The influence of environmental pollution on cyclic swell and shrink behavior of Na-bentonite clay

Abstract

This paper investigates the environmental pollution effects such as saline water, kerosene and sanitary leachate of cyclic wetting and drying on swell and shrink behaviour of compacted Na-bentonite clay. While the distilled water added Na-bentonite had the highest free swelling, saline water added Na-bentonite had the lowest free swelling among them. The experimental results showed that after each cycle, swelling and shrinking behaviour of compacted Na-bentonite clay were decreased. Honeycombe structure and random and more open flocculated structure dominated by large interdomain macrovoids and cavities were evident from salt water added Na-bentonite. Some domains and orientations were observed from distilled water added Na-bentonite micrographs. Aggregated and agglomerated structure were evident from kerosene added Na-bentonite micrographs.