Abstract
Biopolymers (natural polymers) are exuded by micro- and macro-organisms (bacteria, plants, etc.) and have been shown to affect the geotechnical engineering behavior and properties of different soil types for low dosage levels. The long-chain structure of biopolymers and certain constituting chemicals (e.g., hydroxyl, ester, or amines) supply adhesive forces that help coating and binding together the soil particles. This chapter presents a review of the state of the art in biopolymer-based soil treatment (BBST), aimed at focusing more attention on the various potential uses of biopolymers, as alternatives to conventional (cement and lime) binders, for a variety of applications in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering sectors. Compared to conventional binders, the benefits of BBST include its low environmental impact, non-toxicity, and non-secondary pollution. This chapter also discusses various challenges and issues related to the field application of BBST and identifies various research needs.
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Abbreviations
- BBST:
-
Biopolymer-based soil treatment
- CG:
-
Carrageenan gum
- CH:
-
Chitosan
- CMC:
-
Carboxymethyl cellulose
- GG:
-
Guar gum
- LL:
-
Liquid limit
- PAM:
-
Polyacrylamide
- SA:
-
Sodium alginate
- SSA:
-
Specific surface area
- UCS:
-
Unconfined compressive strength
- XG:
-
Xanthan gum
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Sujatha, E.R., O’Kelly, B.C. (2023). Biopolymer Based Soil Treatment for Geotechnical Engineering Applications. In: Thomas, S., AR, A., Jose Chirayil, C., Thomas, B. (eds) Handbook of Biopolymers . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6603-2_22-1
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