stabilization

Department of civil engineering, Mangalam College of Engineering, Kottayam-686631, Kerala, India

Abstract

In civil engineering and construction, soil stabilization is an important aspect. There are diverse conventional techniques to improve soilproperties and for soil stabilization. This study explores the viability of twotypes of biopolymers, Guar gum and Gellan gum, as sustainable and ecofriendly additives for clayey soil stabilization. Compaction, unconfined compression test, permeability, consistency limit, consolidation tests were performed in the study. The sample for the test has been prepared that biopolymer has been mixed with soil in different proportions. These biopolymers forms hydrogels when they get activated, and it enhances the bonding between soil particles thereby increasing the strength. Treating soilwith biopolymer increases dry unit weight and decreases optimum moisturecontent (OMC).Addition of gum solution reduces friction between soil particles, leading to marginal increase in dry unit weight. Higher the biopolymer content lower is the OMC content and soil become more stiff. The compressive strength and load bearing capacity isfound increasing soilbiopolymerspecimen upon different days of curing. For every tested percentage of treatment the percentage reduction factor rises withbiopolymer concentration due to drop in void ratio that results in a drop in the soil's permeability. Guar Gum and Gellan Gum are used as stabilizers in soil treatment, increasing liquid and plastic limits, shrinkage limit, and viscosity. They activate hydrogels, strengthen bonding activity, and increaseshrinkage limit. The addition of Guar Gum and Gellan Gum improves soil biopolymer mix viscosity and adhesion. The findings of this study positivelyimply that adding this material to weak soil would improve the soil’s characteristics.