Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of freeze-thaw on characteristics of new KMP binder stabilized Zn- and Pb-contaminated soils

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For viable and sustainable reuse of solidified/stabilized heavy metal-contaminated soils as roadway subgrade materials, long-term durability of these soils should be ensured. A new binder, KMP, has been developed for solidifying/stabilizing soils contaminated with high concentrations of heavy metals. However, the effects of long-term extreme weather conditions including freeze and thaw on the leachability and strength of the KMP stabilized contaminated soils have not been investigated. This study presents a systematic investigation on the impacts of freeze-thaw cycle on leachability, strength, and microstructural characteristics of the KMP stabilized soils spiked with Zn and Pb individually and together. For comparison purpose, Portland cement is also tested as a conventional binder. Several series of tests are conducted including the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), modified European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure, unconfined compression test (UCT), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results demonstrate that the freeze-thaw cycles have much less impact on the leachability and strength of the KMP stabilized soils as compared to the PC stabilized soils. After the freeze-thaw cycle tests, the KMP stabilized soils display much lower leachability, mass loss, and strength loss. These results are assessed based on the chemical speciation of Zn and Pb, and pore size distribution of the soils. Overall, this study demonstrates that the KMP stabilized heavy metal-contaminated soils perform well under the freeze-thaw conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antemir A, Hills CD, Carey PJ, Gardner KH, Bates ER, Crumbie AK (2010) Long-term performance of aged waste forms treated by stabilization/solidification. J Hazard Mater 181(1):63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2001) Standard test method for pH of soils. ASTM Standard D4972. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2003) Standard test method for freezing and thawing compacted soil-cement mixtures. ASTM D560. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2009) Standard test method for unconfined compressive strength index of chemical grouted soils. ASTM Standard D4219. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2010) Standard test methods for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. ASTM standard D4318. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2012) Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using standard effort (12400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3)). ASTM Standard D698. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • Bin-Shafique S, Rahman K, Yaykiran M, Azfar I (2010) The long-term performance of two fly ash stabilized fine-grained soil subbases. Resour Conserv Recy 54:66–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhari O, Biemacki J (2013) Leaching behavior of hazardous heavy metals from lime fly ash cements. J Environ Eng 139(5):633–641

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuisinier O, Le Borgne T, Deneele D, Masrouri F (2011) Quantification of the effects of nitrates, phosphates and chlorides on soil stabilization with lime and cement. Eng Geol 117(3–4):229–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Hayashi S (2004) Effect of leachate composition on the adsorption properties of two soils. Geotech Test J 27(4):404–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Hayashi S (2006) A study on sorption properties of Cd2+ on Ariake clay for evaluating its potential use as a landfill barrier material. Appl Clay Sci 32(1–2):14–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du P, Xue N, Liu L, Li F (2008) Distribution of Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu and their chemical speciations in soils from a peri-smelter area in northeast China. Environ Geol 55(1):205–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Wei ML, Jin F, Liu ZB (2013) Stress-train relation and strength characteristics of cement treated zinc-contaminated clay. Eng Geol 167:20–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Wei ML, Reddy KR, Jin F, Wu HL, Liu ZB (2014a) New phosphate-based binder for stabilization of soils contaminated with heavy metals: leaching, strength and microstructure characterization. J Environ Manage 146:179–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Wei ML, Reddy KR, Liu ZP, Jin F (2014b) Effect of acid rain pH on leaching behavior of cement stabilized lead-contaminated soil. J Hazard Mater 271:131–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Jiang NJ, Liu SY, Jin F, Singh DN, Puppala AJ (2014c) Engineering properties and microstructural characteristics of cement-stabilized zinc-contaminated kaolin. Can Geotech J 51(3):289–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Horpibulsuk S, Wei ML, Liu ML (2014d) Modeling compression behavior of cement treated zinc contaminated clayey soils. Soils Found 54(5):1018–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu Y, Cai L, Wu Y (2011) Freeze-thaw cycle test and damage mechanics models of alkali-activated slag concrete. Constr Build Mater 25(7):3144–3148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hafsteinsdottir EG, White DA, Gore DB, Stark SC (2011) Products and stability of phosphate reactions with lead under freeze-thaw cycling in simple systems. Environ Pollut 159:3496–3503

