Effects of Some Chemicals on the Permeability of Compacted Clayey Soil

Abstract

Clay soils are natural materials with generally low permeability properties. Due to their low permeability properties, they are preferred in impermeable barrier structure applications. Impervious base and cover mats are constructed in solid waste landfill areas using clay soils. These impermeable structures constructed with clay soils are exposed to liquids with different chemical compositions as well as natural water. Contaminated water and other liquids other than natural water adversely affect these impermeable structures. In this study, the permeability behavior of impermeable clayey soil material compacted using different chemical agents was investigated. Permeability tests were conducted on compacted clay soil samples using pure water, ferric chloride, acetic acid, kisilene and n-heptane. Permeability test results showed that the chemicals increased the permeability values of the clay soil samples. After pure water, the lowest permeability value was obtained in permeability tests with ferric chloride. The highest permeability value was obtained in permeability tests with n-heptane. The results show that fluids other than pure or natural waters have a high potential to have negative effects on the permeability properties of impermeable structures made of compacted clay soils.