Polymer-enhanced soil mixtures for potential use as covers or liners in landfill systems

PIQUÉ, TERESA M; MANZANAL, DIEGO; CODEVILLA, MAURO; ORLANDI, SANDRA

Environmental Geotechnics

ICE Publishing

Lugar: London; Año: 2019 vol. 8 p. 467 - 479

The use of polymers can change the specific properties of natural soils. This study analyses the interaction between a natural fine sand, a clayey soil and anionic polyacrylamide (APAM). The laboratory results show that APAM, a superabsorbent polymer, increases the plasticity and the capacity of water absorption of the clay-APAM and sand-clay-APAM compacted composites. Free swelling and swelling pressure also increase with the addition of APAM. The sand-clay-APAM composite shows a higher unconfined compressive strength and a slight reduction in hydraulic conductivity. Microstructural analysis confirms the aggregation capacity of APAM and a reduction in the accumulated pore volume, which minimise liquid infiltration and soil erosion. Results demonstrate that the clay-APAM and sand-clay-APAM composites can be effective as liners and covers, respectively, in a landfill system.