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hafsteinsdottir EG, White DA, Gore DB (2013) Effects of freeze-thaw cycling on metal-phosphate formation and stability in single and multi-metal systems. Environ Pollut 175:168–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horpibulsuk S, Rachan R, Chinkulkijniwat A, Raksachon Y, Suddeepong A (2010) Analysis of strength development in cement-stabilized silty clay from microstructural considerations. Constr Build Mater 24:2011–2021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin F, Al-Tabbaa A (2014) Evaluation of novel reactive MgO activated slag binder for the immobilisation of lead and zinc. Chemosphere 117:285–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin F, Gu K, Al-Tabbaa A (2014) Strength and drying shrinkage of reactive MgO modified alkali-activated slag paste. Constr Build Mater 51:395–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemaire K, Deneele D, Bonnet S, Legret M (2013) Effects of lime and cement treatment on the physicochemical, microstructural and mechanical characteristics of a plastic silt. Eng Geol 166:255–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Zhang LM (2009) Characterization of dual-structure pore-size distribution of soil. Can Geotech J 46(2):129–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell JK, Soga K (2005) Fundamentals of soil behavior, 3rd edn. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao F, Chau CK, Li ZJ (2010) Property evaluation of magnesium phosphate cement mortar as patch repair material. Constr Build Mater 24(5):695–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin A, Zaimoglu AS (2010) Freezing-thawing behavior of fine-grained soils reinforced with polypropylene fibers. Cold Reg Sci Technol 60(1):63–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez F, Langley WMK, Hoang A (2009) Leaching from granular cement-based materials during infiltration/wetting coupled with freezing and thawing. J Environ Manage 90(2):983–993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scanferla P, Ferrari G, Pellay R, Ghirardini AV, Zanetto G, Libralato G (2009) An innovative stabilization/solidification treatment for contaminated soil remediation: demonstration project results. J Soils Sediments 9(3):229–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shand MA (2006) The chemistry and technology of magnesia. Wiley, New Jersey

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma HD, Reddy KR (2004) Geoenvironmental engineering: site remediation, waste containment, and emerging waste management technologies. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen SL, Han J, Du YJ (2008) Deep mixing induced property changes in surrounding sensitive marine clays. J Geotech Geoenviron 134(6):845–854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The World Bank (2011) Overview of the current situation on Brownfield remediation and redevelopment in China. Washington DC, 57953

  • USEPA (1992) Test methods for evaluating solid waste, physical/chemical methds, SW-846 3rd edn. US Environmental Pollution Agency, Washington, DC

  • Wang C, Li XC, Ma HT, Qian J, Zhai JB (2006) Distribution of extractable fractions of heavy metals in sludge during the wastewater treatment process. J Hazard Mater 137:1277–1283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Wang HL, Al-Tabbaa A (2014) Leachability and heavy metal speciation of 17-year old stabilised/solidified contaminated site soils. J Hazard Mater 278:144–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White DA, Hafsteinsdóttir EG, Gore DB, Thorogood G, Stark SC (2012) Formation and stability of Pb-, Zn- & Cu-PO4 phases at low temperatures: implications for heavy metal fixation in polar environments. Environ Pollut 161:143–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue Q, Li JS, Liu L (2013) Effect of compaction degree on solidification characteristics of Pb-contaminated soil treated by cement. Clean-Soil Air Water 41:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Yildiz M, Soganci AS (2012) Effect of freezing and thawing on strength and permeability of limestabilized clays. Scientia Iranica 19(4):1013–1017

  • Yilmaz E, Belem T, Bussière B, Benzaazoua M (2011) Relationships between microstructural properties and compressive strength of consolidated and unconsolidated cemented paste backfills. Cement Concrete Comp 33(6):702–715

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 51278100, 41330641, and 41472258), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (grant no. BK2012022), and National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (grant no. 2013AA06A206). The authors thank the former graduate student, Mr. J. J. Zhu, for conducting some of the laboratory tests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China

    Ming-Li Wei, Yan-Jun Du & Hao-liang Wu

  2. Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA

    Krishna R. Reddy

Authors
  1. Ming-Li Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yan-Jun Du
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Krishna R. Reddy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hao-liang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan-Jun Du.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Céline Guéguen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wei, ML., Du, YJ., Reddy, K.R. et al. Effects of freeze-thaw on characteristics of new KMP binder stabilized Zn- and Pb-contaminated soils. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 19473–19484 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5133-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5133-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation